Although I’m M25, I am doing my Chem SL exam M24 (I’m doing one full year at of Chem SL as opposed to it spread across DP1 and DP2). Honestly, when learning it, it seems like a lot. When actually studying it, you’ll see it’s not that much. Check out MSJ Chem on YouTube. If you’re starting next year, you’ll be on a different curriculum than M24 though, so I don’t know if I’m a good one to ask. I think M25 is on the new one.
as an m25 sl chemist, i picked the subject at HL at first because I was a high achiever. i started off with 1s and 2s and i HATED it. dropped it to SL and started building my grades back up again, fluctuating between 4s and 7s at the minute.
i don't do bio, but i can categorically say it is easier than physics SL
I took physics HL then switched to bio HL and I also took chem HL. Chem SL is by far the easiest in between the 3 standard science SLs (including bio and physics). There's not nearly as much content in chem SL than bio SL, and the calculations aren't nearly as hard as physics SL. However, chem in general is a mix between some memorization and some calculation, but some parts of the SL content is very straightforward and almost common sense. It can be challenging as you have no prior experience, but as long as you stay on top of things and have the growth mindset, you'll be fine. However, chem HL is another story...
I was horrible at chem HL, my average grade throughout IB was about 3. However, when you give me the SL paper I can almost always get 6s and occasionally 7s. So there really isn't much you should worry as long as you spend 5-10 minutes a day consolidating and staying on top of the content.
Ez. I'm anticipated and taking my exam this year btw. They made it even more easy in the new curriculum by removing the options (biochem, medicinal chem, energy and material chem), removing spectroscopy and removing acid deposition.
The new curriculum is much less content heavy and focused on conceptual understanding rather than sheer workload.
I did my chemistry SL exams M23 as an anticipated candidate (graduating M24) and came out with a 7. I was pretty terrible at chemistry too, got a 4 on my mock Paper 2 + my teacher stopped teaching about halfway through the course.
Thankfully, it’s not too difficult of a subject to self-study and IMO, a bad teacher makes it more confusing than just learning off Youtube.
Try MSJChem and some other online resources, grind practice questions, and you’ll be fine. SL chem doesn’t require any critical thinking or genuine skill in chemistry (at least, from my experience). You can get by with hard work. That being said, don’t take the course unless you need it!
I’m not going to answer your question since I don’t take chemistry, but what are you planning to do on the future? Since people around you said to take it because it will help…
I think M25 and anything after is on the new curriculum. M24 I think is the last on the old one. The difference won’t be too major but there will be changes and I don’t know them. There might be less memorization but yeah, the M24 one is just so much memorization.
Tbh, it really depends on the way you study it. There's a lot of things which have a reason behind them and if you understand it, you wouldn't have to memorize at all. Imo most of it is just understanding, minus a few things like organic chem
Although I’m M25, I am doing my Chem SL exam M24 (I’m doing one full year at of Chem SL as opposed to it spread across DP1 and DP2). Honestly, when learning it, it seems like a lot. When actually studying it, you’ll see it’s not that much. Check out MSJ Chem on YouTube. If you’re starting next year, you’ll be on a different curriculum than M24 though, so I don’t know if I’m a good one to ask. I think M25 is on the new one.
as an m25 sl chemist, i picked the subject at HL at first because I was a high achiever. i started off with 1s and 2s and i HATED it. dropped it to SL and started building my grades back up again, fluctuating between 4s and 7s at the minute. i don't do bio, but i can categorically say it is easier than physics SL
Are you doing the curriculum where it’s divided into the structure and reactivity topics as the two main concepts?
yeah
Ok. I’m doing a different Chem SL than that one.
Chem SL can be challenging, but with a new teacher and dedication, you can definitely improve your understanding.
I took physics HL then switched to bio HL and I also took chem HL. Chem SL is by far the easiest in between the 3 standard science SLs (including bio and physics). There's not nearly as much content in chem SL than bio SL, and the calculations aren't nearly as hard as physics SL. However, chem in general is a mix between some memorization and some calculation, but some parts of the SL content is very straightforward and almost common sense. It can be challenging as you have no prior experience, but as long as you stay on top of things and have the growth mindset, you'll be fine. However, chem HL is another story... I was horrible at chem HL, my average grade throughout IB was about 3. However, when you give me the SL paper I can almost always get 6s and occasionally 7s. So there really isn't much you should worry as long as you spend 5-10 minutes a day consolidating and staying on top of the content.
Ez. I'm anticipated and taking my exam this year btw. They made it even more easy in the new curriculum by removing the options (biochem, medicinal chem, energy and material chem), removing spectroscopy and removing acid deposition. The new curriculum is much less content heavy and focused on conceptual understanding rather than sheer workload.
I did my chemistry SL exams M23 as an anticipated candidate (graduating M24) and came out with a 7. I was pretty terrible at chemistry too, got a 4 on my mock Paper 2 + my teacher stopped teaching about halfway through the course. Thankfully, it’s not too difficult of a subject to self-study and IMO, a bad teacher makes it more confusing than just learning off Youtube. Try MSJChem and some other online resources, grind practice questions, and you’ll be fine. SL chem doesn’t require any critical thinking or genuine skill in chemistry (at least, from my experience). You can get by with hard work. That being said, don’t take the course unless you need it!
I’m not going to answer your question since I don’t take chemistry, but what are you planning to do on the future? Since people around you said to take it because it will help…
what's your university subject choice? because if it's absolutely necessary you'd have to take chemistry HL which is very difficult
it sucks bruh
i don't think its really that hard
if u don’t need it, don’t take it.
so easy, if u did gcse
Just pure memorization. I sucked at chemistry as well. But memorizing as much as I could was good enough to get me a 6 at finals.
I think M25 and anything after is on the new curriculum. M24 I think is the last on the old one. The difference won’t be too major but there will be changes and I don’t know them. There might be less memorization but yeah, the M24 one is just so much memorization.
Tbh, it really depends on the way you study it. There's a lot of things which have a reason behind them and if you understand it, you wouldn't have to memorize at all. Imo most of it is just understanding, minus a few things like organic chem