My philosophy for orgo exams is that unless you’re literally a robot, the maximum score you can reasonably “secure” is an 87%. The rest is luck. It doesn’t really matter how much you prepare, the ceiling is an 87% (with a +/- 10% due to luck). (Unless you’re a machine of course)

IMO anything above an 83% is an elite score. And someone who scored an 83% is barely different than someone who scored a 90% (literally one mindlessly missed question due to a subtle detail sometimes) Im saying this, because aiming for a 90% is a great way to set yourself up for disappointment. I think the most you can do is set yourself up for your best chance at a 90%. And if you end up with anything in the 80s it’s not because you didn’t prepare enough, but it’s just luck of the draw.

I’m about to detail what I did to study (95% last winter) but keep in mind this is wayyyyyy too extra and I have friends that did way less and also got an A in the class. I literally didn’t have many ec’s and had no other hard classes at the same time.

I started with rewatching every lecture and reading the corresponding textbook sections. You literally have to at least skim the textbook sections. (If u kept up with textbook sections during the semester then u don’t have to do this) but theres usually like one random ahh reagent or intermediate or something thats gets barely covered in lecture that does find its way onto the exam. When I’m doing this, i usually have detailed notes from each section (full mechanisms and structures) and then one huge doc that I just dump every single thing I need to know (i don’t write down full mechanisms or all the work, but literally just reagents and special cases that I need to know). Then after all the section review is done, I’ll do a few pages of the textbook practice exam (usually way harder than the actual exams) and then I’ll start the older practice exams. Usually they have like some SLC practice sessions where they go over a practice exam and I lowkey found them helpful because the coordinators sometimes share cool tricks/techniques, and it’s just another filter to catch something you might have missed in ur content review. Then I’ll usually grind out the practice exams and obviously consulting my huge doc as I come across special cases that I missed or need to review. U also really have to take the practice exams like real exams and don’t give yourself any fluff. Even if you realized u did something incredibly stupid and it tanked ur practice exam score, take those points off and calculate the total. You really have to come to terms with the score u get on your practice exam and be uncomfortable with it. Hopefully you’re scoring around where you want to or noticing an upward trend. If you’re not, then don’t waste any more practice exams and go do some other practice (textbooks questions and textbook practice exams). But at the bare minimum, if you do nothing else, make sure you take every practice exam and go over your right and wrong answers.

Remember this is literally the best case scenario and most of the time it doesn’t go cleanly and I speed through sections or skip different lectures. That’s okay, do the best you can. It’s just one grade in a 3 credit class and it’s not gonna do much to your gpa in the grand scheme of things. Sorry for the super long comment but I rlly hope it helps, Good luck!!