<p>i am planning to take the AP chem exam this may w/o actually having taken the AP chem class. i will be starting the preparation now. do you think i have no chance of doing well or is it doable as in getting a 4 or 5. anyone who has done this can you give some tips and some reccomendations for the self study books</p>
<p>it will be extremely hard. But try to study asap, and as much as possible</p>
<p>I take AP Chem, and I am a pretty smart guy, but I had to study like A LOT to do well in that class, and I have the second highest grade in it with a 92. Yeah, its really really hard. I do not think a 5 is possible for you, there is just too much material. Also, you have to memorize more than some think--to get a 5 at least. Like polyatomic ions and their charges, solubility rules, etc. Also, you have to be able to make A LOT of connections. Plus, if you haven't taken the class, you're basically screwd on the lab question, since the review books cannot help you much there. But a four may be possible, if you are very smart and also very hard working. Though I do not recommend taking the exam now if you haven't been studying for it already, if you really really wnat to take that exam and get a 4 at least, then start studying right this minute and study 2-3 hours EVERYDAY up till the exam. Good luck!</p>
<p>You decided to start very last minute. It will be very difficult. I self studied AP Chem also. Use Princeton Review, and use Cliffs for general formulas and labs and things. Do all the FRQs on the ap central collegeboard website. I'd tell you to use a textbook too (Brown/Lemay/Bursten, or Zumdahl... I used the former and liked it a lot), but that may be impractical at this point.</p>
<p>I second GoldShadow, you may just want to use a textbook too, 'cause certain questions can get really complicated. I also use the Brown/Lemay/Bursten textbook, and for you, it may be a better idea to get the textbook and then to purchase a used copy of the answer key, because the anwer key is really helpful in solving each question step by step and with good explanations. Otherwise, yeah I agree with GoldShadow, it is probably impractical.</p>
<p>Don't try to learn from the review book. I repeat, don't try to learn from an AP Chem review book, as they are written assuming that the basic bonds between various concepts have been formed and need a little strengthening... not assuming that the bonds don't even exist. </p>
<p>By everything that is holy, please use a textbook, which actually provides explanations rather than vague generalizations. As for the amount of time you have left, it really depends on your level of dedication ... I defy even intelligence to compensate for focus and drive. </p>
<p>BTW, have you had any chem classes recently? If so, that would probably help a lot when studying.</p>
<p>Lol, that's strange...I guess studying for the SAT chem exam makes AP seem so much easier to me. </p>
<p>Or it could be that I'm simultaneously prepping for USNCO :D.</p>
<p>I recommend Atkins, GB says it's the book you need to "dominate the olympiad" so I'm sure it will get you a near-perfect 5 on AP.</p>
<p>Yeah for you own good and your own $83... try some other easier AP to self-study. there's already enough threads about those, but ChemAP is already hard enough even with a class, even harder for self-study...not to mention in a month. i don't know if there's physically enough hours in a month for you to self-study consider you'll have to go to school and such.</p>