Category Archives: Announcement

Start Preparation Early = Confidence

Greetings from Fuzhou China

Agricultural Land in Fuzhou, China

Two days ago, i received an email update from one of my Sec 4 (2010) Chemistry Student from NanHua High School which had went to Fuzhou, China for close to a month, after completing his GCE O-Level Examinations.

In the email, he would like me to blog about his suggestion to all students that are taking the GCE O-Level Examination in Year 2011 to start their preparation early, as well as those in Sec 3.

From his personal experience, he felt that Sec 4 passed too fast with time spent on CCAs and the rush to complete syllabus by the school. Revision time before the exam is really too short, stressful and there was not enough quality time with friends due to the hectic nature of revision.

“It’s only after the examination, do I really understand that the time for preparation is really short. I hope that you could pass this to other pupils who are preparing for the examination that hey should grasp every second of secondary four year” – extracted from his email

This is in line with what i always advised parents and students – that is to start their revision early so that it is consistent and they will not be so stressful before the GCE O-Level Exams. Consistency = Confidence!

For GCE O-Level Chemistry Exams, students will be tested on all the 20+ topics that i have mentioned in the earlier post. As such, it is important for students to understand all the key essential concepts learned in Sec 3 before they progress in Sec 4. This is because in Sec 4, students have very little chance (truly time constraint) to do proper revision if they start their preparation late.

Now, if you agree with my student’s advice and willing to work hard together with me, i would like to invite you to join our Ultimate Leap Programme – our weekly regular classes – that aims to build in consistency in the student’s progress. Topics to be covered for Sec 3 and 4 Classes can be found in the earlier post. Classes will start in mid-Jan.

Happy 2011 and look forward to meeting you! =)

PS: If you are new to this blog and would like to continue to receive Chemistry Tips, Exam Questions Discussions and other Educational News, go ahead to subscribe to this blog.

PPS: I have some interesting Chemistry stuff to announce in Jan/Feb 2011! Stay tune for it!

Course Structure for Sec 3 & 4 Weekly Chemistry Classes 2011 (Ultimate Leap Programme)

Recently, i have received numerous enquiries on our GCE O-Levels Sec 3 & 4 Chemistry Weekly Classes (Ultimate Leap Programme).

Now, if you are interested to attend any of our Sec 3 & 4 Chemistry Weekly Classes, the information below will be helpful to you.

Our classes are suitable for GCE O-Levels (Pure Chemistry as well as Combine Science) and IGCSE students. For IB and IP Chemistry students, please contact us for discussion on suitability.

Course Structure for Sec 3 Chemistry Class:

  • Experimental Design
  • Methods of Purification & Separation
  • Kinetic Particle Theory
  • Atomic Structure & Ions
  • Chemical Bondings (Ionic, Covalent & Metallic)
  • Structural Properties of Materials
  • Formulae, Stoichiometry & The Mole Concept
  • Acids & Bases
  • Preparation of Salts
  • Redox Reactions

Course Structure for Sec 4 Chemistry Class:

  • Periodic Table & Group Trends
  • Metals & Its Reactivity Series
  • Qualitative Analysis (Identification of Ions & Gases)
  • Speed of Reaction
  • Energy Changes (Exo/Endo)
  • Redox & Electrolysis [not for Combine Science Class]
  • Fuels
  • Alkanes & Alkenes
  • Alcohols & Carboxylic Acids
  • Esters [not for Combine Science Class]
  • Macromolecules [not for Combine Science Class]
  • Air & Atmosphere
  • Ammonia [not for Combine Science Class]

Registration for all our classes are opened. Limited seats left!

Both Sec 3 & 4 Chemistry Classes are scheduled to start in mid-January 2011.

You can register instantly by Clicking HERE

PS: If you find this post helpful to anyone you know, please forward it to them. Thank you.

PPS: If you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us

Successful Completion: O Levels Chemistry Revision / Headstart Workshops – Dec Holidays 2010

It has been a few days after the successful completion of the O Levels Chemistry workshops for December Holidays. It has been fun for me coaching these diverse group of students which has one thing in common – eagerness to learn more and the willingness to participate!

