<p>Is AP Chemistry really as hard as everybody says it is. I'm allowed to take it next year as a sophomore but I'm scared because alot of people who took it said it was their GPA killer. I have a really high GPA and I would like to keep it that way but I also want as rigorous of a schedule as possible. Does having a genuine interest in the subject help or does it not matter all? Should I just take Honors Chemistry first then AP Chemistry later? If you think I should take it what supplement or tips do you have that make me successful in having a Semester A for both semesters?</p>
<p>I took it last year; it is one of the harder APs but ‘gifted geniuses’ ought to be able to handle it.</p>
<p>More seriously, it seems like you didn’t take Honors yet, so take that first. AP Chem goes in-depth with topics covered by Honors, and the teacher will assume that you already know a lot.</p>
<p>If you simply cannot resist the AP rigor for your transcript, then take Honors online. Whatever you do, don’t skip it.</p>
<p>It really depends on the school. There’s no “easy” AP, but if you are good at math, and applying concepts, you should be fine in Chemistry. Unless youre taking several other AP’s next year, you should be fine taking Chemistry.</p>
<p>It’s extremely hard! I recommend recommend atleast taking Honors chem.</p>
<p>You can do it…if I could do it, anyone can! Before AP Chemistry, I had had no prior chemistry class; I couldn’t even tell you what an ion was, or how it differed from an isotope, let alone any other more complicated concepts. I was also only taking Geometry that year, so didn’t even fulfill the Algebra II requirements. Lastly, I was a freshman…</p>
<p>However, after taking the class, working a solid 1-2 hours a day on AP Chem homework, and studying chemistry just because it was fun, I ended up getting an 800 on the SATII Chem subject test and qualifying for the National Chemistry Olympiad. I have not yet received my score on the AP exam, but I’m anticipating it’ll be ok. </p>
<p>If you work hard at it, you’ll be fine. You HAVE to focus on the major concepts though. If you allow yourself to get dragged down in the minutiae at the beginning, you’ll have trouble. Instead, focus on the concept, and reason your way through WHY all the rest of the concepts work from that. Be inquisitive and question your textbook and teacher, and you’ll end up understanding chem!! :)</p>
<p>If you’re worried about GPA, then it all depends on your teacher…ask upperclassmen at your school…I had a physics C teacher who gave away As but didn’t teach anything the entire year</p>
<p>If you’re concerned about the exam, I personally didn’t think the new exam was horrible. Just make sure you get the lab experience (essential for FRQs) and do the officially released practice exams (ask your teacher or CC members…using the exam with the new format to study probably boosted my score from what would have been a 3 or less to what is almost certainly a 5)</p>
<p>Chem topics aren’t terribly hard, but they are somewhat abstract, which many people have difficulty with. </p>
My daughter took AP Chemistry as a freshman this year.
She ended her first semester with an A-. She did pretty bad on the semester exam. As I am going through this site, I realize she should have done more practice and not just the textbook.
How does A- compare to A and impact her college applications? Just wondering if it was a big mistake to take it so early.
Also, anyone has any tips for her for the AP test and the next semester?