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Taking Up Chemistry as an External Candidate; Need a H2

  • 07-02-2021 5:50am
    #1
    Urethra Franklin.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 116 ✭✭


    Hey, I am planning on sitting the chemistry exam in June. I did my LC a few years ago and did not do chemistry. I am on illness benefit atm so my income, well I'm in debt from basic necessities like rent and food shopping, getting grinds and a tutor is soooo out of the question. On the one positive side, as I am sick I am not at work so can dedicate time to study when my symptoms aren't flaring up-which happens numerous times a day but I can work around that I guess. I need a H2, yes I need to start and finish the course in 4 months and be so excelent at it I get a minimum of 80 per cent. Big ask. Has anyone tips or hints or resources? Obviously I know practice is key, to do as many past papers as possible, but anyone have any advice?


Comments

  • #2
    ronivek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,916 ✭✭✭ronivek


    Urethra Franklin. wrote: »
    Hey, I am planning on sitting the chemistry exam in June. I did my LC a few years ago and did not do chemistry. I am on illness benefit atm so my income, well I'm in debt from basic necessities like rent and food shopping, getting grinds and a tutor is soooo out of the question. On the one positive side, as I am sick I am not at work so can dedicate time to study when my symptoms aren't flaring up-which happens numerous times a day but I can work around that I guess. I need a H2, yes I need to start and finish the course in 4 months and be so excelent at it I get a minimum of 80 per cent. Big ask. Has anyone tips or hints or resources? Obviously I know practice is key, to do as many past papers as possible, but anyone have any advice?

    I caught your other post before clicking into this one: did you sit and pass the GAMSAT? I suspect Chemistry will be fairly straightforward if so.

    I did as you’re doing but along with Biology and got A1s in both; and if I can do it just about anyone can.

    You could study essentially for free by just going through the syllabus documents from the Dept. and taking advantage of YouTube and resources like Khan Academy. Then in terms of exam practice the usual going through past papers.

    I would however recommend something like the Chemistry Live book assuming it’s still available; I found it useful especially for the experiments which you may not find as easily from other sources.


  • #3
    Urethra Franklin.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 116 ✭✭Urethra Franklin.


    ronivek wrote: »
    I caught your other post before clicking into this one: did you sit and pass the GAMSAT? I suspect Chemistry will be fairly straightforward if so.

    I did as you’re doing but along with Biology and got A1s in both; and if I can do it just about anyone can.

    You could study essentially for free by just going through the syllabus documents from the Dept. and taking advantage of YouTube and resources like Khan Academy. Then in terms of exam practice the usual going through past papers.

    I would however recommend something like the Chemistry Live book assuming it’s still available; I found it useful especially for the experiments which you may not find as easily from other sources.
    I did the GAMSAT 2 years ago-its still good for UK entry, where I got a 57 in science, but I know if I was to take it today I would probably struggle to even pass. I studied science in college and really struggled in my first year as that was the general year-I specified into biology based subjects after that. I got an A1 in Bio back in the day, but tbh I am afraid of struggling with chemistry, I actually did do it for like a month or two in 5th year and truly struggled so I swapped to a different subject. That's amazing btw, congrats on the A1s-Ill definitely look into those tips-do you have any other general advice?


  • #4
    ronivek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,916 ✭✭✭ronivek


    Urethra Franklin. wrote: »
    I did the GAMSAT 2 years ago-its still good for UK entry, where I got a 57 in science, but I know if I was to take it today I would probably struggle to even pass. I studied science in college and really struggled in my first year as that was the general year-I specified into biology based subjects after that. I got an A1 in Bio back in the day, but tbh I am afraid of struggling with chemistry, I actually did do it for like a month or two in 5th year and truly struggled so I swapped to a different subject. That's amazing btw, congrats on the A1s-Ill definitely look into those tips-do you have any other general advice?

    A couple of tools you may not be familiar with which can help (although not specific to Chemistry):
    1. Pomodoro Technique: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique: really simple time management technique which I found particularly useful to help with difficult days or periods where I wasn't feeling great. You may already have heard of it or tried it.
    2. Spaced Repetition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition: you've likely used a form of this in the past with flashcards but something like Anki takes all the guesswork out of how often you should review your cards. Also super easy to just copy something from a site or document and slap it onto a digital flashcard to look up later.

    Other than that if you can just stay consistent and do a little every day you'll finish the course before you know it. It's very doable; and any sticking points you have I guarantee Khan Academy or YouTube will have plenty to help you get unstuck.


  • #5
    Eman1234
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭Eman1234


    ronivek wrote: »
    I caught your other post before clicking into this one: did you sit and pass the GAMSAT? I suspect Chemistry will be fairly straightforward if so.

    I did as you’re doing but along with Biology and got A1s in both; and if I can do it just about anyone can.

    You could study essentially for free by just going through the syllabus documents from the Dept. and taking advantage of YouTube and resources like Khan Academy. Then in terms of exam practice the usual going through past papers.

    I would however recommend something like the Chemistry Live book assuming it’s still available; I found it useful especially for the experiments which you may not find as easily from other sources.

    Hi, I am planning on repeating as an external candidate this year and am doing biology, physics and chemistry. How did you go about doing the labwork for biology and chemistry. If not, do you think the SEC will cancel my exams if I don't do it ?


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