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 purchaser’s institute
Complete 2
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.

© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute
Complete 2
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?

© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute
Complete 2
Chemistry
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 what’s next.

© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute
Complete 2
Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

3 Don’t 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.

© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute
Complete 2
Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

3 Don’t 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 diagnostic questions for each chapter, on the CD.

© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute
Complete 2
Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

3 Don’t just sit and read!

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

© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute
Complete 2
Chemistry
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 …
- 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.

© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute
Complete 2
Chemistry
for Cambridge IGCSE

5 But don’t 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!
© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute
Complete 2
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!

© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute