<p>and yet i'm taking the sat ii chemistry anyways, because i failed miserably on it last year even though i took the ap course. :( (and no, my defintion of "failing miserably" is not akin to every other CCer... i actually got below a 600.) </p>
<p>so i'm trying to study in the lovely, lovely summer weather and it just isn't working out! i feel like i'm repeating everything i learned and sticking it all into my head. (btw, i'm using the barrons book. we had an AMAZING teacher, but apparently i'm just a giantic failure at chemistry) </p>
<p>i am so scared for the exam in the fall... i did well below the 50%tile last time when i was fully expecting a 700+! the chemistry questions just seem so vague to me, though. especially the TTCE section. how can i improve my score? i'm READING the prep books, but what if i still do awful? btw, last time i didn't spend that much prep time reading the barrons book - i just took a few practice tests, but it was the week of ap chem cramming that i took the sat ii. i'm fine with multistep complicated problems involving lots of MATH, but when it comes to concept-based problems and memorization stuff ABOUT the elements like "an odorless gas at room temperature!" how do you KNOW this stuff? ... and time seems a big issue for me too. i can't do the calculations that they expect you to do (mole ratios? i need my calculator, ye gods) in a few seconds... i need to actually think everything through... </p>
<p>I completely agree. But I hate the SAT II Chemistry for other reasons. I had done well in an extremely vigorous AP class and had scored the highest in our class on a practice AP test. I get 800s on about 75% of my practice tests and on the big day, 780. Why must the questions be so tricky? The stupid T/F/CE questions are so unnecessary. I'm done ranting....for now.</p>
<p>My deepest sympathies. I take it you dont do USNCO? lol jk. Just stick to it; when everything clicks you'll know. Take a week off then go back to studying if you're stressed out.</p>
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I completely agree. But I hate the SAT II Chemistry for other reasons. I had done well in an extremely vigorous AP class and had scored the highest in our class on a practice AP test. I get 800s on about 75% of my practice tests and on the big day, 780. Why must the questions be so tricky? The stupid T/F/CE questions are so unnecessary. I'm done ranting....for now.
<p>You guys have been on CC so long... I have been seeing a lot of the same names for the past year. Precocious, just chill. Just a test. Not the end of the world. 2 months. That is enough to learn a completely new SAT subject. Just be sure to prepare calmly and rigorously. </p>
<p>Use the eye of the tiger. lol. If you study when you are nervous, will you retain info? Will being nervous make a difference if your intelligence? If not, why bother. Relax and do it calmly.</p>
<p>The trick is to chill. I am planning on october testing for chem. I plan on getting 800 even though I never took chemistry. Why? 1. Confidence. 2. I am relaxed. Have faith in your skills. Also is there really a significant difference in IQ between you and the smartest fellow in your class? Nope. Between people, there is very little difference in innate ability. It's just that the stuff that happens in your life can sometimes force you to think you are less intelligent than others and you don't tap into your potential so much. </p>
<p>Also, think about it this way. If you could get a 600 on sat chem, you could probably get a 610. If you can get a 610, you can probably get 620. If you can get 620, you can get 630. And so on, that is the logic I use when I study. Thus you have no excuse not to get an 800 unless you are careless. That is why the lowest score I've gotten is a 790. Every other test I took, I got 800s.</p>
<p>That's probably the least helpful advice I've ever heard in my life. "you have no excuse not to get an 800 unless you are careless." You sure know how to encourage the kids, buddy.</p>