I'm dying in AP Chem!

<p>Hey guys, I'm generally very good at Chemistry. However, we have a new science teacher this year who does not possess any kind of teaching degree, or has had any teaching experience. He often times does problems incorrectly, and students have to correct him. While I can definitely self teach, it's hard to keep up when all we do in class is study hall (literally every single class is a study hall, while he grades papers).</p>

<p>So what I was wondering is, what supplements could I use to do well in AP Chem?</p>

<p>Are there any books/websites I could use to help? I was thinking about getting Chemistry for Dummies.</p>

<p>I had the same problem last year. My teacher was more qualified than yours but she was not so good at teaching. She did not bother to explain a lot of what we had to know for the AP exam. Do not get Chemistry for Dummies as I find dummies textbooks to have a very annoying tone throughout the book. Also, I am sure that it is too simple for AP Chemistry.</p>

<p>Use [AP</a> Chemistry Review Activities](<a href=“http://www.sciencegeek.net/APchemistry/APtaters/directory.shtml]AP”>http://www.sciencegeek.net/APchemistry/APtaters/directory.shtml)
The review questions there are pretty good for additional problems and understanding topics that aren’t taught to you by your teacher.
I also used Barron’s AP Chemistry, but it was not really that useful. Then again, I only started using it in the end. If you end up getting it, use it before each unit exam.
Read the textbook if it explains things thoroughly. Some textbooks are truly useless, so don’t bother if you’ve tried it with at least 2 chapters and it was not useful. If you think your textbook is useful, try to find a new one at your libraries.</p>

<p>The most useful resource for me were the released actual exams found online. There are a lot of them but I advise you to not start using them now. You will run out of them eventually if you start too early. Also, the released exams contain all of what you will learn. Answer them and then look at the correct answers. They will explain how you should have approached the problem. Continue doing them until you’re completely sure how to do everything there. If you do this correctly, I guarantee you will get a 5. For now, just read ahead in your textbook and practice some problems on the internet. It really is not as hard as I am probably making it sound.</p>

<p>Zumdahl Chemistry is an excellent book, and I hear it prepares you well for AP Chem.</p>