<p>Is the sat chemistry exam actually as hard as people say it is? When I saw the average score(583 or low 600s), I got a little scared. I've been studying for the sat chemistry exam but it looks like there are a lot of calculations and we can't use calculators either. Is that probably why it's so hard?</p>
<p>I doubt it. If you take AP Chem I think you would get 700+. I just took a Barrons diagnostic and got a “700-720”. I did nothing other then take AP Chem and Honors Chem in previous years.</p>
<p>I haven’t taken ap chemistry though, just honors chem. Also, does the barron’s sat chem prep book actually cover everything that will be on the sat chem?</p>
<p>It covers more than what will be on it. If you go through it, you will be prepared. If you are a freshman or sophomore and are planning on taking AP Chem I would advise doing so first. Honors chem is likely enough because it has a great curve, but prepping will get you 750+</p>
<p>Thanks. I was also wondering if the sat II chem has more calculation problems than just straightforward objective questions.</p>
<p>SATII Chem has a pretty mean curve and you have to do 90 questions in 1 hour.</p>
<p>If you’re a slow worker or have problems with precision, then you might struggle in doing well on the SAT II Chem. However, preparing for AP Chem can make you much more ready for the SAT II Chem. The contents overlap a lot and AP Chem is a lot harder. If you can ace AP Chem, SAT Chem will come easy to you.</p>
<p>The thing is that I can’t take ap chem anymore though. Also, now I’m not so sure if I should take this exam because it does take me a long time to do the calculations. Does anybody know if the collegeboard intentionally gives really long calculation problems? The thing is I understand the calculations but it takes me a while to actually realize what methods I’m supposed to use such as moles or titration.</p>
<p>Collegeboard doesn’t allow you to use a calculator during SAT Chem. That means, the calculations you’ll be doing (if any) will be simple, and all can be done in your head (whole numbers, etc.)</p>
<p>Thanks for responding guys! I had another question. I have been studying the barron’s prep book for sat chemistry and I did horribly on the practice tests with scores of 580 and 610. Are these tests just extremely harder than the collegeboard tests because I feel like I know the information but my main problem is the calculations problems just because I have to calculate using numbers such as 0.0821. How am I supposed to do thse types of calculations without a calculator(Estimating doesn’t work when you have numbers that are so close together)? Also, if the barrron’s tests aren’t really that hard, then how can I improve my score to at least 750+? I am generally pretty good at chemistry but it just takes me awhile to do the calculations. Finally, after seeing such terrible test scores on the barron’s tests, should I go ahead and buy another prep book such as PR or Kaplan’s? It is pretty hard for me since I am only taking an Honors chemistry class but I understand everything that was taught in the Barron’s book.</p>
<p>Try purchasing the College Board book for all of the SAT II’s. The Barron’s practice tests are traditionally really hard for any subject. The tests in the College Board specific books will give you a better indication of where you stand.</p>
<p>I got 800 on chem. I used Barron’s and princeton’s prep book. The practice tests on Barron are a bit harder than the real one. But the overall content is great for test prep(especially you want a 700+ on chem). The practice tests on Princeton Review are easier than Barron’s and closer to the real one. You can use the princeton to get started, and then use barron’s to improve yourself. </p>
<p>Chem is not as hard as you thought. I believe you can crack it!</p>
<p>Ok, so I think I’m just going to get the pr for sat chem since it will provide me with easier and (I hope)manageable practice tests and it also will help me understand the info better! Also, is the collegeboard trying to see whether you know just straightforward facts about chemistry(such as fluorine being the most electronegative gas) or how to analyze and calculate with formulas?</p>
<p>The SAT Chemistry test does not want to see how well you can calculate and use formulas; all the numbers are kept simple. Regarding your earlier post, I also have the Barron’s book and I never saw a test where you have to compute calculates with 0.0821. The number was involved but you never had to do direct computation with it. Perhaps your difficulty with the calculations is because you don’t see how to do it a “simpler way”, so I think if you work on that, your score will go up a lot. :)</p>
<p>That said, it is worth memorizing the formulas though because you can run into questions like “If the temperature of a reaction chamber is doubled, the gibbs free energy will…” in which case you don’t need to calculate anything, but do need to know how the equation for gibbs free energy involves temperature. This is particularly true of physics, where you can get easily 700+ on the subject test just by memorizing the AP Physics B equation sheet, which you need to do anyway for the AP exam.</p>
<p>I don’t recall being asked to do any calculation harder than subtracting exponents or working with easy logarithms (like taking log(10^8)).</p>
<p>How did you guys get a 750+ on the sat chemistry exam? Do you credit your high score to your chem class(if you took one) or the prep books such as pr or barron’s?</p>
<p>Combination of AP Chemistry and prep books – Barron’s is the best; its exams are tougher than the real thing which is good for practice. I found PR too easy. I got an 800 if it matters.</p>
<p>One more question: I have both the barron’s sat Chem and pr sat Chem so I was studying from the pr after reviewing the barron’s and I realized that the pr practice tests have almost no calculations while the barron’s has at least half of the problems on the practice tests as calculations. Thus I am confused because I don’t know if the real sat subject test for chemistry has a lot of calculations or if it just tests you on recognizing concepts and applying knowledge. Does anybody know?</p>
<p>Hey there! I did my SAT II Chemistry in January and I got a 800! To be honest with you, it was all because of hard work and the Barrons book. It just really is amazing, and sets you up for a 700+ score in my opinion. I studied all the chapters from it and found the test in January REALLY easy. Also, as far as i remember, there weren’t as many calculations in the real test as there were in the Barrons book. Good luck mate! SAT II Chemistry is really easy if you work hard and have a great book. Don’t just rely on the book to get you 700+. You really have to work hard. I’d get the Princeton book too if I were you. Just gives you more practice and boosts your confidence.</p>