Click HERE to find out about upcoming Chemistry programme in 2011

Chemistry Basic Essential Concepts Workshop6th & 7th Dec 2010

Two groups of students (AM and PM sessions) ranging from Sec 1 – Sec 4 (O Levels / IP /SOTA IB) were put through participative exercises and engaging activities to build up their essential concepts and skill sets such as:

  • Difference between Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
  • Understanding Atomic Structure of Atoms
  • Mastery of the Use of Periodic Table
  • Importance of Chemical Formula
  • Writing Balanced Chemical Equations

Basic Essential Concepts Workshop 2010 Dec - Pix 1

Chemistry Basic Essential Concepts Workshop (AM session)

Basic Essential Concepts Workshop Dec 2010 - PM

Chemistry Basic Essential Concepts Workshop (PM session)

Chemistry Acids, Bases & Salts Revision Workshop8th to 10th Dec 2010

Workshop was attended by Sec 3 and 4 students from O Levels and IP schools.

Many of the students that joined this revision workshop had went for the earlier Chemistry Basic Essential Concepts Workshop on 6th and 7th Dec. You can see that they are so much more confident in writing all the chemical formula and balanced chemical equations which is so common in Acids, Bases and Salts topics. This shows that basic essential concepts and skill sets are important for Chemistry students! They must start from basic….

Comprehensive revision was achieved with lots of participation on exam-based application questions for this workshop. Coverage of key concepts include:

  • Definition, Physical & Chemical Properties of Acids
  • Definition, Physical & Chemical Properties of Alkalis
  • Strategies to Choose the Correct Method for the Preparation of Salts

Acids Bases & Salts

Acids, Bases & Salts Revision Workshop

Now, i am looking forward to mid-January 2011 when the Sec 3 and 4 O Levels Chemistry Weekly Classes (Ultimate Leap Programme) starts for Winners Education Group, with many of the workshop participants joining up for the weekly classes.

PS: If you are interested to join the 2011 weekly Chemistry Classes (Ultimate Leap Programmes), CLICK HERE

Updates: December 2010 Chemistry Revision/Headstart Workshops

Click here to read more

Suitable for O Levels Sec 3, 4 & 5 and IP / IB students

Hi Everyone,

As many parents and their children are back from travelling only next week, we’ve received the request to extend the early bird price sign up for December 2010 Chemistry Revision/Headstart Workshops to 1 Dec 2010, 10pm.

To enjoy 30% off usual workshop fees, register today!
Register here: http://www.simplechemconcepts.com/holiday-chemistry.html

Due to overwhelming response, we have opened an additional session for Chemistry Basic Essential Concepts Workshop. It’s on the same dates, 6 & 7 Dec 2010, 9 am to 1 pm session.

Both Chemistry Basic Essential Concepts & Acids, Bases, Salts Workshops have limited seats left!
Register here: http://www.simplechemconcepts.com/holiday-chemistry.html

For those who have signed up, I’m excited to meet you in a week’s time! :)

Cheers & have a great holiday,
Sean Chua

PS: If you have any questions, please do no hesitate to contact us.

PPS: If you need help for A-Math and/or E-Math TRIGONOMETRY, you can join my colleague Ai Ling at her Dec 2010  Trigonometry Revision Workshops.

Chemistry Phenomenon: Educational Trip to Northern Vietnam – Nov 2010


Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYt6phIXt9E

Hello everyone!

I reckoned some of you would have finished your major exams (GCE O-Levels, IP, IB and IGCSE). Congrats! It’s time for your to enjoy your holiday before you embark on the next stage of your academic and knowledge pursuance.

It has been a while since you last hear from me. We (Winners Education Group) just came back from our educational trip to Northern Vietnam (Hanoi City, Sapa and Halong Bay, etc) and we have learned alot about their:

  • Educational system for Primary, Secondary, High School and Universities
  • Educational levels as compared to other developed and developing nations
  • History and Literature
  • Language and Economy

And, of course – i saw several interesting Chemistry Phenomenon – Chemistry reactions and actions that are related to our everyday life!

