This is my first blog, and I am going to be honest – chemistry calculations were the topic I avoided the most.
Whenever a question had numbers in it, my brain would just switch off. I’d stare at the
page, reread the question about five times, and still have no idea what to do. I knew
there were formulas somewhere in my notes, but in the moment, everything felt
confusing and rushed.
At first, my idea of revision was just reading. I’d sit with my book, highlight a few
formulas and tell myself I’d “go over questions later”. The problem was, later never
really worked. As soon as I tried a proper exam question, I realised I didn’t actually
understand the steps – I’d only seen them written down.
What changed things for me was slowing everything right down. Instead of trying to
revise all calculations in one session, I picked one small part, like moles, and
focused only on that. I used my guide to look at worked examples, but instead of
copying them, I rewrote the steps in my own messy way. If I couldn’t explain a step
to myself, I knew I didn’t really get it yet.
One thing I started doing was talking through the questions in my head. I’d ask
myself things like: What do I already know? What is the question actually asking for?
What’s my first step? It sounds simple, but this stopped me from panicking and
guessing.
I also accepted that getting things wrong was part of revision. Early on, most of my
answers were incorrect, and that was frustrating. But each mistake showed me
exactly where I went wrong – sometimes it was the formula, sometimes units,
sometimes just rushing. Over time, those same mistakes happened less often. And
also that revision doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective. Some days my revision
sessions were short, messy, and frustrating I didn’t always understand everything
straight way, and that used to make me feel like I was wasting my time. But looking
back, those were actually the sessions where I learned the most, because I was
challenging myself instead of staying comfortable.
I won’t pretend chemistry calculations never became my favourite topic, but they
stopped feeling impossible. By practising little and often, and actually understanding
the method instead of memorising it, I felt more confident walking into exams.
If you’re revising GCSE chemistry and there’s one topic you keep putting off, that’s
probably the one to start with. It’s uncomfortable at first, but once you break it down
and face it properly, it becomes manageable.
This is how I revised chemistry calculations – Slowly, Imperfectly and Honestly.
Hitanshi
BSc(hon) Management, Final year
University of Bath
Looking for more support? Our Chemistry by Example and Chemistry Mind Maps are the perfect companion to help you successfully revise for GCSE Chemistry exams.