<p>I'm not taking AP Chem this year due to schedule conflicts, but have talked to my counselor and asked that I take the test in May. I'm seeking some advice as how to study for the test. Should I get an actual textbook (ie. Zumdahl's) or should I just get a prep book like Kaplan's or Princeton's?</p>
<p>How hard is the actual test? I'm not worried about it too much though. However, I took Honors Chem last year, it was a joke, and we didn't even get halfway through the book. What does the AP Chem test cover?</p>
<p>Self-studying for the exam is not very difficult, but it isn’t easy either I can tell you that much. Get the PR. Don’t get the Kaplan…I saw the Kaplan in a bookstore and said “who the hell is stupid enough to fall for this crap?”</p>
<p>Also, in AP Chem, the lab reports matters just as much as the exam. Doing the labs on your own can be very very difficult.</p>
<p>Screw the lab reports. I had no idea what I was doing on AP Chem lab reports 95% of the time and I got a 5 just by knowing my chem. </p>
<p>I do second PR. Cramming with it for a few nights I got a 5 on the exam despite having failed several exams (and gotten mostly C’s and B’s on the others) in class.</p>
<p>I’m doing it this year, although I don’t plan to take the exam if I can get into the class next year (the teacher is awesome). Some amazing resources to brighten your day:</p>
<p>To Arach, you need the lab reports to earn ALLL the credit, the 5 means you are eligible, but first-year-chemistry is all about laboratory work. You have to show them all your labs</p>
<p>Also, do I need more than one prep book to prepare? I’m getting the Princeton Review’s book, would that be enough to get me a 5? Also, for someone who doesn’t take the class itself, how much time do you think I need to prepare thoroughly for the test?</p>
<p>PR is enough I think. I think I can put it this way. Even if you get a 5 on the AP Exam, you will earn the credits, but not the course. But the university recognizes the exam, you can show the professors your lab reports and the exam and then you can skip the class</p>
<p>The “labs” we’re talking about is usually this consolidated notebook full of labs you do in the actual course. </p>
<p>You need to show this to the university as “proof” along with your AP score to skip the course in college. </p>
<p>So in short, if you just want to get a 5, go ahead (you’ll learn a lot :] ). But don’t expect to get any credit (for both high school and college).</p>
<p>Maybe its just me, but I thought AP Chem was pretty difficult, but you do learn a lot.
And as for labs, it makes sense. 2 hours a week are dedicated to just doing labs…multiply that how many school weeks we have and you end up with 70+ hours of lab time. </p>
<p>If I were you, I would drop a class and take AP Chem.</p>
<p>With AP Bio, its the same. I dropped down to a lower level of calculus just so I could take AP Bio in class</p>