Midterm Study Tips

[Francesca_Borchardt_2D]

Hello,
Does anyone have any study tips on studying for the midterm? I have a little trouble figuring out the most efficient way to study for this class.
Thank you!

[Sandra Kim 2B]

definitely try to going to the UA sessions if you can and review the textbook problems! the problems in the textbook tend to be similar to the ones that appear on exams i think

[SophiaJenny3I]

Hi! The UA sessions are SUPER helpful. Definitely recommend those. Also, going through all the textbook problems in the outlines! They're great practice. I like to read the textbook sessions as well and take down some main notes, just so I know I have the concepts down! If I have time, I also like to retype my notes in my own words to make sure I'm solid on all the various concepts discussed in lecture. Hope this helps!

[Gabby Magat 3F]

The UA sessions (even when they aren't specifically for midterm review) are super helpful solidifying the material while we're learning it. Usually UAs will go over textbook problems from the outlines, so workshops/Step-Up sessions are nice ways to practice from the textbook. I think trying to do textbook problems is the best way to practice. Honestly, answering on Chemistry Community has been helpful in making sure I understand the concepts, but sometimes I'll just try to explain the concepts to myself/someone else without looking at my notes.

[Rylee Mangan 1K]

1. Definitely attend Justin's review workshop! I believe it is Thursday 10-12 this week Matthew's is also really helpful.
2. Review sapling!!! I always reviewed sapling before the midterms to jog my memory
3. Do not be too hard on yourself. The tests are difficult but you will be prepared if you put in the effort
Best of luck!

[SelenaDahabreh1D]

Attend as many UA sessions as you can. Do the homework problems listed in the syllabus. Review sapling homework problems. Read the textbook! Also, chemistry community is a great resource, so just by exploring the different questions you can have questions answered that you didn't even know you had. Best of luck studying!

[Margaret Xu 3C]

Hi Francesca! Like people have mentioned above, I recommend attending the UA workshops as well! Aside from the workshops, I study for the midterms by reviewing textbook questions and redoing the problems I had the most trouble with.

[905409193]

The UA sessions are great but if you want to prepare yourself for the exam, I'd recommend practicing the textbook problems! There are plenty of questions to go over so solving most of them is a good way to study.

[Navdha Sharma 3J]

I think the some things that really helped me on the midterm in Chem 14A last quarter were attending the UA sessions and doing the textbook reading along with doing the textbook problems.

[Arti_Patel_3H]

The UA sessions helped me a lot (especially going to them during the week before an exam). They go over the content that we will be tested on and some of the UAs give us previous test questions and go through them step by step which is SUPER helpful.

[Nathan Chu 3H]

Doing the UA worksheets and also understanding the textbook problems very well is the best way to study for me. Also, reading the textbook and taking notes from it is helpful.

[Katie Phan 1K]

I like reading the textbook and looking at the problems.

[Lizbeth Garcia 1F]

I tend to mostly look at the book, but I would suggest going to review sessions.

[vanessanguyen3I]

Something that I started doing this quarter that really helps is going to UA workshops! I only have time to go to one a week but it has helped A LOT. They go over questions that are more difficult than the ones in lecture and this helps build problem solving skills. I would suggest creating a study guide and reviewing textbook problems that you do not understand because those also show up on exams!!!

[Ava Nickman]

the review sessions are super helpful!

[Naomi Hernandez-Ramirez 1J]

From what I've heard UA sessions and Homework problems!

[Isabel_Eslabon_2G]

When doing UA, textbook, or online Sapling problems, I would do the hard problems and progressing to the easier ones. If you can't do the hardest problem, go to the second hardest, and onward. In my opinion, you waste less time on simple problems that you've already gotten the hang of.

[Nick P 3D]

I find that usually the most helpful thing for me is doing the review questions that he puts with the homework. That way I can practice the stuff we learn in an actual application rather than just knowing the concepts in my head.

[Anna Martin 2l]

Hi! I would definitely recommend to start by reviewing lectures/your lecture notes to start from the basics! Then I usually apply what I reviewed to textbook and Sapling problems to get used to the type of the questions that may be asked on the exam! Then I will try to attend as many UA sessions or office hours as possible to get the chance to ask questions and do problems in real time. Good luck!

[chinmayeec 2H]

Definitely focus on the textbook problems. Don't just rush through them; actually take the time to do them and think about them. Make sure you understand them thoroughly and if you don't, ask questions during discussion or office hours. Many of his problems are on the level of difficulty of the textbook problems and some are extremely similar.

