Teachers can make or break, but IME, having taken both, AP Chem is much harder.
6 AP’s is a lot considering you will also be spending a lot of time on college apps and essays. However, you know yourself best.
Hey, this is advice coming from an average student with a strong work ethic. I do not consider myself the smartest person, especially when I go on college confidential and see people complaining about their 2200 SAT score. But here I am, I survived this class with an A and passed the AP exam.
It’s a lot of hard work and if you’re like me, you’ll have to re read chapters and do multiple practice problems just to understand the chapter, but that’s okay.
In my honors chemistry class in sophomore year, we dealt with our teacher leaving and being given a new teacher in hopes to just finish off the year. So my basis in chemistry was rather weak. We had a new AP chem teacher, so we were kind off the “guinea pig” class. He(the teacher) had to find techniques that suited us and would often re read chapters in class so understand it himself.
Although it was a lot of hard work, I put in at last three hours a day dedicated to this class, it was worth it and I’m so glad I took this class.
Don’t let people deter you from this class, yes it’s hard but if you are a relatively smart kid and are willing to out in the work, you will do good!
Also: watch crash course, Bozeman and bright storm videos to get a good understanding of each lesson. And don’t forget to do practice problems( this is such a crucial step and so many people just don’t practice or don’t try to understand their mistakes) since I did so many practice problems and also went through a review book, I believe these are the main reasons why I passed the exam.
hi @RoSoccer101 did u make it to top 20 in Chem Olympiad?
As to the Zumdahl textbook, is the study guide for it helpful or more extensive with regard to the amount of problems and prac tests?
I didn’t register in time, since I had the flu. If you’re talking about ap chem, I actually prefer silberberg fourth edition, since it explains the concepts pretty well. Zumdahl’s is great for frq practice. If you want to master your frq skills for the Olympiad, do the challenge problems in these books. Zumdahl’s can get a bit boring to read at times. I hope to make top 20 this year for the Olympiad. @Paulthekid99
@RoSoccer101 Im going for it for the first time next school year 
Hope u can make it!! How are the orgo question for you? Are they covered in AP class or do you have to read books on yr own?
Thank you! Good luck to you, as well!You’ll have to read them on your on. You’ll want to start off with a book like Klein’s, and get through at least the first 16 chapters. For camp, I would go through chapters 1-23 of Klein’s, and then, all of clayden’s. There’s a big jump from the national exam to the camp. You might as well study all aspects of a college chemistry program(biochem, physical chem,etc.),and aim for team USA if you’re aiming for camp. @Paulthekid99
@RoSoccer101 May I ask when should I take the SAT Chem?
I would take it in June after the AP Chem exam. The sat chem does cover nuclear chem, very basic organic chem, and trivial knowledge. I got an 800 on it. You shouldn’t have to study much at all. Just take practice tests to get used to the T F CE section. This is a section where you have two statements in a question. If both of them are true and describe each other, you would choose T T CE. It’s not too hard. It’s just a very weird format. @Paulthekid99
I am taking AP Chem as a junior. I have already taken regular chem with the same teacher and really enjoyed it. I will be taking a total of 9 AP’s (4 self studied) so I cant spend to much time on any one class. I have the Crash Course book, Princeton review and might order Barrons as well. I also watch the Crash Course videos on youtube and some on khan academy.
Any time saving tips or tips on the class in general?
Is it taking the SAT subject test recommended?
Definitely take the subject test in June after the AP exam. You only have to review a little bit of nuclear, organic, and trivial chemistry. To save time, read ahead. Build a strong foundation on equilibrium, stoichiometry, and acids and bases. You’re not going to save too much time in the class if you don’t read ahead. I am also in the same boat as you. I’m taking 9 AP exams next year, as well(physics 1, physics 2, Lang, calc bc, APUSH, Psych, Stat, Bio, and APES). @CaseyConstance
I took AP Chem as a junior and thoroughly enjoyed the class, most likely because my teacher was amazing. The most valuable thing I learned was to do problems. I would quickly skim the chapter, I didn’t take notes once in that class, and then I would do practice problems in the book(I used brown Lemay). I would then do many of the past ap questions that had to do with that topic. I ended with a 98 in the class, a 5 on the exam, and an 800 on the subject test
I took AP Chem as a junior. I took Honors Chem prior to this course, received a 770 on the subject test after Honors, got a 5 on the AP test, won several first place medals in Science Olympiad for chem events, was top 2 in my school for Chem Olympiad, and I am aiming to be at least top 50 for Chem Olympiad this coming year, hopefully top 20 ( @RoSoccer101 ). If anyone needs help, feel free to PM me.
Hey you guys I’m going into my sophomore year and I’ll be taking this class with AP Euro.
Do you think it’s possible? Before taking AP chem, I’ll be taking chemistry the first semester.
@valevictoria you’re only taking one semester of AP Chem? Not a good idea.
No, that’s how our school’s system works. Instead of a full year we have a semester. Btw AP Euro is year long
@valevictoria my school requires a full year of chem (or a CC equivalent) with grade cutoffs to enter AP Chem. It works miracles with our score distributions. I don’t see a problem with taking two APs at once, but a semester for AP Chem is just too risky (the AP exam is in May, so it’s not even a full semester) for your scores. I would find some way around it if you can.
Came back to post that I have officially registered for this class!! Very nervous, but also very excited
I’m a rising Junior taking AP Chemistry along with 4 other APs (APUSH, APEL, Calc BC, and Psych) next year. I’ve finished our summer assignment and I must say, Chemistry is pretty awesome. I think that with incessant questioning and reading the textbook, this class can be doable. Would those of you who’ve taken the class agree?
@mochilate1897 Absolutely! It’s a challenging yet very rewarding class, and it’s great to hear that you like the subject.
I’m self-studying for this using Zumdahl’s. Is it wise to go through the whole book, or does it cover more topics than will be on the AP? Anyone have any recommendations of what chapter to stop at?