<p>I don't mean that in a sense of how many hours of homework because I know that will vary from school to school. What I mean is, is it just memorization? For example, a lot of people say APUSH is all memorization. Or, does AP Chem require critical thinking and make you apply what you learned for difference situations? </p>
<p>Also, is it possible to take it without Chem 1/ How much does Chem 1 help?</p>
<p>I would say that if you memorize chemistry, you won’t do well. Literally, everything connects with each other. Can you memorize somethings? Yes. All of it? no. </p>
<p>It would be difficult to just jump right into AP Chem I think. AP Chem is considered to be one of the hardest AP courses there is. Some really smart people just can’t connect with chemistry, so I would definitely recommend not skipping Chem 1.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend skipping Chem 1, most teachers expect their AP Chem students to have a few important concepts down before they enter the course.</p>
<p>Overall there isn’t too much memorizing in AP Chemistry, it is more understanding and applying various concepts.</p>
<p>agree with nks123</p>
<p>AP Chemistry is almost entirely application
If you write down everything you need to memorize (assuming you have the ability to apply and think critically), you would probably not exceed a 4x6 notecard.</p>
<p>If you are going to memorize everything and not apply anything, then better start memorizing…</p>
<p>Chemistry is as hard as you make it.</p>
<p>I think a dumb person who worked hard could do pretty well in APUSH, whereas a dumb person who worked hard in AP Chem might run into more difficulties. I took Chem 1 (or the equivalent–my school is weird), but my teacher kind of (really) sucked, so I could imagine doing AP Chem without the class, but you’d probably want to familiarize yourself briefly with some basic concepts.</p>
<p>Chem 1 helps a good bit, but you don’t need it if you have a knack for chemistry. Unfortunately, there’s no way to know that unless you take chem 1. AP Chemistry is all about understanding the concepts and applying them. It’s more important to understand why something happens, than knowing the formula in my opinion. It’s a whole different ballgame from APUSH.</p>
<p>yeah you probably want some prep. i self-studied without any prior chem exposure and it was fine, but learning to apply the concepts can be a beast of a challenge at times</p>
<p>If your going to rush right into AP Chem, your going to need to do some preparation work. NOW!</p>
<p>AP Chemistry is absolutely more application than memorization. You need to be able to grasp underlying concepts and tie in everything together. It is a difficult class, but it is manageable by anyone.</p>
<p>I got a 5 on the exam without any previous Chemistry class, so no, one does not need any previous Chem knowledge.</p>
<p>Can you self-study Chem? Is it possible>.<</p>
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<p>I know a student who did it at my school. He got a 5, but he worked with the chem teacher at our school to get practice and help with difficult concepts. Generally, due to the level of understanding required to do well, I would recommend against it. Also, chem requires significant application of general rules and concepts.</p>
<p>If you are doing it for an extra AP, it may be worth it. However, no college will give you credit for the exam if you haven’t taken the class because you will have missed all the labs</p>
<p>Sadly, my school doesn’t allow students to take Chem 1 then AP Chem. Each of us delve straight into one or the other. Being a student that did take AP Chem with no prior chem knowledge, I thought it was pretty rough.</p>
<p>I also took AP Chem without taking a basic chem class first, and it was very difficult for me at times. If you are going to jump strait into AP, you should teach yourself some of the fundamental chem 1 concepts like sig figs, stoichiometry, etc.</p>
<p>I wholeheartedly agree that it’s really application. I consider myself a very intelligent person, but I sucked madly at AP chem. The concepts just didn’t click right for me</p>
<p>Then should I turn to a different AP Class? What are your recommendations?</p>
<p>P.s. I’m strong math and science. Also I’m planning on taking AP calc ab&bc, bio, and stats. So don’t tell me to self study those (: .</p>
<p>I would say chem is definitely hard and requires application of your knowledge just as with the majority of ap tests. I would disagree with you on the point that ap us history is memorization.</p>
<p>I’ve repeatedly heard on here and in my school, where AP Chem is a senior class and widely regarded as one of the toughest classes in our school, if not the toughest (the teacher plays a part in that too), but I’ve always wondered what makes it so hard. I wondered the same about calc and physics, and now I really understand why physics can be so challenging; I’m already struggling with it. But I want to take it next year (maybe, if it’s not too hard) and if anyone can give me some specifics I’d be grateful. Thanks!</p>
<p>AP Chemistry is. HAAAAARD. I have taken ten AP tests so far and I would say it was the hardest of all. The exam kicked my butt. I felt like I didn’t know half of the free response. The MC section, which was apparently amazingly easy, I finished with a very bad feeling.</p>
<p>Yes, it is all application. You will have to memorize, but like all math/science courses, you will need to know how it works and interacts. Do not skip Chemistry 1 LOL</p>
<p>**But then again, I had a pretty crap teacher who chose to teach us Acids&Bases, Equilibrium, and something else that was really big (see I can’t even remember it) – all in the last three weeks. I really did love chemistry in pre-AP, when my teacher was absolutely brilliant, so maybe I have a very misconstrued impression of this course</p>
<p>P.S. Despite all my hatred, I got a five. I still think it’s a mistake. But then again maybe that goes to say it’s not SO hard after all? Curve is crazy. I can guarantee you that.</p>
<p>strat: why disagree that APUSH is just memorization? I feel that it is… aughhhh, I hated that class with a passion.</p>