Chemistry HL

By: O. Oldfield

Let me start off by saying that if you don’t intend to work long hours, forget about taking Chemistry HL. This is an extremely difficult course, but if you are passionate about this subject, do not let this daunt you. If you are willing to work hard and dedicate yourself 100%, you will be fine and, with the help of St. Paul’s world class teachers, you will be able to achieve your goals when taking the IB exam.

One of the benefits of this subject is that class sizes are extremely small as only those truly passionate about Chemistry, and intent on studying medicine or engineering, choose to take this course. This means that teaching is personalized for each student, and everyone has the opportunity to talk one on one with their teacher. Homework is also corrected very quickly and feedback is well detailed, meaning you are able to learn from mistakes made.  The small class size also means that you become close with your peers, creating a friendly environment which is extremely beneficial for learning.

The syllabus for this course covers a wide array of topics and the IGCSE helps to provide a foundation of knowledge to help prepare you to take this taxing subject. Although not all topics may interest you, they are all equally essential and must be studied with the same dedication. The course provides ample opportunity for practical experiments and these help to prepare you for your Internal Assessment, the IB’s version of coursework. There is not a lot of homework for this subject, but do not let this lull you into a false sense of security: studying at home is fundamental if you aim to ace this exam.
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In conclusion, if you are lazy and have no intentions of working hard, DO NOT CHOOSE CHEMISTRY. But if you’re passionate about chemistry, or if you intend to pursue medicine or engineering, Chemistry HL is the perfect course for you.