This document provides tips for succeeding in first-year chemistry courses. It notes that these courses move faster and require more application of concepts than high school chemistry. Key recommendations include spending at least 9 hours per week studying outside of class using effective strategies like the continuous learning process, intense study sessions, getting the most from lectures, homework, help resources, and managing test anxiety. Students with GPAs over 3.7 typically studied over 30 hours per week using these techniques, while those with GPAs under 2.0 studied less and did not implement as many effective strategies.

1. Dr. Saundra Y. McGuire
Director, Center for Academic Success
Adjunct Professor of Chemistry
Louisiana State University
How to Ace
First Year Chemistry
(or at least make a high B)

2. Requirements for Acing
Chemistry 101/102
 Mastery of Chem Concepts
(not rote memorization!)
 Realistic Study Schedule
 Effective Use of Resources (office
hours, Help Desk, etc.)
 Managing Anxiety

3. Why 101/102 is Harder
Than HS Chemistry
 The course moves a lot faster
 The material is conceptually more
difficult and cumulative
 The problems are more involved
 The tests are less straightforward and
require you to apply concepts

4. Judgment: the ability to
make decisions and support
views; requires
understanding of values
Synthesis
Analysis
Identification of
component parts;
determination of
arrangement, logic,
semantics
Application
Use of information
to solve problems;
transfer of abstract
or theoretical ideas
to practical
situations.
Interpretation
Identification of
connections and
relationships
Translation
Restatement in your
own words;
paraphrase; summary
Recall
Verbatim information;
memorization with no
evidence of understanding
EvaluationCombination of
information to form a
unique
product; requires
creativity and originality

5. STUDENTS WITH
GPA OF 3.7 OR
HIGHER
 Studied over 30 hours per week outside of class
 Reviewed material prior to class
 Stayed 1-2 chapters ahead in the text
 Reviewed notes after class
 Visited professor/instructor/tutor regularly
 Studied in small groups (3-5 people) several times
per week
 Asked questions, asked questions, asked
questions!!!

6. STUDENTS WITH
A GPA OF 2.0 OR
LESS
 Studied 8-12 hours per week out of class
 Did not review material prior to class
 Stayed 1-2 chapters behind in reading
 Rarely asked questions
 Rarely discussed information with
instructors/classmates/friends
 In effect, were still in high school
FOUR YEAR STUDY, R. B. LANDIS, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, 1995

7. So, What Can You Do Now?
 Spend more time studying chemistry
(at least 9 hours per week)
 Aim for 100% understanding
 Use the Help Desk and office hours
 Use the Continuous Process of Learning
and Intense Study Sessions
 Study Smarter for Chemistry

8. Use Efficient Study Strategies
When You Study Chemistry !
Study SMARTER, not HARDER

9. Continuous Process of Learning
Phase One:Phase One: Read or preview chapters to be covered inRead or preview chapters to be covered in
class… before class (Create chapter maps)class… before class (Create chapter maps)
Phase Two:Phase Two: Go to Class. Listen actively, take notes,Go to Class. Listen actively, take notes,
participateparticipate in classin class
Phase Three:Phase Three: Review and process class notes as soon asReview and process class notes as soon as
possible after classpossible after class
Phase Four:Phase Four: Incorporate Intense Study SessionsIncorporate Intense Study Sessions
RepeatRepeat

10. Intense Study Sessions
 5 minutes:5 minutes: Set goals for next 40 min.Set goals for next 40 min.
 40 minutes:40 minutes: Read text more selectively/highlightRead text more selectively/highlight
Make doodles/notes in marginsMake doodles/notes in margins
Create mnemonics, work examplesCreate mnemonics, work examples
Create mapsCreate maps
 5 minutes5 minutes Review what you have just studiedReview what you have just studied
 10 minutes10 minutes Take a breakTake a break
 RepeatRepeat

11. Get the Most Out of Lecture
 Arrive early
 Actively participate
 Review notes soon after class
 Rework all example problems
done in class

12. Average Retention for
Learning Activities
(Source: National
Training Laboratories,
Bethel, ME)
20%
Audio-Visual
30%
Demonstration
50%
Discussion Group
75%
Practice by Doing
90%
Teach Others/Immediate Use of Learning
5%
Lecture
10%
Reading

13. Get the Most Out of
Homework
 Start the problems early--the day they
are assigned
 Do not flip back to see example
problems; work them yourself!
 Don’t give up too soon (<15 min.)
 Don’t spend too much time (>30 min.)

14. Get the Most from the Help
Desk and Office Hours
 Try to understand the concept or work
the problem by yourself first
 Come prepared to ask questions
 Explain the material to the tutor or
professor or study group members

15. Some other important tips
- Start homework problems ONLY after reviewing,
notes, working class problems, reading text.
-Work extra problems!!!
-To prepare for tests, go over all problems,
especially those problems you could not solve.
-Review examples from class, and do chapter
reviews.
- Keep old quizzes/tests, and ALWAYS correct
returned tests.

16. Special Problem Solving Tips
- Work extra problems!!!
- When working homework problems, DO NOT
flip back to look at examples in the text. Spend at
least 15 minutes, but no longer than 25 minutes
trying a problem before you seek assistance.
- Visualize the problem situation. Draw diagrams.
- Use front end – back end problem solving:
“What can I get from what I am given?”
“What do I need to get what I am trying to find?”
- Estimate the answer, if possible. Check you answer
to make sure it is in the “ballpark”.

17. Chemistry 101/102 HELP DESKChemistry 101/102 HELP DESK
At TAMUAt TAMU
Room 116 HELDRoom 116 HELD
Mon – Thurs: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Fri: 8:30am – 12:30pm

18. ON-LINE STUDY STRATEGIESON-LINE STUDY STRATEGIES
WORKSHOPS at LSUWORKSHOPS at LSU
Time Management
College Reading and NoteTaking
Managing Test Anxiety
Test Taking Strategies
Concept Mapping

19. FABULOUS WEB SITE ATFABULOUS WEB SITE AT
Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University
WWW.CAS.LSU.EDUWWW.CAS.LSU.EDU
 Study Smarter Workshops On LineStudy Smarter Workshops On Line
 Weekly and Semester PlannersWeekly and Semester Planners
 GPA CalculatorGPA Calculator
 Great LinksGreat Links
Web Page DevelopmentWeb Page Development
 Study Strategies SitesStudy Strategies Sites
 Graduate Exam LinksGraduate Exam Links
(GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT)(GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT)