<p>Hey, I just need advice on what AP science I should take: AP Bio or AP Chem? I'm taking Honors Chem right now and I've done well (straight A's throughout the year) in it. I haven't taken a Bio course at my HS, but I plan on studying for it this summer. I've talked to the AP Bio teacher at my school and she says that there have been several top-tier science students who have taken AP Bio (without a year of reg. Bio) and have done well in the class.</p>
<p>The only other AP course I'll be taking is AP Calc (AB or BC - not sure yet) next year. The year AFTER (so 08-09 school yr), I'll be taking AP English, AP USH, and AP Stats.</p>
<p>So ... AP science should I take next year?? Oh by the way, science is really my subject.</p>
<p>If science is your forte, take both. Maybe not concurrently, but even if you do both, you sound like you can handle it. I would recommend taking Chem before Bio if you are only going to take one of them; if I had knowledge of Chem before taking biology, I would have found it easier.</p>
<p>just because you havent taken regular bio, i dont believe you should be discouraged from taking the ap bio in any way. as long as you study and keep up with the courseload the class isnt very difficult. sure, having a biology background would make it easier to pick up some of the material, but it definitely isn't something that should prevent you from taking the class.</p>
<p>take both, they are the easiest APs offered. I took reg. Bio in 9th grade, and Honors Chem in 10th grade, the AP Bio and chem in 11th. I forgot most of the bio from freshman year, but we learned everything from scratch. There really isn't anything to "understand" just memorizing things. Chem will be easy too. Oh yeah, and I also self studied BC Calc, and really, I did not have a lot of stress this year.</p>
<p>I'd take chem. fhqwgads is right. bio is straight memorization. chem requires understanding some concepts (not as much as physics, but still something). </p>
<p>as for him saying that he studied calc BC by himself, and didn't have much stress.... well that I'd take w/ a grain of salt :)</p>
<p>I'd recommend chem this year, then bio next year (if you're a freshman/sophmore). however, if you're a junior currently, then either take both or take chem. I'd be surprised if you were a junior though, so most likely take both in different years.</p>
<p>just so you know, AP chem and AP physics B are quite easy to do in the same year; some of the material overlaps pretty nicely.</p>
<p>AP Biology is easier than AP Chemistry (and I'd assume there would be less homework associated with most biology classes compared to chemistry classes) so I'd recommend that. And since you haven't had a bio class yet, you might as well take it to round out your high school sciences.</p>
<p>I'm taking both concurrently. Let me break it down for you:</p>
<p>AP BIO Pros:</p>
<p>Much Easier and straightforward exam
If you blank out on an entire concept, you are still in 5 range.
Many concepts are nearly the same as the regular Bio counterpart</p>
<p>AP BIO Cons:</p>
<p>Harder Class
LOTS OF MEMORIZATION
Free response is in essay format (4 questions).
Cramming is not too effective in this class (i.e. you'll forget crammed material in the long term for the exam)
Lots of tests in a short period of time (we'd do 5 chapter tests in a WEEK!)
TONS OF LABS (they boost your grade usually but are quite annoying and could possibly hurt your grade if you are not meticulous)</p>
<p>AP CHEM Pros:
Easier class if you are a concept oriented guy (like me)
Not much memorization (solubility rules, flame colors, and solution colors)
Beginning of year is a piece of cake. Hard stuff doesn't come until second semester</p>
<p>AP CHEM Cons:
-Free responses are pretty hard compared to the MC
-MC are like the SAT math questions. You know how to do the problem but you make a tiny error or forget to read the whole question and get the question wrong.
-TITRATIONS ARE ANNOYING (Need I say more?!)
-Grade distribution for students in the class vary greatly from people with solid A's to people with C's because the class is concept-oriented so you either get an amazing grade on class tests or you don't.</p>
<p>Dolcevalse, I'd check with some upperclassmen who have taken AP Bio and Chem at your school to see what your school is like. My AP Bio course was way easier than afruff's while the AP Chem course at my school was much harder.</p>
<p>There was no homework in Bio
We did maybe one lab a month if even
We had one test over 2-3 (sometimes 4) chapters every 2 weeks [how many chapters were in your textbook, afruff? gosh 5 a week?]
And the free responses are in essay format but you just basically spit out facts to answer 'why' something happens or 'what' something is (you don't need anything flowery like you'd need for AP English)</p>
<p>And most people in my school still scored > 3 (most 4/5s)</p>
<p>Here's what I'd do. While you don't need regular bio for AP Bio it is very helpful so for you next year I'd take AP Chemistry and Honors Biology (regular if honors is not available) than take AP Bio senior year.</p>
<p>Well in my school AP Bio is a lot easier, it's just memorization. If you are good at memorization, it's easy and the concepts are fairly simple. I didn't bother to memorize anything and did horribly on all the tests, but labs saved me. Somehow managed to pull off a 3 on the ap exam last year even though my test average was probably in the C or D range. AP Chem is a lot more concepts and mathematics. If you're good at that sort of thing, it's a lot less writing. However, in my school, it's considered one of the hardest classes, if not the hardest. Many consider it harder than Calc BC. So yeah, I'd ask people in your class what they think, because it probably varies by school based on the teachers.</p>
<p>I would recommend AP Chem, or try both if you can. I had AP Bio as a sophomore after taking Honors Bio in 9th grade. The class wasn't too hard (even though I got robbed of an A (89.7% 2nd semester)). I really slacked off in studying for the AP test but still managed to pull a 4. It's pure memorization and a bit of understanding. AP Chem tho.. just wow... I finished AP chem now without any chem knowledge, it was brutal but managed to get an A 2nd semester, but I'm very worried about the AP test. Be sure to take AP chem because you have some chem background knowledge that might help you a lot for AP test and the class itself. I didn't, and well... I might pay the price on the AP test.</p>
<p>It depends. If you are willing to work hard all year, take AP Chem. If think you'll stop working/paying attention/doing homework after first semester (like me), then take AP Bio. It is possible to get a 4 with only one semester's knowledge and minor studying on the APB test. Not APC.</p>
<p>I'm taking AP Chem this year with Calc BC, and a couple other APs. Its okay; my schedule hasn't been too hectic, and like a lot of other people here I would suggest taking chem rather than bio if you only had to pick one. Taking both in the same year would be kinda stressful, and at my school I know a few people who do that and usually drop one after the year starts if they are taking a lot of academically challenging courses. Next year, I will be taking bio with physics c, and i'm pretty worried about it. But I plan to work over the summer on both those courses so i'll be better prepared in the school year. I think you can do both together, but you have to plan well and don't procrastinate. If you think you can handle it, then both shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Chem is very conceptual and not a lot of memorization. You really need to understand what you're doing, but that's why its a useful course and I would suggest taking it, first priority. Colleges also give a lot of weightage to a 5 on AP chem, because it is tough especially after how they changed the format. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses and advice so far! So is the general consensus that AP Chem should be taken only if you're willing to work hard?</p>
<p>My Honors Chem teacher is also the AP Chem teacher ... and she sucks. She teaches a more "formal" style ... aka straightforward college-style lecture w/online notes she projects with an overhead.</p>
<p>The AP Bio teacher expects a lot from everyone. I've heard she's a good teacher.</p>
<p>But do you think that AP Chem with 3 other AP's would be too much? Or would AP Bio w/3 other AP's be better?</p>
<p>Again, it depends on your school and how you learn. Are you more analytical(chem) or are you fine with cramming a lot (bio)?</p>
<p>In chem, you'll OFTEN get questions you've never seen before but you apply your knowledge to get the answer, while Bio requires you to memorize a lot of stuff and you'll hardly ever stumble onto a question and have NO CLUE about what you're doing.</p>