how good is zumdahl for chemistry

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
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<p>I will be taking AP Chem next year and my teacher has given me a copy of the Zumdahl textbook to study over the summer. What is your advice to using the Zumdahl book and which study guides are the best to supplement it?</p>

<p>I’ve been lurking the CC forums for a while now (found you on the night before my first ever AP exam) names like Barrons, Cliffnotes, and Princeton Review thrown around. I can get my hands on a “AP Chem for Dummies” book too, anyone used it and how useful did yo find it?</p>

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<p>Any edition is good enough really. There is no difference. Maybe there’ll be more modern pictures etc…but it’s fundamentally all the same material.</p>

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<p>okay good. now i have to motivate myself to self-study :O</p>

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<p>It was interesting enough that I could read a full chapter in a single sitting (40-50 pages). It’s definitely heavy on the details, but it’s not too hard to tell what’s superfluous.</p>

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<p>Chem is harder to self-study because unlike Bio, you actually have to practice. Bio is memorization, but Chem involves math. It doesn’t really cements itself into your memory unless you do a few problems…(well, for me at least)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>I wonder why more people don’t use Atkins to self study…
Almost all USNCO participants use it…</p>

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<p>well i’ve taken chemistry before and i’m currently taking a class at a local community college so i’m familiar with most of the material</p>

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<p>wat other books so be used along with zumdahl?</p>

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<p>Our Chem AP teacher requires us to buy Zumdahl’s Study Guide. Which is essentially a book with chapter summaries and extra practice problems. It’s expensive for a paperback though ~$50. Just buy a used one off of Amazon. I got mine for less than a dollar (74 cents not counting the 3.99 shipping) and it’s in perfect condition. The corners are a little worn, but I would have done that to it myself in due time.</p>

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<p>funny my chem teacher hated Zumdahl cause of all the mistakes it had. I thought the questions in it were pretty tough</p>

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<p>haha i’ll check if amazon has it</p>

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<p>Oh. Make sure the seller doesn’t have only 1-20 people that have bought their stuff so far. It’s usually fine, but I always buy from places that have had over 1000 people just to be safe. I bought the 5th edition practice book by the way. I couldn’t find any used ones for the new editions.</p>

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<p>I hate Zumdahl…too much useless information.</p>

<p>This was the textbook we used for my AP Chem class and I didn’t read anything from it at all after the first 2 chapters. I just read PR and got a 5 on the AP test.</p>

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<p>haha. No way! </p>

<p>But nice job :] The people I know studied their lives away using Zumdahl and got 4’s.</p>

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<p>Zumdahl is the best, My Chem teacher was a professional Paint Chemist, than taught at two universities before coming to teach at my high school, He said Zumdahl is the most complete book and most resembles a college style textbook, perfect for AP prep if that is what you’re looking for.</p>

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<p>lol zumdahl kind of sounds like the barrons of chemistry textbooks. i found the practice book 6/e for $5 on amazon</p>

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<p>haha. You’re right. It pretty much is :]</p>

<p>And nice job on the find!</p>

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<p>lol thnx 10char</p>

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<p>Zumdahl is an amazing author… if you seriously memorize half of the stuff in there, you’ll get a 5!
I only skipped the book, and took notes on some stuff and managed to get a 5!.
Using Zumdahl book regardless of which book or edition in an AP chemistry class is an amazing experience. However, if you want to self study, you should ask your school’s AP chemistry teacher which chapter you should skip. Zumdahl’s book always has soooooooo much extra info that’s not needed for AP CHem exam =[</p>

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<p>its just that my high school doesnt offer ap chem lol. but i plan on going to study sessions at another school haha</p>