[Emily Langie 3L]

Hi Francesca! Here's what I find helpful (and what I've heard from other people):
1) Attend the UA sessions, they are super helpful for practice and clarification
2) Review Sapling problems (and the answer sheets that they give on Sapling to review how to solve the problem)
3) Do the textbook problems

Good luck!

[Katelyn_Ortega_1D]

Doing the textbook problems is the best advice I can give you. They really help.

[Kylie Joe 2A]

Hi! I think along with UA sessions, the outlines are super helpful for reviewing!

[AdilaAhmed3I]

I think you should first find where you are struggling in because you won't get anywhere until you understand the fundamentals behind the concept you struggle in. Definitely doing textbook problems would help find those areas and even going to different sessions will help as well. I like to watch youtube videos for things I struggle in.

[MMorcus2E]

I agree with what has been said, do as many problems as you can, read, take notes, and go to review sessions. I also think that spreading out when you study can help your brain retain things better. Don't try to cram it all into one day. Also, don't underestimate the effect of sleeping the night before the test!

[Shana Patel 1C]

I think doing questions from the textbook will allow you to find the exact topic you are not comfortable with. After finding this out, it will be easier to study because you will know the topics you have to work on. Completing the sapling homework will also help a lot. If you have any questions, ask them on chemistry community because there will always be someone to help.

[Joanne Yuh 3I]

You should definitely look at the outlines to make sure you know which topics are on the midterm. And also make sure to do the textbook problems! If you have time, you can do the UA worksheets for extra practice.

[RaniyaFeroz_1E]

Attend the UA sessions and do the textbook problems assigned in the outlines. Also, review the module questions because last quarter some of the "conceptual" questions on Midterm 1 were taken from the module/post-assessment questions.

[Orla Lynagh-Shannon 1F]

I really recommend making an outline from the most important things from your notes and the parts that you are the least solid on. There is also an outline that someone posted recently under "student social/study group" that is a concise version of the textbook that would be a good idea to review.

[Lauren Strickland 1B]

I would recommend going to UA sessions and working textbook questions.

[Victoria_Sauceda_1B]

I found that rewatching the lectures has helped be grasp lots of the concepts

[Charisma Arreola 2F]

I highly recommend doing the textbook problems from the outline, as well as attending workshops.

[Devan Nathu - 2H]

I actually had this same question haha thank you for asking! I tend to cram so my advice isn't the best and seldom works, but some of these study tips people are saying sound like great options! WIll definitely try them out!

[Jack Kettering 3D]

I would suggest just doing as many practice problems as you can so that you are comfortable with any types of problems that could be thrown at you on the midterm :)

[Zainab Jamali 1H]

textbook problems and review sessions!!

[Danielle DIS2L]

I would recommend to attend as much sessions as you can during week 4 and do a lot of textbook problems!!

[Tam Nguyen 2B]

If possible also try to either explain how you're solving problems or your solutions step by step to yourself because I find that it helps solidify the concepts easier. Repetition also makes me less nervous. If you have another student that you can talk to while solving problems that would make it better as well since you can both try to explain solutions to each other.

[Meghan Krushena 2E]

I found it most beneficial in 14A to do as many practice problems as possible! Redo sapling and the textbook problems and really talk yourself through the steps. A key aspect is to make sure you understand the process and are not just memorizing the steps, this helps for when conceptual questions are asked on exams.

[Melanie Lin 3E]

Hi! Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but in addition to UA sessions and textbook problems, I recommend redoing the Audio Visual Focus topics too! They're a nice review and can give you an idea of how Lavelle likes to write his questions.

[Xinyu Li 1C]

Rosa told me that there's a helpful review midterm sheet from last year.

Link: viewtopic.php?f=160&t=58508&p=224708&hilit=pizza+rolls&sid=297c8e7a86a4e1bca675da3c35540d64#p224708
*if the link doesn't work, search pizza rolls

[Gwen Casillan 3E]

Definitely attending UA sessions and Step-up sessions, as well as practicing textbook problems to just solidify your understanding of the topics covered. I personally go over problems that I have difficulty with and practicing with similar problems in the textbook until I feel comfortable with the concepts and problem solving.

[Karen Elrayes 1L]

I recommend trying to finish all the textbook problems a few days before the exam so you can attend UA sessions and ask questions and figure out what you don't know yet.