<p>This is my first year taking chemistry. How difficult would it be for me to self study AP Chemistry? I am doing well in chem so far and I can get help from people if necessary.</p>
<p>It depends on your abilities. Someone in my class self-studied it last year during Honors Chemistry and received a 5; they were talented, however.</p>
<p>There are alot of people doing “Pre-ap Chem” and doing AP Chem at the same time. In fact 90% people who are in my AP Chem class are doing it that way. I am one of the few 10% that aren’t.</p>
<p>It’s kind of hard… in my school, we do the first half of Zumdahl in Honors and the second half in AP… so you can’t self-study really.</p>
<p>@silverturtle: how talented was the person?
@Carin: what do you mean by “we do the first half of Zumdahl in Honors and the second half in AP”?</p>
<p>Depending on what textbook your school uses, you might find yourself in a predicament. One of the famous AP Chem books is made by the Zumdahl Brothers:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Chemistry (9780618221561): Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Steven-S-Zumdahl/dp/0618221565/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258632298&sr=8-3]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Steven-S-Zumdahl/dp/0618221565/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258632298&sr=8-3)</p>
<p>It consists of 22 chapters ( I think ), and we complete HALF of it in Honors Chemistry and if we decide to do AP Chemistry, we finish basically almost all the rest of it. So I don’t know if you could self-study AP Chem if you were just beginning to learn the basics…</p>
<p>Brothers? =P Susan sounds like a girl name.</p>
<p>Notmyname, I am having the same exact thoughts, but after reading some threads, it sounds like most people advise against it. If I absolutely do want to do it, this will have to be the year (junior/senior years will be bio/physics). Anybody who has taken the AP Chemistry, how hard was it? Is it doable to self-study (personally, I’m not expecting much help from my teacher).</p>
<p>I took AP chem last year after having taken a year of honors chem prior (no pre ap at my school) and i only got a four, so unless you’re really a talented student, self-teaching AP chem is gonna be a challenge, but not to say that you couldn’t do it.</p>
<p>“silverturtle: how talented was the person?”</p>
<p>I would say they are roughly in the 99.6-99.8 percentile in terms of intelligence.</p>
<p>I have no doubt, however, that it could be done by those of lesser intelligence but nonetheless strong dedication.</p>
<p>It really boils down to two things:</p>
<p>1) Is your teacher qualified to teach AP Chemistry and how rigorous is the Honors Chem. course? For example, the teacher at my school also teaches AP Chem so its not unheard of for someone to take the AP test when they are in Honors Chem. </p>
<p>2) Are you willing to dedicate a lot of time in reading the textbook and studying a study book (Barrons, PR, etc.)? You will have to study a lot of extra information that you will most likely not cover in depth enough in your Honors classes.</p>
<p>If those two areas seem good then I say go for it.</p>
<p>can someone give some advice on how to selfstudy ap chem? what books to use etc? I have barron sat ii chem and an AP 5 step to 5 chem book,</p>
<p>AP chem. is a class where you have to understand processes, not memorize them. In my school, the divide between the honors chem. class and my AP chemistry class last year (I jumped right into AP chemistry) is humongous. Based on my experiences, I don’t advise that you self-study AP chemistry.</p>
<p>I agree with dchau. AP Chem needs so much background of the subject matter that it will be EXTREMELY difficult without any prep. I’m learning the hard way… should have taken Honors Chem freshman year and then AP Chem last year.</p>