[noor123]

So I have the exam in 2 weeks and i just finished going through all the material (total of 12 lectures+2 on spectroscopy) and making my own notes and putting all reactions onto seperate sheets of paper.

Now im stuck as to how i should continue... like where do i start now? How much of it am i suppose to memorize?  Basically every lecture for instance Aromatic have their own set of reaction types. And all the other lecture topics have their own.... So should i start by learning every 'type-of-reaction' first?
And then what? 

You see im a little all over the place now and dont want to feel overwhelmed once its a few days till exam. So anyone who has been through this... any help?

oh and some ppl say making your own 'maps' are beneficial,, but does that mean making a map for each lecture? (Halogenoalkanes,alkene/ynes,Alcohols, aromatc, COOH, etc?

[Mitch]

I think at this point you should try teaching other people the material you learned. Find some classmates and take turns going over the sections. Also, help other f=people on the forum with their questions.

[Babcock_Hall]

Have you done homework problems?

[noor123]

yes we were given seminar questions along with every lecture.

Not getting any clear answers here... How did you guys study? Write the reactions over n over n over again until it sticks?

[Mitch]

I usually do book problems.

[Babcock_Hall]

I did homework problems and made flash cards.

[Ben Bob2]

In preparing for exams overall, I generally take three steps. The first is obviously, to understand the concepts. Secondly I look for connections and patterns to see how topics as a whole fit together. Finally I memorize material, and practice example problems and homework problems that have an answer key.

I think that the second step of the process is the most important for me because it makes the raw memorization much more bearable.
For example when I memorized functional groups I kept in mind that there are sixteen groups that my teacher required, so I divided them into four subcategories of four similar structures and/or elements--four with oxygen being the main component, four with nitrogen, three with only carbon plus the odd sulfur, etc.
My point is, before I start simply memorizing, I try to look for patterns in the information.
Not sure if that helps you at all.

[noor123]

Thanks!!