preparing for Chemistry SAT II..

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
1

<p>I just started preparing for chem SAT II..
But my test date is June 6th and I'm not sure if I can do this right.
Since I only have a month or so, I know that I gotta work harder on it
but I need advices.</p>

<p>And I'm using "Princeton Review: Cracking the SAT Chem 2007-2008 Edition."
As I've seen on other threads, many said PR review books are kinda "easy" comparing with the real test.
Is that true?</p>

<p>& What am I supposed to memorize on the reference tables?
I know I don't need to memorize the periodic table.
But do I need to know solubility guidelines, solubility curves, vapor pressure, activity series, common acid-base indicators.. things like that?
I'm LOST. :(</p>

2

<p>Memorize general solubility rules (nitrate and ammonia compounds are always soluble, etc.). That’s it.</p>

<p>Know the periodic trends fairly well (first ionization energy, electron affinity, and electronegativity decrease down a group and increases along a period, while ionic radius increase down a group and decrease along a period, etc. It is helpful to understand the trends rather than just memorize them.), understanding stoichiometry very, very well, and understand the concept of equilibrium and LeChatelier’s principle. If you have time, learn about the gas laws (the ideal gas law and the combined gas law, in particular). After all of that, learn about acids and bases (know the difference between Arrhenius, Bronsted-Lowry, and Lewis acids and bases, and understand titrations).</p>

<p>If you master all of that, you’re guaranteed at least a 550. </p>

<p>After you have all of that down, focus on learning little details that will boost your score. Electrochemistry is rarely on the SAT, but understanding the concepts of oxidation states and how to assign them is very helpful. For organic chemistry, you aren’t really required to know very much. Just know the difference between saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, and you should be fine. Also study different types of reactions (synthesis, decomposition, redox, etc.).</p>

<p>Take a practice test on Sparknotes’ website for free. They are very, very, very slightly harder than the real test, and they should give you a good indication of what your score should be. The PR book is only slightly easier than the real thing for the chem test.</p>

<p>Only you are capable of determining whether or not you are capable of taking the SAT in a month. Judging by the digits in your username, I would say that you are a sophomore, and so you still have tons of time to worry about the SAT, let alone about the SAT subject tests.</p>

3

<p>i had SAT chem in december- i scored only 670:(
i studied from Barron’s.</p>

<p>i want to retake,and improve my scores.
Yesterday i tried Sparknotes- my score was 580 :)</p>

4

<p>good advice, i just sent u a pers. message</p>

5

<p>yea i’m in the same boat as mcrasm93, I had a pretty rigorous teacher for chem this year and we’ve gone over pretty much ALL of the stuff rockermcr said in the first part except for the LeChatelier’s principle but i’m going through the barron’s book now and there’s this stuff about quantum numbers, orbitals, thermochemistry stuff i haven’t learned…are there alot of questions on those?</p>

6

<p>Do we get to use a periodic table on the Chem SAT II cause my book doesn’t say</p>

7

<p>Yes. It would be ridiculous not to give you one.</p>

8

<p>You might want to study descriptive chem and lab procedures…that section cost me like 3-4 questions on this test and brought me down like 20-30 points.</p>

<p>You also want to review basic chem (not AP chem) because the SAT II Chem is built on basic foundations and doesnt have any hard problems like the AP chem test.</p>

<p>Also, I dont think the SAT Chem has a lot of organic or electrochem (atleast not as much as the AP test)</p>

9

<p>how about activity series charts? do we get those on the test? (I’m taking the test June 6th, too!)</p>

10

<p>^ No. They aren’t needed on the test.</p>

11

<p>The sparknotes tests are definitely harder than the actual test, but they are helpful in that they are scored for you automatically and break it down by section. I scored about 100 points higher on my actual test. But I would still recommend them for studying, just don’t be discouraged by a low score!</p>

12

<p>How many can you miss/skip to get a 800?</p>

13

<p>80/85 is 800 roughly, so you can miss about 4.</p>

14

<p>I got a 800 just this May, and I didn’t do any extra studying except for just taking an AP Class this year in Chem. I did do a couple practice test of out Barrons which I believe is an adequate difficulty to study from. Do learn your solubility rules because that is always helpful. I suggest that you do a practice test from Barrons then see what you need help with. Scan over some basic lab procedures such as always pour a acid INTO water, and how to titrate etc. If you have any other questions just PM me</p>

15

<p>are the sparknotes tests online? or do you guys mean the book?</p>

16

<p>nevermind, I found them</p>

<p>how much harder are sparknotes? how likely will i get a 800 on the real thing if i’m getting 800 in barrons and I just got 760 on sparknotes</p>

17

<p>I believe a 760 on Sparknotes is really good.</p>

18

<p>I’m using the princeton review book too. I use it all the time; it is THE best. Also Cliffnotes chemistry is good. They have 3 online tests that I use on Sparknotes.com. I didn’t start studying until a month before the test, after APs. It’ll be alright. So a good thing that I learned: you can leave 7 blank or get 4 wrong and STILL get an 800!! Can’t be too bad. Took Biology last year and scored highly. Look at my username if you want to know my score. I didn’t study until a month before that test and used Princeton Review and Cliffnotes and SparkNotes online. Just memorize everything, and I mean EVERYTHING in the book. But it’s still not too bad, I just kept rereading the books and doing new practice problems. They teach you everything you would need to know for the exam, not all of the extra fluff that your textbook teaches you.</p>

19

<p>Well…
Damn. I start today. xD</p>

20

<p>Can someone list the major equations we need to have memorized for the test?
Do we only get to use the periodic table?
Thanks!</p>