Halong Bay – an UNESCO World Heritage Site has 2000+ limestone structures that are formed due to the wave and wind erosion of one huge island, over thousands and thousands of years.

Halong Bay - Unesco World Heritage

We also saw villagers selling home-made Corn Wine along the streets! This corn wine has 50% v/v alcohol (ethanol) content!

Tribal Lady selling Corn Wine

And apparently some villagers used it to power and run their cars and motorbikes! Chemistry students! Ready for actions?

Successful Completion of annual Score 100% MCQ Mastery Workshop 2010

Updates from O-Levels students that have taken the Pure Chemistry Paper 1 (MCQ) on 12th Nov 2010:

“Hi Sean. 7 questions from the Score 100% Chemistry MCQ Mastery Workshop” came out for Chemistry Paper 1!”
- Timothy Wang, ACS(Independent) 2010 [Text sms on 12th Nov]

“Thank you very much Mr Chua! Some same exact questions that you gave us in the wkshop came out in the exam!! I could also apply whatever you taught us throughout this year…Thanks a lot for your guidance, Mr Chua! =) ”
- Nanthini, St. Margaret School 2010 [Text sms on 12th Nov]

Score100MCQ_Overall

I am pleased to share with you the successful completion of the annual GCE O-Levels Pure Chemistry “Score 100% MCQ Mastery Workshop 2010″ on 6th November 2010.

A total of 62 GCE O-Levels students attended this awesome  annual event with the aim of helping them to score high for their Pure Chemistry Paper 1 (MCQ) Paper which has an overall weightage of 30%.

I am so proud of this group of students taking time off to attend this workshop. There is a say that “80% of the Success is about taking the necessary Actions” and you can certainly know that this group of students are serious in improving their overall Chemistry grades.

Score100MCQ_1

Score100MCQ_2

Score100MCQ_3

Now, i would like to wish every GCE O Levels Chemistry (Pure Chemistry and Combine Science Chemistry) students the best in their MCQ Paper. Remember to manage your time and shade your answers carefully.

PS: You can click the link below for a collections of Chemistry MCQ questions that were discussed in this chemistry blog.

>> http://www.simplechemconcepts.com/tag/chemistry-mcq/

PPS: Feel free to let anyone know about this if you think they can benefit from it.

Be like the tortoise – Final Dash for ‘O’ Level Chemistry

NOTE: Singapore students who are taking GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry Paper 1 on 12 Nov 2010

O Level Chemistry MCP Paper 1

I’m sure you have heard the tortoise and the hare story. Despite its slowness, the tortoise won the race with its perseverance and determination.

Yesterday, you completed HALF the race - Chemistry Paper 2 (Pure Chemistry) or Science Paper 3 (Combine Science).

From SMS, facebook and twitter messages i have received yesterday, some students said it was easy while another group mentioned that it was tricky. Whatever the case (easy or tricky), this is not important now. The important thing is that you are only half-way through the race.

To win the race, you must have the perseverance and never-give-up spirit all the way till Chemistry Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) paper on 12 Nov.

It isn’t easy, I must admit. There are so much distractions and mentally, you could be tired with major papers completed by next week. Everyone could be in celebratory mood since what’s left are mainly the MCQ papers (perceived by most students to be easy). Hmm … …

This was the attitude of the hare, wasn’t it? The race is easy since that tortoise is so slow and I can run so fast, I might as well take a nap and when I wake up, the tortoise must be still far far away.

This is what happened to a lot of O Level students over the past years! (Plus the fact that if this year’s Paper 2 is relatively easy, the more you should be mentally prepared that Paper 1 would be CHALLENGING!)

So come on, WAKE UP! You must stay focused and persevere to score well for your Chemistry MCQ Paper 1.

On my part, I’m training a very committed group of students on 6 Nov 2010 to fight against distraction and focus on the remaining part of the race: Pure Chemistry MCQ worth 40 marks! A whopping 30% weightage for Chemistry!

If you want to win this race, I welcome you to join with open arms.

Details & online register here: http://www.simplechemconcepts.com/MCQ100percent.htm

If you can’t sign up online by the time you read this, it means the limited seats left are all taken. I’m sorry.

All the best to your exams! =)