Take the test at least two weeks before the exam. In addition to answering the exam questions correctly, you also want to prepare well for it, since the material will be much more advanced than your introductory course.
Most exams have two types of questions: multiple-choice questions and written questions. The format of the multiple-choice questions on the exam depends upon the kind of chemistry class you are taking.
The multiple-choice questions cover the most fundamental aspects of chemical reactions. You will have to identify which substances react with one another, whether they react together, and how fast the reactions take place. For example, if you were taking a lab session in chemistry 101, you would have to know the difference between nitric oxide and oxalate, which react with water to produce hydrochloric acid.
The written question asks the student to write down a response that describes a property of a substance. Your instructor will ask for your writing in the written exam. If you have a strong understanding of the physical properties of a substance, then your written response should include information about the atomic and molecular structure. Write about the physical properties only; the chemical reaction and its mechanisms should be discussed later in the exam.
There are several options for passing the exam, although it is best to learn the test early. Once you have an idea of what is expected from you in a written exam, you can study for the exam and make sure that you have understood all of the questions before the exam begins.
If you do not pass the exam, try asking the organic chemistry instructor. It could be that there is another student who has taken the test and passed. Your instructor can sometimes find out this information for you and let you know which student did better or why; for instance, if the student who passed was a junior majoring in biology or chemistry and you have taken chemistry 101, your instructor may tell you that student passed and who didn’t.
Before taking the organic chemistry exam, make sure that you know what you will be studying in the exam. Determine if the material on the exam you are taking will help prepare you for the exam. Also find out what kind of lab work will be required and where you will do it.
Some students choose to do lab work in a lab. They may want to spend some time in a lab to get a feel for the material, and may want to do this for a specific course. However, if you are taking the exam as a refresher, you will need to focus more on understanding the materials in a lab.
Lab work is also required if you want to take the exam as an individual, and work alone. In this case, you will use the materials provided by the test provider. If you plan to use a guide or a book to prepare, the exam, make sure that it includes both the lab and reading material.
Make sure that you are aware of all of the lab work that you will be doing on your first attempt at the lab test. This way, you will be able to identify areas in your exam that you need to improve on and make sure that the answers you give on the exam reflect your current knowledge of organic chemistry.
Don’t forget to take a practice lab after taking the exam. You will have to answer questions based on your lab experience, so you may not be able to use the information learned in the lab correctly in the exam. In addition, this will give you an opportunity to learn more about the questions that you will be asked on the exam, allowing you to improve your responses and get into the proper learning mode.
