Chem with cognisance - VCE Chemistry study tips from Louise

Otto Sargent, Marketing Coordinator - Edrolo

No one knows Chem like Louise! Louise Lennard is a teacher, author, presenter and VCAA assessor, and has helped 6 of her former students achieve raw scores of 50. Known for her clear and concise explanations of Chemistry, she helps to make tricky concepts sticky with her 20 years of teaching experience and 20 years of work as an industrial scientist. What can’t she do!?

Louise will be presenting two VCE Chemistry student study sessions on Friday 4 October in Melbourne and Sunday 20 October in Bendigo as part of Edrolo Study Fest '24.

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What do you love about teaching Chemistry?

I am passionate about chemistry and how it connects to everyday life.

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What is a concept students most often struggle with?

Many students struggle with redox chemistry. I like to break it down into bite-size chunks with lots of memory aids such as Red Cat, An Ox and OILRIG.

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What are you going to cover in the study session?

Managing your time in the two-half hour writing time in November.
Using the study design as a checklist.
Learning something about a topic, rather than avoiding it, the more your practice the easier it will become.

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What’s a taster of a study tip that students might expect from the session?

Chemistry papers are not awarded half-marks. Be ruthless when marking your work against the marking guide.

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What will students take away from the session?

Tips and tricks where students have lost marks in prior exams.

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What can students be doing now to set themselves up to be ready for exam prep next term?

Finish summarising your notes before the September study break.
Use your SACs from this year to identify knowledge dot points and science skills that need to be polished.
Make a map of organic pathways including reaction conditions, put on the toilet door and teach these to others in your household.

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Any tips you’d give students who might be struggling right now?

Remember that the new Chemistry Study Design is focussed on sustainability, so make sure to familiarise yourself with pages 23 - 24 of the Data Book.

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What’s the one thing you always tell your students for success in Chemistry?

Chemists are lazy. They often use the same or similar symbols for different concepts. The more you practice exam-type questions, the better prepared you will be.

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