Take notes in class and while you read. The more notes you take, the easier studying will be because instead of being forced to recall what your professor said about covalent bonds, you can just look at your notes.
Write out everything. Formulas and equations will make a lot more sense once they're written out in their proper forms. Once they're written, it may be obvious where your misunderstanding lies, why a certain reaction occurs or where you've made a mistake.
Approach the material in little bits. You'll likely be given a large amount of material at one time. The best way to study is to break the material up into smaller, more manageable chunks.
Re-read the material. If you read material for class, then attend class and have the material clarified, re-read it after class. It will likely be difficult for you to forget afterwards.
Participate in class. The more active you are during classroom discussions, the more likely you will be to have any questions you have answered. Active students are successful students.
Learn from your mistakes. If you answer a question on an exam incorrectly, look over the question and re-work your answer until it's correct. If you learn where you make mistakes and why, you'll be unlikely to repeat those mistakes again.
Ask for help. Your professor and his teaching assistants hold office hours that are intended to be times when students can receive one-on-one help with the material. Regardless if your question is large or small, office hours are the best time for you to get it answered.
Practice daily. The more you work with a type of equation, the better you'll remember it when the test rolls around. If flashcards help you, make flashcards representing element characteristics, equations, bonds or any other areas of chemistry with which you have difficulty. This can include doing practice problems from the book or creating your own.