Is Chemistry a Difficult Subject? How to Make Chemistry Easier?
Trying to memorize the periodic table, remember the atomic numbers of elements, practice chemical reactions, remember the colour of a solution, we’ve all been there. “Why is chemistry so hard?” “How can I pass chemistry?”
While it’s important to know you’re not alone, you should also remember that every expert was once a beginner. Chemistry is considered a difficult subject for various reasons, but by adopting effective teaching methods, you will eventually improve. Like a perfect chemical reaction, it takes a fair amount of research, practice, and patience to get the results you want.
Table of Contents
Why is chemistry so difficult?
Based on the basics
Chemistry is a progressive subject – that means what you learn today is the foundation of what you learn tomorrow. So, if you don’t understand the earlier chapters, it is less likely that you will understand the later chapters.
Chemistry = logical + abstract thinking
On the one hand, chemistry involves math and algebra to solve chemical equations and reactions. On the other hand, he offers the diverse world of atoms – its orbitals and shells, which determine everything like the particle. Chemistry is one such subject where you have to switch between logical and abstract thinking or use both at the same time. So, concepts that involve both logic and abstract thinking take time to understand.
How to study chemistry
1. Study smart
The first step to improving anything is to evaluate it objectively. Take some time to evaluate the topics you find easy and identify the chapters that give you trouble. A great way to do this is to review your previous test scores. Repeat all the questions you found difficult and analyze what you need to improve. This will help you get an idea of where to focus your attention – whether you need to strengthen your math skills or better memorize the elements and their atomic numbers. Apart from identifying your weaknesses, you will also gain a clear understanding of your strengths, which will ultimately give you more confidence in your teaching style.
2. Prepare before each class
A tried and tested teaching method is to prepare for the next class the night before. Take a look at your chemistry textbook and try to learn the concepts your teacher will cover in the next class. Pre-reading study material provides context to help you study more effectively during class. This way, even if you have unsolved doubts at the end of the lesson, you can solve them immediately with your teacher. This method of teaching is called the flipped classroom and it has been proven effective in increasing productivity and consistency.
3. Take notes
Apart from attending classes and understanding the concepts in your textbooks, your notes will come in handy during exams. Next time you go to class, make sure you write down the main points your teacher explained, not just on the blackboard.
Your notes don’t have to be long sentences with perfect grammar, they can be simple bullet points as long as they understand what is being taught in class. You can always go back to the textbook to improve some points that you feel are unclear.
Recording always helps in better memorization, which is very necessary, especially for dozens of important formulas and reactions related to chemistry. Keeping your notes neat, organized and clear will make them more effective, help you remember lessons and prepare effectively for exams.
4. Join a study group
Study groups have proven time and time again that this is a fun yet effective way to learn. A great study group can do wonders for your grades. During a pandemic, meeting physically for a study session is certainly difficult. But technology always saves the day!
Set aside at least 2-3 hours each week for videoconferencing with colleagues. Ideally, you can regroup on the same day of the week at the same time so that group study becomes a habit. You can plan a study group with 3-6 classmates who are equally focused and dedicated to learning and improving chemistry. Be well prepared before each group session to make it more productive – understand, explain, get different points of view and solve problems with your peers.
5. Learn every day
Patience always pays off! So don’t be discouraged if your efforts don’t immediately show up on your next chemistry exam. Remember how you started learning the alphabet, and now write essays on pages? Did you learn it overnight? No, it takes time. But the most important thing is persistence. Be committed to your improvement goal and keep working towards it. Eventually, you will develop an affinity for the subject, and you will no longer bother balancing chemical equations or trying to remember the colour, temperature, or condition of the resulting products.
Sometimes a topic can be difficult due to the board you follow. The CBSE and CISCE boards are different and challenging depending on how students learn the subjects. For example, when comparing ICSE and CBSE, students may find differences between the two exams and the learning structure for each.
