<p>Hey guys, next year in my school i will be taking honors chem.
In addition, I was thinking about either taking the ap chem or the sat ii chem test.
Which would look better on college apps?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Don’t take AP Chem if you are not in an AP Class. In addition to not being taught enough, there are enhanced lab requirements for AP Chem. So, even if you do well on the AP Chem test, a college can choose not to give you the credit if you don’t have the class on your transcript.</p>
<p>Also, if you take AP Chem, retake SAT II - Chem for the better score. Schools like Harvard want 3 SAT II scores regardless of how many AP scores you send them.</p>
<p>I was in honors chem last year that was geared towards the SAT II and I took both the AP test and the SAT II a year ago. I think the SAT II chem looks better on college apps, except some schools, don’t even look at the SAT IIs. In addition, it is very easy to teach the rest of AP chem not covered in the honors chem course, since you will already have a strong foundation. There were a few things that went in a little bit more in-depth on the AP test than was covered in class, and there were some things that we didn’t get to before the AP test (we had just started organic a week or two before the test, and nuclear was covered after the AP test.) fortunately I was able to sufficiently self study for the stuff not covered. I ended up getting a 5 on the test, and there was only one thing on the free-response that I was unfamiliar with (Xenon bonds) but other than that, the test was very easy. Also, If you self study the rest of the AP stuff, and take the test, it is very easy to do well on the SAT II, I ended up getting an 800 on the SAT II with very little study (i think i studied for less than an hour) because I was so well versed in chemistry from taking the AP test.</p>
<p>My recommendation is to take both, unless paying for both is an issue.</p>
<p>Why not take both? You can take both of them again if you don’t like your scores. Preparing for the AP test should prepare you for the SAT II, so it’s not like you’d have to spend a lot of time studying for each one separately.</p>
<p>As for which looks better on a college app, I think that would depend on the college. Some colleges require that you take SAT II’s, while some don’t. If you really need to pick one or the other, you can always call up the admissions offices of the colleges you are applying to and ask if they have a preference.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>definitely take both, i did, but if you do take the may SAT II (the one before ap exams and not afterwards in june), so you don’t forget everything</p>