Chemistry for the IB Diploma Study and Revision Guide

Book Preface

This book will help you plan your revision and work through it in a methodological way. The guide follows the Chemistry syllabus topic by topic, with revision and practice questions to help you check your understanding.

Features to help you succeed

You can keep track of your revision by ticking off each topic heading in the book.
Tick each box when you have:
– revised and understood a topic
– tested yourself using the Quick check questions.
Online material can be found on the website accompanying this book www.hoddereducation.com/IBextras/
Online material included:
– option chapters
– answers to Quick check questions
– glossary

Use this book as the cornerstone of your revision. Don’t hesitate to write in it and personalize your notes. Use a highlighter to identify areas that need further work. You may find it helpful to add your own notes as you work through each topic. Good luck!

Getting to know Papers 1, 2 and 3

At the end of your two year IB Chemistry course you will sit three papers – Papers 1, 2 and 3. Paper 1 is worth 20% of the final marks, Paper 2 is worth 36% of the final marks and Paper 3 is worth 20% of the final marks.

The other assessed part of the course (24%) is made up of the Internal Assessment (practical work), which is marked by your teacher and then moderated by the IBO.

Here is some general advice for the exams:
– Make sure you have learnt the command terms (e.g. evaluate, explain and outline): there is a tendency to focus on the content in the question rather than the command term, but if you do not address what the command term is asking of you then you will not be awarded marks.
– Answer all questions and do not leave gaps.
– Do not write outside the answer boxes provided – if you do so this work will not be marked.
– If you run out of room on the page, use continuation sheets and indicate clearly that you have done this on the cover sheet. The fact that the question continues on another sheet of paper needs to be clearly indicated in the text box provided.
– Plan your time carefully before the exams – this is especially important for Papers 2 and 3.

– Paper 1
Paper 1 consists of multiple choice questions with four responses. There is no reading time for these papers. HL Paper 1 has 40 questions (15 in common with SL) to be answered in one hour. The SL Paper 1 has 30 questions (15 in common with HL) to be answered in 45 minutes. There is no data booklet provided but a periodic table is printed at the front of the papers. A calculator is not allowed for
Paper 1.
– Paper 2
The HL paper 2 has a maximum of 95 marks and lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes.
The SL paper 2 has a maximum of 50 marks and lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. A data booklet is provided and a calculator is allowed. There is five minutes reading time for the papers. There are a variety of types of questions in three sections.
– Paper 3
The SL and HL Paper 3 both have a maximum of 45 marks and each lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. A calculator is needed and a data booklet is provided. There is five minutes reading time for the papers. Paper 3 has a compulsory Section A and Section B, where one Option question is answered.