IB Chem requires students to be proficient in not only the content but also the math and calculations. A lot of students struggle to get 5 and 6’s, let alone a 7! However, once you understand how to approach this subject, getting a 7 is easy.
IB Chemistry has two main parts, the exam and the IA. This article will cover tips for both!
Planning
If you want to effectively prepare for Chem, you must create a study plan.
The plan should:
- Target all 10 topics (SL and HL components), prioritizing weaker topics.
- Include the subtopics you plan to study, not just the topic name.
- Space out all the topics, and ensure you revisit past topics to reconsolidate the knowledge
A mistake a lot of students make is targeting all the topics equally, rather than prioritizing weaker topics (equality vs. equity). Putting the same amount of time into a topic you are confident in and a topic you are struggling to pass does not make sense.
Resources for Chemistry
There are so many resources for any IB subject, but especially Chem due to its popularity. I will split this section into two parts, video and text resources, and explain how to use each one to maximize the outcome.
Videos
The two main IB Chem YouTubers are:
· MSJ Chem
· Richard Thornley
Both of them have videos on the whole of the IB Chem syllabus. But just because you watch the videos doesn’t mean you will become a chem whizz all of a sudden. You must effectively use these videos, and I will show you how to:
- Write notes in your own words as you watch the videos.
Writing down content is the best way to learn and memorize content. But writing them in your own words will ensure your brain is actively engaged with the content in the video and that you are not just going through the motions of writing
- Draw diagrams/pictures.
Another good way is to draw your own diagrams, and then annotate the diagram by labelling they key components. Under each ‘key component’, write down relevant notes about it. For example, draw two Cl2 molecules and label the bond between them, writing down the key words that will ensure you tick all boxes on the mark scheme
Text Resources
The main text resources I used were:
- Pearson IB Chemistry textbook
- Pearson IB Chemistry Study guide
- Ibalchemy.com
All 3 of these resources have all the information you need to get a 7. However, the textbook does have extra information that isn’t assessed in the course, hence you have to be wary off overstudying. One way to avoid this is to combine resources, by using a video resource and the textbook.
The study guide and iblachemy.com have very condensed notes and I only recommend using them after you are confident with the content.
Personally, I would watch MSJ chem videos before my classes and then used the textbook in class to consolidate knowledge. However, experiment and find out what works for you.
How to Study
You have all the resources, now what?
I recommend watching MSJ Chem or Richard Thornley the night before you have any chemistry lessons to learn the content beforehand. And by ‘watch’ I mean write notes, draw diagrams… everything that was said beforehand.
In class use the textbook and your teacher to consolidate the knowledge you already learned the night before. This not only ensures you are ahead of content, buut also allows you to follow along in class without wasting time.
You also can engage more in the lesson as you understand the content, which only helps you learn more!
After your chem lesson or at the end of the week:
- Revisit the subtopics you aren’t 100% sure on
- Revisit past content to consolidate knowledge
- Create mind maps of what you have learned that week.
For more exam specific study methods be sure to check out our article on how to study for IB Mock Exams
KIS academics
Mock and Final Exam Preparation
The best way to increase your Chem skills is by doing past papers. However, you should only ever do these after you are confident with all the content, and before mocks and the time before your final exam. If you use it too early on, your resource is wasted.
But more expressly:
- Do a Paper 1 (MC) and study the subtopics for the questions you get wrong.
- This is by far the best way to increase your knowledge in Chemistry as you are exposed to all topics and can easily see where you are weak in
- Also rewrite the mark scheme answers if you get the question wrong, and make a excel or word document containing all of the key words and phrases on the mark scheme
The IA
This was left for last as the exams are much more important. However, the last 20% from the IA can be the difference between a 6 and a 7.
1. Choose a research question for is which ample research already available
2. Formulate an in-depth research question – it should be two lines minimum
3. Conduct extensive research on your topic, including images/diagrams in the background information
4. Look at examples online to help guide you in the right direction. By choosing a well-researched topic, this will be much easier
And most importantly, if you need help, ask your teachers or KIS Academics to mark your assignment and provide feedback! Having a past IB student to give extra feedback is one of the best ways to easily boost your IA grade and is what I personally did.
And that’s how you can get a 7 in Chem HL!
Hopefully, this article helps you achieve a 7. Remember, even with all these techniques and tips, your success will always come down to how much work you want to put in! So, try your hardest, and you will see the results pay off.
Want more personalized study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor can make the biggest difference!
Written by KIS Academics Tutor for IB and QCE, Sameer Baad. Sameer is currently studying for a Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics at the University of Queensland. You can view Sameer’s profile here and request him as a tutor.
