Shocked by a 5 on the First Chemistry Exam: Solving 3,000 Pages Three Times to Reach UCL London (IB & AP Chemistry / Biology Study Guide)
Contents
Hello! This is JjangJi Edu (JjangJi Science), where we teach IB Chemistry, AP Chemistry, IB Biology, and AP Biology to international and overseas high school students around the world.
When international school students first begin IB Chemistry HL or AP Chemistry, even students who excelled in middle school science are often blindsided by an unexpected 4 or 5 on their very first school exam.
Today’s story is about a student who received a Grade 5 on her very first chemistry exam and used to begin every lesson worrying, “What if I don’t get a 7 this time either?” Yet that initial shock fueled a legendary turnaround: she printed out the entire 3,000-page problem set we provided, solved it two to three times before every exam, and memorized her mistake notebook cover to cover—ultimately sweeping 7s across her school subjects and matriculating at University College London (UCL).
First, watch her 55-second highlight story below:
1. The Shock of a First Chemistry Exam Grade 5—and a Message from a ‘School Legend’
While preparing current cohorts for the upcoming IB Chemistry Final, I found myself thinking back to this former student—who used to pout and worry before every test, yet studied more fiercely than anyone to become a true legend at her school.
When I messaged her asking how university life in London was going and whether she could share a few words with her juniors on how she achieved a Final 7 in IB Chemistry, she sent back a long, heartfelt reply:
Her message contained no shortcuts or gimmicks—only a breathtaking record of sheer volume, relentless repetition, and zero compromise.
2. Printing 3,000 Pages Three Times & Memorizing Notes in the Car
The exact method she used to turn an initial Grade 5 into a perfect 7 in IB Chemistry was crystal clear:
- Printing All 3,000 Pages and Completing 2–3 Full Passes per Exam: “I printed out the entire 3,000-page problem set you gave me, went through it two or three times before every exam, and memorized my mistake notebook.”
- Drilling Multiple-Choice (Paper 1A) & Asking Every Missed Question Immediately: “Multiple-choice questions didn’t take long to solve, so I drilled them repeatedly and asked you every single question I missed right away.”
During exam periods, desk time alone wasn’t enough for her—so she condensed textbook concepts into her own summary sheets and memorized them in the car on her way to the academy.
As she put it: “I was really strict with myself—I memorized everything cover to cover with the mindset that I wouldn’t miss a single question!”
3. Inside Her Actual iPad Chemistry Notes: IB/AP Chemistry & Biology Study Strategy
Below are the actual iPad IB Chemistry summary notes she created and memorized during high school:
Look closely at how every chemical equation, state symbol, color change, and periodic trend—from Period 3 oxides and halogen reactivity to acid deposition and ocean acidification—is organized into color-coded tables that can be reviewed at a glance.
- How to Build an IB / AP Chemistry Mistake Notebook: Never just copy the answer key. Record the exact trap condition you missed (temperature/pressure conditions, state symbols, significant figures, oxidation-state shifts) and the mandatory Markscheme / Scoring Guidelines keywords on a single-page unit sheet so you can scan the entire syllabus in 10 minutes right before an exam.
- Pairing IB / AP Biology for UK Biomedical & Medical Admissions: For students targeting UK Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, or Pharmacy alongside IB Biology and AP Biology, drawing biochemical pathways from memory and compiling Data-based Question reasoning patterns into a unified mistake notebook is the fastest route to a 7 or 5.
4. Sweeping 7s Across School Subjects & Thriving at UCL London
Her refusal to settle after that first Grade 5—and the thousands of pages she solved three times over—paid off in full. Sweeping 7s across nearly all of her school subjects and earning a 7 on the IB Chemistry Final, she matriculated at University College London (UCL).
To every international school student staring at a disappointing first exam score today and wondering if science just isn’t for you—may her 3,000-page comeback story inspire you to pick up your pen again!
For 1:1 and small-group IB Chemistry, AP Chemistry, IB Biology, and AP Biology course inquiries and our full archive of global university acceptance stories, visit our official website and YouTube channel below:
- 🌐 JjangJi Edu Official Website: https://www.jjangji.com/en/
- 🎬 YouTube Shorts Highlight: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4c23xibfCJE
10+ years dedicated instruction in AP, IB, and A Level Chemistry.
About
