First year, first exam, first F.

Heyy, is this normal for a stem major. I got my first mid term grade back in my first quarter and it was a 50/100. I studied so much and it sucks because so many students got an A. The class is chem 6A and I’ve always struggled in school but I’ve made due but now I just don’t know if I can keep up. How was your first mid term? Was the grade better or worse and are there any good study techniques for the class? I studied by going through all the hw equations and constantly doing them till I was fast with them.