Complete

Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

Revising for your

chemistry exams
Revision tips to help you

OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchasers institute

Complete

Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

Revision tips to help you

At the end of your chemistry course are
your IGCSE chemistry exams! How exciting!
Revision is the key to exam success.
The five tips that follow will help you shine.

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Complete

Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

1 Start revising in good time!

Try to start at least eight weeks before the exam.

That way, you can avoid last-minute panic.

Is there something
I should be doing?

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Complete

Chemistry

2
2

for Cambridge IGCSE

2 Begin with a plan!

A good plan will help you to manage your revision.

Work out how many weeks you have before the exam.

Decide how much time you will spend on chemistry

revision each week, and when.

Do a timetable, with the topics you plan to cover each week.

Keep your timetable safe. Check it often to see how you are
doing, and whats next.

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Complete

Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

3 Dont just sit and read!

Your textbook covers your chemistry
syllabus.
Reading it is part of revision ... but only part!
There are many other ways to get material into
your head.

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Complete

Chemistry

2
2

for Cambridge IGCSE

3 Dont just sit and read!

For example, try some or all of these
Make brief notes of the key points or do a spider map.
Use colours and highlighting for the key points.

Say what you have learned out loud.

Use the revision checklist for each chapter.

You can print it from the CD, and tick the items on it.

Do questions from the back of the chapters in the textbook.

Do the interactive test for each chapter, on the CD.

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Complete

Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

3 Dont just sit and read!

For example, a student did this spider map about electrolysis:
battery
mains

needs

source of
electricity

anode +
cathode

Electrolysis
(splitting by electricity)

electrolytes
contain ions
free to move

electrodes to
carry current
into electrolyte

not inert
(get changed)
graphite (carbon)
used for
or platinum

molten
ionic compound
metal
at cathode

electroplating

purifying
copper

getting chemicals from

brine (H2, Cl2, NaOH)

needs

ds
nee

inert (no change)

extracting reactive metals (e.g. Al)

used for

H and OH
from water

solution
containing ions

non-metal
at anode

electroplating
an object
with metal X
purifying
copper

X=anode
object =cathode
electrolyte =
solution of
X compound

impure copper = anode

pure copper = cathode
eletrolyte = e.g. solution of
copper (II) sulfate

metal or H2
halogen (only if concentrated
at cathode
halide solution)
(whichever is less reactive)
or oxygen at anode

Remember: current is carried by ions in electrolyte and electrons in wires

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Complete

Chemistry

2
2

for Cambridge IGCSE

4 Try questions from past exams

Get practice in answering past exam questions.
This is very important. It will help to give you confidence.

Your CD contains
- the past exam questions from the back of the textbook
- a set of past exam questions, with model answers,
to work through
- a set of sample exam papers, based on other past
questions, for you to try against the clock.

Your teacher can check your answers.

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Complete

Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

5 But dont work too hard!

Brains get tired after a while. We also learn better

at the start and end of a session.

So it is better to keep each revision session quite
short, rather than going on for hours.

If you lose concentration, take a break.

Take a walk. Dance around. Sing.
Then back to work, refreshed.

Revising late the night before an exam is not ideal.

You need rest!

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Complete

Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

Finally, it is exam day

You have revised well.
You had a good rest last night.
Your pens, pencils, calculator, ruler and eraser are ready.
Now it is time to show everyone what you can do.
Good luck!

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