Approach to Chemistry

Approach to Chemistry

You can expect to see 6-7 Chemsitry questions in Section 2. Around half of these tend to be pretty straightforward - a simple case of recalling facts and applying knowledge. The other half tend to be trickier for most people, because they involve calculations - equations, moles, mass, volumes, concentrations, percentage yields etc. 

Given that 99% of BMAT applicants take Chemistry at A-level (or equivalent), we don't feel there's much point in writing tutorials containing all the things you need to know - the Official Section 2 'Assumed Knowledge' online guide does a pretty good job of that anyway. For those who have yet to discover this resource, you can find instructions on how to access it by visiting this page - http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/for-test-takers/bmat/preparing-for-bmat/section-2-preparation/.

Instead, we've written tutorials that summarise the main points of what you need to know (you can get the nitty gritty details from the Official Guide). You should use these tutorials in tandem with the Official Guide during your BMAT Chemistry revision. While our notes in this regard are not comprehensive, they do cover rather a lot of ground, and attempt to do so without the unnecessary waffle that the Official Guide tends to slip into at times.

When it comes to Chemistry calculations however, we've taken a different approach. We feel the Official Guide is a little thin on the techniques and strategy for calculating various things involving formulae and equations, and so we've written very detailed notes on those topics. Where possible, we've attempted to highlight the thought process behind the getting the answer in a timely fashion. We think (and hope) that you'll find this style of writing approachable and also instructional.

We're hoping to turn this part of the Training Temple into a fully comprehensive resource over time. We're prioritising the topics that we find students tend to struggle on, but hopefully by the end of the season we should have tutorials written up for absolutely everything, so you won't even have to use the Official Guide if you don't want to.

As always, if you're ever stuck on anything and Google doesn't help you out, feel free to contact us by email/phone/text/twitter/facebook/whatever - we're always happy to help, provided we're not in the middle of a lecture.



BMAT Crash Course Online

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Introduction

  • Introduction to the BMAT Crash Course Online

Section 1 - Introduction

  • Approach to Section 1
  • How to prepare for Section 1

Section 1 - Critical Thinking

  • The 3-step Method for Critical Thinking
  • Structure of a Critical Thinking question
  • Critical Thinking Worksheet
  • Conclusions - Strategy
  • Conclusions - Examples
  • Timing in Critical Thinking
  • Conclusions - Questions
  • Assumptions - Strategy
  • Assumptions - The Negation Test
  • Assumptions - Questions
  • Flaws - Strategy
  • Flaws - Questions
  • Strengthen / Weaken - Strategy
  • Strengthen / Weaken - Questions
  • Inferences - Strategy
  • Inferences - Questions
  • Principles - Strategy
  • Reasoning Parallels - Strategy
  • Reasoning Parallels - Questions
  • Critical Thinking Roundup

Section 1 - Problem Solving & Data Analysis

  • Introduction to Problem Solving
  • Problem Solving Worksheet
  • The 3-step Method for Problem Solving
  • The Maths behind Problem Solving
  • Working with Tables
  • Interpreting Graphs
  • Fun with Fractions
  • Repeating Patterns - Strategy
  • Repeating Patterns - Questions
  • Logic - Strategy
  • Logic - Questions
  • The beauty of Venn Diagrams
  • Problem Solving Roundup

Section 2 - Introduction

  • Approach to Section 2
  • How to use the S2 Assumed Knowledge Guide
  • How to prepare for Section 2
  • My Section 2 YouTube video
  • How hard is Section 2?

Section 2 - Physics

  • Approach to Physics
  • How to prepare for BMAT Physics
  • Electricity - Basic Formulae
  • The secret method for every Physics question
  • Physics Worksheets
  • Electricity - Calculations
  • Electricity - Questions
  • Electricity - Series and Parallel Circuits
  • Electricity - Series and Parallel Questions
  • Electricity - Short Circuits
  • Electricity - Diodes
  • Electricity - Test your Understanding
  • Electricity - Transformers
  • Electricity - Transformers Questions
  • Mechanics - Basic Formulae
  • Mechanics - Energy Formulae
  • Mechanics - Test your Understanding
  • Nuclear - The 3 Facts
  • Nuclear - Decay Equations
  • Nuclear - Half-Life
  • Nuclear - Background Radiation
  • Nuclear - Test your Understanding
  • Nuclear - Roundup

Section 2 - Chemistry

  • Approach to Chemistry
  • How to prepare for BMAT Section 2 Chemistry
  • Speeding up your calculations
  • How to work through this section
  • Displacement Reactions
  • Empirical Formulae
  • Valency and Oxidation Numbers
  • Moles #1 - Carbon Reactions
  • Percentage Yield
  • Balancing Equations
  • Moles #2 - Calculations
  • Chemistry Roundup
  • Chemistry Worksheet.pdf

Section 2 - Biology

  • Approach to Biology
  • Genetic Trees - Question #1
  • Genetic Trees - Question #2
  • Important Hormones you should know
  • The Heart and Circulation

Section 2 - Maths

  • Approach to Maths
  • 3 Tips to boost your maths score
  • General Strategies for Maths
  • Mental Arithmetic
  • Word Problems
  • Fractions 101
  • Estimating Fractions

Section 3 - The Essay

  • Approach to Section 3
  • My ultimate guide to Section 3
  • Planning an Essay together
  • Marking Criteria - Content
  • Marking Criteria - English
  • Question Types

Section 3 - Example Essays with Feedback

  • 5A - Dolphins
  • 5A - Integrity
  • 4.5A - Extreme Sports
  • 3B - Extreme Sports
  • 3B - Patient Consent
  • 2.5B - Vaccines

The End

  • Parting Thoughts