<p>Hi. Unfortunately, I’m not a chemistry genius (I understand the chemistry of the double helix though!) I’m having a great chemistry teacher, so I’m not so concerned about the review section of the prep book I’m looking for. However, I would like chemistry prep books with the best test (and the more, the better) that reflect what is going to be covered on the collegeboard exam. I’ve heard that Princeton Review is the best, both in terms of review and accuracy of tests. </p>
<li><p>Is it true?</p></li>
<li><p>Is McGraw Hill a sham, or is it as good as it claims to be? (I’ve seen very contradictory reviews about it)</p></li>
<li><p>For those of you who took SATII chem before taking AP Chem, what worked best for you?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’m shooting for a score in the 730-790 range, so any comments/helps are more than welcome.</p>
<p>Thanks. Watson&Crick.</p>
<p>:) A molecular biologist always has to know well his chemistry!</p>
<p>I took the SAT II chem after taking Honors Chem in 10th grade so I didn't do it after AP Chem (Which I'm taking now). I used the Barrons book and I got 740s and 750s on those practice tests and on the real thing I got a 750, so it's pretty accurate. I didn't use any other books so I can't really comment on them.</p>
<p>I'll definitely take a closer look at Barron's, though I heard it was more detailed than necessary. How well prepared did you feel after finishing the barron's book? Was the style of questions similar for barron's and collegeboard?</p>
<p>I took my SATII Chemistry before taking AP Chem, it SUCKED. I mean, I got a 730, but my first practice test on Barron's I got like a 530 and I was like OMG and then I studied a ridiculous amount from it (to a degree that I have never studied for ever since...) for about a month and ended up with a 730. yep. I think it would have been far easier if I had been taking AP Chem concurrently, because then I would have learned more in-depth Acids and Bases, covered the basic topics much more thoroughly, and most importantly, learned nuclear reactions and redox reactions.</p>
<p>Barron's was pretty accurate with the practice tests I thought, but the information was far too detailed, because I went into the test having wasted most of my time memorizing things that weren't on the test, rather than focusing on the things that would have been. I wouldn't mind Barron's, but I like McGraw-Hill better. originally I was going to retake my Chem SAT IIs, so I was prepping with McGraw, but then I decided not to, so I couldn't give you an actual correlation, but I did enjoy the book far more.</p>