The Resources That Actually Helped Me Understand Organic Chemistry

When I first started studying AS Level Chemistry, organic felt like a mountain I wasn’t ready to climb. I mean, all those reactions, mechanisms, reagents... it felt like I was being asked to learn another language. I struggled at first—but then I found a few resources that genuinely made things click. If you're in the same boat, I hope this helps save you some time (and stress).

1. ZNotes: Short, Sweet, and Exam-Focused

Honestly, ZNotes was the first place I turned to—and I'm glad I did. The notes are straight to the point, and perfect when you need a quick refresher before class or a test. I especially loved the way they laid out the organic chemistry section. Their summary tables helped me connect the dots between reactions, reagents, and conditions without going down a rabbit hole.

2. Chemguide: When I Needed a Deeper Dive

ZNotes is great for summaries, but sometimes I needed more than just the "what"—I needed the "why." That’s where Chemguide came in. The explanations are detailed but still easy to follow. It was my go-to whenever I felt lost on mechanisms or concepts like isomerism. It’s written in a way that feels like a teacher explaining things on a whiteboard—clear and no-nonsense.

3. YouTube: Watching Reactions Come to Life

Some topics just don’t sink in until you see them in action. That’s why I spent a good amount of time on YouTube. A few channels really stood out:

  • MaChemGuy – His videos are packed with past paper-style explanations.

  • Allery Chemistry – Super helpful animations for those visual “aha” moments.

Sometimes I’d just let a playlist run while reviewing my notes—it made even the boring stuff more tolerable.

4. Past Papers: The Real MVP

If there's one thing that helped me the most, it's practice. Once I started doing past paper questions—especially the ones just on organic—it was like something finally clicked. I’d spot patterns in the way questions were asked, and it trained me to think like the examiners do.

I used the CAIE Chemistry site and Physics & Maths Tutor for past papers and mark schemes. Best part? They’re free.

5. Flashcards: Old-School, but Effective

Yep, good old flashcards. I made my own for every type of reaction—reagents on one side, conditions and products on the other. I even drew out mechanisms when I felt artsy. If you prefer digital, Anki is great for spaced repetition, but I liked mixing both methods. Something about writing it out helped me remember better.

Final Thoughts

Everyone learns differently, but these five resources really helped me stop dreading organic chemistry and actually start enjoying it. If you’ve found something that worked wonders for you, let me know—I’m always looking for new study hacks.

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