The mole and stoichiometry: a four-step method
From mass to moles and back, limiting reagent and percentage yield: a four-step method for the stoichiometry test in Year 3 of Italian high school.
Blog
Notes from the notebook.
Guides, worked examples and study method, translated from our Italian blog.
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Polynomial division and Ruffini's rule in Year 3
Long division, Ruffini's rule and the remainder theorem for factorising a cubic polynomial: Year 3 maths at a languages-focused Italian high school.
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Solution concentration: molarity and dilutions
Mass percent, molarity and molality without mixing them up, plus the dilution formula: the Year 4 science test in the human sciences high school.
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Spreadsheets and your first algorithm in Year 2
Absolute and relative references, functions and charts, then the step from flowchart to code: Year 2 computer science at the Italian technical institute.
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Work, power and energy: multi-stage conservation
Work done by a force, power and efficiency, and how to set up conservation of energy when a problem has several stages: Year 4 physics, art high school.
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Monomials and polynomials in Year 1 of high school
Monomials, polynomials and special products in Year 1 at an Italian vocational school: applied examples, worked exercises and a three-week catch-up plan.
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Binary and hexadecimal in Year 1 of high school
In Year 1 at a technical institute, computing starts with binary: conversions, addition with carry, hexadecimal and how to prepare a structured test.
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Biomolecules and the cell in Year 2 of technical school
In Year 2 of technical school, integrated sciences moves on to biology: biomolecules, the cell and organelles. A method for the test and the lab report.
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Electrostatics and Coulomb's law in Year 5 of high school
Charge, induction and Coulomb's law: what the first Year 5 physics test asks at art high school, with three exercises worked step by step.
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Maturità as an external candidate: apply in November
The application for the maturità as an external candidate (privatista) opens in November: requirements, preliminary exam and routes back to school.
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Factorising and algebraic fractions in Year 2
Factorising and algebraic fractions in Year 2 of the human-sciences high school: the decision tree, the special trinomial and three worked exercises.
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The first failing grade in October in Year 1 of high school
What a 4 on the first Year 1 high school test really tells you, how to tell a gap from method or anxiety, and a three-week plan for parents.
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IP addresses and subnetting in Year 4 at technical institute
In Year 4, Systems and networks opens with IP addressing and subnetting: the bit method, the magic number, three worked exercises.
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Open days and choosing a secondary school: calendar
Open days start in November: how to prepare from now, what to really ask and the full calendar up to the February enrolment deadline for Italian high schools.
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Quadratic equations in Year 3 of the art high school
At the art high school quadratic equations arrive in Year 3 with 2 hours a week: discriminant, formula and step-by-step worked exercises.
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Biology in the Medicine filter semester: what to study
The Biology syllabus of the Medicine filter semester block by block, with two worked exercises on genetics and metabolism: exam on 10 December 2026.
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Databases: from ER model to relational schema and SQL
From the ER model through normalisation to SQL queries with JOINs: a guide with worked examples to help you pass your university Databases exam.
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Science in Year 1: density and states of matter
Density, unit conversions and states of matter for the first science test in Year 1 of the liceo classico, almost always multiple choice, in late October.
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Chemical nomenclature: traditional vs IUPAC
Oxidation numbers and chemical nomenclature: traditional and IUPAC names compared for oxides, hydroxides, acids and salts, with a table and exercises.
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Year 3 chemistry: the atom and chemical bonds
Year 3 chemistry at an Italian humanities-sciences high school: atom, periodic table, bonds and naming. Common mistakes, a method and three worked examples.
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Year 1 chemistry at technical school: Scienze sperimentali
In Year 1 of Italian technical schools in 2026/27, chemistry moves into Scienze sperimentali with one grade. What changes, common mistakes and worked examples.
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Equations, inequalities and systems in Year 2
First-degree equations, inequalities and linear systems: what the October Year 2 test asks at vocational schools, with worked exercises.
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Dynamics and the inclined plane in Year 2
Year 2 technical-school physics restarts from dynamics: inclined planes and pulleys, where you see who understood Year 1 vectors. Method and exercises.
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Nested loops and arrays in Year 3 computer science
In Year 3 of the Italian technical computing track the test becomes a practical PC exam plus a written paper: nested loops and arrays are the first real hurdle.
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