How to Score 90+ in Chemistry Class 12 (Tips & Strategies)

Class 12 Chemistry is a nightmare for many board-appearing students. Moreover, its division into two segments, i.e. organic and inorganic, makes it even more difficult to understand and memorise the jargon and reactions! 

Chemistry subject holds utmost importance for class 12th board students as there are many instances when a student’s overall marks get heavily dropped solely due to a weak grasp of the chemistry subject. Consequently, it becomes quite important for students to properly strategies for the Chemistry exam preparation. Not to worry, this blog will help you out! 

Class 12th Chemistry is segregated into 2 parts and so is this blog. Let us first understand how to prepare for the theory exam and then, we’ll move forward to the practical examination preparation. 

A) Theory Paper

70% of your total Chemistry board examination marks depends on your theory paper. Therefore, it goes without saying that preparation for the theory part should be strong. Here are a few tips on how you can prepare well for the theory part —

Understanding the Syllabus

A silly mistake that many students do is that they directly start to study the first chapter without even understanding the syllabus and chapter weightage. However, the very first step for preparing for the chemistry examination should be to note down the syllabus and divide them according to mark distribution. This will help you to analyze which chapter should be given top priority.   

Here’s the unit-wise mark distribution of class 12th Chemistry — 

S.No	Units	Marks
1	Solutions	7
2	Electrochemistry	9
3	Chemical Kinetics	7
4	d -and f -Block Elements	7
5	Coordination Compounds	7
6	Haloalkanes and Haloarenes	6
7	Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers	6
8	Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids	8
9	Amines	6
10	Biomolecules	7
	Total	70

Understanding Your Strong & Weak Topics

Analyzing your weak points in chemistry is one of the key answers to how to score outstanding marks in the subject. Class 12th Chemistry, for sure, consists of a lot of chapters and concepts. Therefore, oftentimes you might face problems in mastering them all at a single point of time,

The best way to analyze your strong and weak points is to review your performance in class tests and assignments. This way, you’ll be able to analyze your strong zone and problem-solving skills. Moreover, do not hesitate to reach out to your teachers and friends to give feedback. 

Once you analyze your weak points, it becomes easy for you to put extra effort into that section and hence, learn that concept too. 

Organic v/s Inorganic

Many students have a good understanding of inorganic chemistry and thermodynamics but fail to grasp the concept of organic chemistry. And if you are also one of these students, do not worry! 

Here are a few quick tips to prepare magnificently for organic chemistry:

Tips for Organic Chemistry 

• Have a thorough understanding of fundamental topics, namely, chemical bonding, molecular structure, and reaction mechanisms.
• Lewis structures, skeletal structures, and resonance structures are some of the complex drawings and interpretations. Practice well for the drawings and interpreting chemical structures.
• Make sure to understand the reaction mechanism well.
• Organic chemistry involves a large number of functional groups, therefore try to memorize the key functional groups and their properties. 
• Study strategically for organic chemistry and nothing can stop you from excelling. 

Let us now understand how to prepare for the inorganic chemistry section. 

Tips for Inorganic Chemistry

• Master the foundation of inorganic chemistry – ‘Periodic Table.’
• Master the bonding types, namely, ionic, covalent, metallic, and coordinate covalent bonding. 
• Electron sharing, electron transfer, and resonance are a few topics to be understood well.
• Learn about complex reaction mechanisms.
• The properties, nomenclature, and reactions of common inorganic compounds are a must to develop a solid foundation for inorganic chemistry.
• Stay organized and seek help whenever you feel needed.

B) Practicals

A lot of people take practicals lightly, which is a big mistake as your practical marks can make or break your final percentage. Here’s the marks distribution for chemistry practicals based on the area of evaluation.  

Evaluation Scheme for Examination	Marks
Volumetric Analysis	08
Salt Analysis	08
Content-Based Experiment	06
Project Work	04
Class record and viva	04
Total	30

Chemistry practicals can help you increase your total marks significantly if you prepare for them the right way. Here’s how you can smartly prepare for your chemistry practices.

1. Experiment Theory

Focus on the theory of the experiments as this can lead to a better understanding of the experiments. Read and understand the experiment properly before starting to do the practicals. Doing so will let you know the details about the salts, equipment and method well. 

2. Presentation/Viva Practice

Your practical presentation is the main factor on which the examiner decides your overall performance. Practice for your presentation and questions for the viva exams for securing the maximum marks which will enhance the overall marks.

3. Experiment Multiple Times 

“Practice Makes One Perfect”, therefore, make sure you practice the experiments multiple times from your hand until it is perfected. It will help you to complete the main practical examination precisely and in a timely manner.

4. File Preparation 

The project file should be prepared neatly with proper diagrams, tables, and graphs. Also, document your experiments, observations, and results in a systematic manner. It is important to make sure your practical file is easy to read and proper headings, formats, and fonts are used to make it precise. Don’t forget to dually check the errors in the file before submitting. 

Practice the Previous Year & Sample Papers

Ask any senior of yours and they’ll let you know how beneficial it is to solve the previous year’s papers before the main exam. Chemistry is a subject where question concepts are limited and oftentimes paper makers just use the previous year’s questions with small changes. 

Therefore, solving previous year’s exam papers will help you practice writing formulas quickly and solving big equations in advance. Consequently, it will help to control your nerves and make you relax for the main exam.

Moreover, analyzing the previous year’s paper helps you to understand the types of questions that you will be facing in the examination. Hence, you can put extra effort into learning certain types of questions you are having a hard time with.

Parting Words

Scoring 90+ in chemistry papers isn’t a big deal if you know how to prepare smartly! Securing good marks majorly depends on the theory paper, however, practicals also play a crucial role here. Oftentimes, students with a bad knowledge of chemistry score well just by being confident and having a proper study schedule.

We certainly hope that the tips mentioned in his article will give answers to your question – how to study class 12 chemistry and how to score good marks in chemistry class 12! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How should I prepare for the theory part of class 12th Chemistry?

To prepare for the theory section, students can start by making clear and concise notes. Make sure you highlight the important concepts from your notes so that you can have a quick glance at them just before the examination. Moreover, class 12th chemistry theory consists of a lot of diagrams. Therefore, make sure you learn how to create them as there are high chances of them appearing in the exam. 

2. Which book should I study to prepare for CBSE class 12th chemistry?

The only book you should stick to is the NCERT Chemistry textbook for the boards. The chemistry board paper is made by keeping the NCERT textbook in mind. Therefore, it’s a no-brainer that you should prepare for the class 12th chemistry board through the NCERT textbook. Moreover, the NCERT textbook has simpler explanations of topics as compared to advanced guides. Consequently, it becomes easy to grasp the subject. 

3. How can I improve my problem-solving skills for Chemistry Class 12?

Improving problem-solving skills in Chemistry Class 12 requires practice and dedication. Start by breaking down complex problems into smaller chunks that are easier to understand. For example, try to find the most important information and determine the required steps to solve the problem. Take your time and read through each problem carefully before beginning. Additionally, keep practicing practice problems related to specific topics such as electrochemistry or thermochemistry so you can become more familiar with them. You can also work through past exam papers as this is a great way to get comfortable with solving chemistry questions under timed conditions.