$word_{count}$: 280

Nomenclature questions (nearly every year): Master the alphabetical ordering rule (ignore prefixes). Know all four special neutral ligand names. Remember Latin names for anionic complexes (FLAP CASe mnemonic). Practice writing formulas from names and vice versa. Common trap: bis/tris used only when ligand name itself contains a prefix or is complex.

Isomer counting (very high frequency): Systematic approach — first identify the type ([MA2B4], [MA3B3], [MA2B2C2], etc.), then count geometrical isomers, then check each for optical activity. Key facts: cis-[M(en)2X2] is optically active, trans is not. [M(en)3] always has 2 optical isomers. Square planar complexes are never optically active. [MA2B2C2] octahedral has 5 geometrical isomers.

Magnetic moment (4+ appearances in 6 years): Step 1: Find oxidation state of metal. Step 2: Determine d-electron count. Step 3: Identify strong/weak field from spectrochemical series. Step 4: Fill electrons (high or low spin). Step 5: Count unpaired electrons. Step 6: Apply mu = sqrt(n(n+2)).

CFSE calculation: Use -0.4 per t2g electron, +0.6 per eg electron, multiply by $Delta_{oct}$. Remember d3 and low spin d6 have maximum CFSE. d0, d5(HS), d10 have zero CFSE.

Colour-related questions: Know complementary colour pairs. Know that d0 and d10 are colourless (d-d forbidden). Know that charge transfer can give colour in d0/d10. Know that high spin d5 has very faint colour (doubly forbidden transitions).

Time management: Nomenclature and formula questions should take under 1 minute. Isomer counting may take 2-3 minutes. CFSE and magnetic moment calculations should take 1-2 minutes.