“Is this going to be on the test?” If I taught it to you, assume it’s fair game. Snark aside, when it comes to what is actually going to be on the test I like them to be prepared. That’s why for each unit, I give students a homework sheet that has the learning target for each lesson. And while I disagree with admin that they need to be written on the board, and read aloud, they are worth your time! Students use them to prepare for tests throughout the year. So I’ve decided to take all those learning targets (and then some) and put them into one comprehensive chemistry study guide to use for final exam prep.
These final exam study guide is designed to serve two purposes:
- To help students’ studying throughout the school year, especially before unit tests.
- To help students review EV-ER-Y-THING for the final exam, without feeling completely overwhelmed.
What’s in the Chemistry Study Guide?
The study guide is organized by unit and it’s broken down by lesson as well. It includes a ton of “I can” statements. They’re simple, specific skills or pieces of knowledge that students should understand by the end of that unit.
I’m a big proponent of getting students to take responsibility and do things on their own. I’m not a big “hand holder” as a teacher. So to me, getting the kids to figure out what they need to study is my prime focus. The purpose of the study guide and the “I can” statements is to get students to recognize the things that they know and don’t know. Then they take this list as a way to guide their studying. Rather than flipping through pages of notes and guessing what might be important, they know exactly what they’re expected to know and do.
Designed for Use All Year—Not Just the End of the Year
One of my favorite parts of using the chemistry study guide is that they aren’t just for final exam review. You can use the pages and sections throughout the school year.
Here’s how you can use it throughout the school year:
- As a study guide before each unit test – Edit the doc a little bit so you hand out the current unit. Students can check off what they’ve learned and target areas they still need to review.
- As a self-assessment tool – Ask students to rate their confidence on each “I can” statement using a simple scale (like 1–3). This helps promote metacognition and study planning. This works well in class, with peers.
- For parent communication – These guides make it simple to show parents what their child should know, especially if a student is struggling. Parents often struggle to help their children with chemistry. This is a helpful document that can help them to get their kids the help that they need. Whether that be a tutor, books, or helping to search YouTube for a helpful video.
A Powerful Final Exam Review Tool
Of course, the study guide shines during final exam season. By the time spring rolls around, many students feel overwhelmed at the thought of reviewing a full year’s worth of chemistry content. Especially when they’re also studying for History, Math, English and their electives. Not knowing where to start can be overwhelming.
To begin, I give out the final exam study guide and have students look through their old tests and their test score tracker. Students go through and decide which units need the most work. Once they find the units or lessons they need help with, they flip back through their notebooks and redo the Show What You Know Questions.
The best part about the study guide, at least for teachers, is that it’s editable. Depending on what you’ve taught your students and what they need to know for their final, you can adjust your study guide to exactly what you need. It’s a Google Doc, so you can share it digitally with your students too!
Why This Works
There’s nothing fancy or flashy about the study guide. I’ll be honest. Here’s why I love it. It’s simple and easy to use. It keeps the focus. Students work to study the things that they don’t know instead of the things they do know. You don’t have to write your own study guide. You can just do some small edits to what is already there. And if you’ve decided to use it all year, students can track their learning. It can help to keep them accountable.
Final Exam Review
If you are in need of some final exam review materials, check out my TPT store for what I can offer you. Or check out my post on ways that I like to review for all exams (not just end of the year) in my chemistry class.
If you’re looking for a way to bring more clarity and consistency to your students’ studying, the chemistry final exam study guide is ready to go! They align with the major topics taught in a standard high school chemistry course and work with almost any curriculum. Get it here.
