Y3S2 Module Review

 I have no idea why I took 3 memory-intensive mods this semester, even as I grow to dislike such mods with age. Results this semester are still not satisfactory, but better than last semester. I've could S/U-ed CM9103 but I wanted to see what grade I would get. Alas, that pulled my cGPA down this semester, but it's okay. Next semester I can take 2 more enjoyable electives and S/U. At this point, I've stopped caring so much about cGPA since I've decided to do internship instead of FYP.

A little advice if you're considering doing internship in Sem 1 or Sem 2. Most people seem to want Sem 2 internship, which leaves more vacancies for Sem 1 internship + you get to graduate about a month earlier if you opt for Sem 1 internship (end in mid-May or earlier compared to mid-Jun if you do Sem 2 internship). The argument for Sem 2 internship is probably for those who don't want to go back to studying for a last semester and/or want to work immediately after internship and think that it is an advantage because your internship company probably remembers you better. Consider these points well!
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CM3031 - ORGANIC REACTIONS MECHANISMS AND SYNTHESIS (3 AU)
Type: CORE
Grade: B+
Comments: Well, well, well. I don't think I'll do well for organic this sem, because I have been making careless mistakes during midterms even when I do know my stuff. Took me awhile to see the stereochem for Zhao Yanli's part (all the models), but I surprisingly enjoyed Tan Choon Hong's part (pericyclic reactions). I like the endo/exo for cycloaddition the most :D 2 midterms and finals, all open book + can bring molecular kit. Finals had a questions which stumped me, which did not make for a satisfying paper...

CM3061 - CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY 3 (3 AU)
Type: CORE
Grade: A-
Comments: Organic lab is taxing as always, especially with the new double experiments in 1 week and 2-week experiments. There's also a journal style report for 2 experiments. However, I feel that it is much less taxing than Year 2 organic lab, especially since we have a very nice Chief TA this sem (Anders). Finals were weird as they didn't really test experiment content like in the last 2 sems, but was more like the first lab paper. They tested chemical structures, one question on an experiment, some common glassware etc and calculations for dilution (which caught me by surprise).

HW0228 - SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION II (3 AU)
Type: GER-CORE
Grade: A-
Comments: I feel like I didn't learn anything new and useful in this module. After all, CBC lab modules have already taught us how to search literature using the school database, read journal articles and more. Assignments consist of an individual critique of the introduction of a journal article, a group report and presentation based on a study the group conducted over a few weeks. My tutor was Glenn Toh and he was very carefree. Lessons ended earlier (as he won't go through the slides in too much details) and he gave in-class time for discussion as well. His marking seemed to be lenient as well (?)

CM4011 - ADVANCED ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (3 AU)
Type: MPE
Grade: A
Comments: Feels like I've only learnt half the content due to Pumera's part being mostly a rehash of CM2011 knowledge. And with Pumera having left NTU, I'm not sure what will happen to his part in the next year. For my sem, we were only tested on Webster's part (which may sound good because half the content, right? But Pumera's part is actually easier...) Surprise, surprise. My only A this semester.

CM4014 - NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY (3 AU)
Type: MPE
Grade: A-
Comments: A memory mod with graded clickers (but most lectures the clicker fails/doesn't work OTL). Good if you like remembering stuff. For midterms, refer to the sample past year paper on NTU Exam Papers site and it'll have a similar format. For finals, hmm there were some weird parts, but I don't remember much already haha... (post-exam amnesia lol)

CM9103 - FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION (3 AU)
Type: UE
Grade: B
Comments: Taught by Li Tianhu again (from CM9101), but content is more difficult this year because it's all new information. Format of testing is the same: 2 midterms, choosing the better grade (makes up 40% of final score). If you did well for the first midterm, you can choose not to attend the second :D For finals, it's an short answer fest. 3 questions, 1 for each topic. Be warned, each question has a lot of parts. For Question 3 (Food Additives), there are parts from a to p... Takes around 1h20min to complete writing your answers. Although it's not that easy to score (since content is easy + small class, bell-curve is relatively steeper?), the content learnt is pretty interesting and useful.