The reviews for the OCR A-level Chemistry 2018 Practice book on Amazon UK are overwhelmingly positive, with many reviewers awarding the book a 5-star rating. Here's a summary of the reviews:
Effective for Practice: Reviewers find the book effective for its intended purpose, praising its ability to provide ample practice opportunities.
Good Revision Aid: The book is appreciated as a good revision aid, helping students plan their revision, set goals, and cover all necessary topics.
Exam Preparation: The presence of exam-style questions and preparation tips are appreciated, aiding in reducing exam stress and familiarizing students with the exam format.
Quality of Questions: A wide range of questions is provided, although a couple of reviewers wished for more questions or examples in the book to aid understanding.
Value for Money: While one reviewer finds the book a bit expensive for its offerings, another mentions it's the cheapest option they've seen on Amazon, indicating a variance in opinions regarding its value for money.
Detailed Explanations: The book is praised for its detailed explanations which likely aid in understanding the material.
General Satisfaction: Many reviewers express general satisfaction with the purchase, finding the book helpful, effective, and a great study aid for their OCR A-level Chemistry preparation.
Delivery and Condition: The book arrived on time and in good condition, adding to the positive experience of the purchasers.
Overall, the reviews suggest that this book is a valuable resource for students preparing for their OCR A-level Chemistry exams, with its practice questions and revision aids being particularly praised.
"This book is really useful and such great value. Far more effective than a traditional revision book. This is a book you write on so it's not going to be given to you by your school or college, it's really an essential extra. A great way to get the basics in place for each topic by answering lots of questions before tackling all the real OCR exam questions" Dr Torben Smith
Jim Clark's "Calculations in A-level Chemistry" receives high praise from reviewers, primarily for its ability to simplify complex calculation processes in chemistry, making it a valuable resource for OCR A-level students. Here's a summary of the reviews:
Grade Saver: Many reviewers credit the book for significantly improving their grades, finding it indispensable for their studies.
Revision Aid: The book is highlighted as a good revision tool, aiding in understanding and practicing calculations crucial for exams.
Comprehensive: Reviewers appreciate the comprehensive nature of the book, covering a wide range of topics and calculations necessary for A-level chemistry.
Effective Explanations: The explanations are deemed simple, clear, and step-by-step, aiding in understanding even the most challenging calculations.
Example and Practice Questions: The book provides worked examples followed by practice questions, which are appreciated for their effectiveness in reinforcing understanding.
Ease with Maths: Many appreciate the book's approach to the mathematical aspect of chemistry, aiding those who struggle with maths to grasp complex calculations.
Beyond A-level: Some reviewers note the book's relevance even beyond A-level, finding it helpful for higher education in chemistry.
Author's Approach: Jim Clark's delivery and chatty style are praised for making difficult problems seem achievable and for providing a thorough understanding of the calculation processes.
Condition Discrepancy: One reviewer noted a discrepancy in the description of the book's condition when purchasing a used copy, although this did not detract from the book's content quality.
High Recommendation: The book comes highly recommended by both students and educators, reflecting its perceived value in preparing for A-level chemistry exams and improving understanding of calculations.
Overall, the consensus is that Jim Clark's book is a highly beneficial resource for mastering the calculations involved in OCR A-level Chemistry, making it a recommended purchase for students aiming to excel in their exams.
The reviews for "A Level Chemistry for OCR A Student Book" by Rob Ritchie and Dave Gent reflect a high level of satisfaction among purchasers, particularly those studying OCR A Level Chemistry. Here's a summary of the reviews:
Clarification and Detail: The book is appreciated for its on-point information, detailed concepts, and well-explained material which aids in clarifying doubts regarding the syllabus.
Textbook Quality: Despite some minor reported errors, it is regarded as a high-quality and essential textbook for both A1 & A2 levels of OCR Chemistry, providing depth in examinable material.
Cost Concern: Several reviewers mention the cost as a downside, finding it expensive especially for students. However, they deem the investment worthwhile for the clarity and help it provides.
Practical Usage: The book is praised for its practical use, with many reviewers mentioning its effectiveness in helping students understand topics better and improve their exam performance.
Comparison with Online Resources: It is noted to provide greater clarity on certain topics compared to online tools and tests, making it a valuable offline resource.
Edition Preference: Some reviewers mention a preference for the split version by year to reduce the weight of the book carried around, although this comes at a higher total cost.
Exercise and Questions: The presence of many questions and practice exercises is appreciated, although a desire for answers to end-of-topic questions is expressed. (Torben - I can give a link to the answers online)
Condition and Delivery: The condition of the book, especially when bought second-hand, and the prompt delivery are appreciated by several reviewers.
Recommendation: The strong recommendations from students and a parent who wished to have had such a book during their own studies underscore its perceived value in mastering A-level Chemistry concepts.
Overall, the book is highly recommended by reviewers for anyone studying OCR A Level Chemistry, with its detailed explanations, practical exercises, and alignment with the specification being particularly praised, despite the high cost being a recurring concern.
"Schools and colleges that can afford the best choose this textbook for their OCR A level Chemistry students. If they can't afford it or the digital version provided with OCR Kerboodle then really you must get it yourself. Think how much getting a good chemistry grade is going to be worth to you long term - for some of you it might even be millions of pounds. The author Rob Ritchie sets most of the OCR Chemistry exams - need I say more? The end of chapter exam questions are not in the book but they can be found online, or message me. Completing this book cover to cover is such a big part of getting an A* in your A-level" Dr Torben Smith
"Jim Clark's calculation book is legendary! about half the course involves calculations and whether your Maths is a strength or a weakness this book is for you. For OCR-A tackle all the chapters except #9, you can also skip the little bit on pH of weak bases (p201-205) and the bits on S-total (262-265) and old mass spec info (20-21). That leaves almost the entire book spot on for boosting the calculations side of the OCR course. This won't replace doing the real exam papers but it will definitely help a lot if you tackle this over the two years. As well as the review summary above have a read of the actual reviews via this Amazon link, you won't spend your money better!" Dr Torben Smith
If you purchase on Amazon via any of the links on this website I might earn a tiny commision. That would be nice but i'm not expecting anything. It certainly didn't affect my choice of books.