I’ve previously made threads about this topic and listened to some of the advice I received from a few members. I have a new principal, so some previous course policies at my school have been relaxed. I now have a little wiggle-room to change my science sequence because of this. I started with Honors Physics in 9th and am now taking Honors Bio. I am also taking Chem next year. I really want to take AP Chem, but have no space in my schedule to fit it in Senior year because of a required elective and two music courses. My plan is to just study the class material on my own and take an exam for acceleration. This would ensure that a credit satisfying the prerequisite for AP Chem would already be marked on my transcript. Does anyone know of any online resources or textbooks that I can use to cover the material I need to get at least a 90? I’m prepared to study from now until the end of Summer break. Thanks for replying!
Khan Academy is a great standby. If your school has a place where teachers post resources for their students, you might want to look at the materials whoever teacher Chemistfy at your schools has posted.
@Madeline25 Thanks for replying! I already knew about Khan Academy as a potential resource and teachers don’t really post class materials online at my school. Do you know about anything else I can use to teach myself chem? I want to make sure I get all the topics I need for AP.
I would NOT recommend self-studying AP Chem.
It’s literally hell by itself, but without someone to explain the concepts to you, you could be walking through fog on some of the topics. Not to mention, a 75% is considered a 5 on the AP test, so you can see how hard the test will be.
But, if you really want to, I’d buy multiple AP Exam study books, use as many online resources as you can, and maybe even look into getting a tutor.
@FalloutWizard Sorry if I wasn’t clear enough. I didn’t say I was self-studying AP Chem. I am trying to study all of the topics I need to pass the test needed to skip its prerequisite.
I wouldn’t recommend skipping Honors Chem to jump to AP Chem, if you are planning to study it further in college as you don’t want gaps in your knowledge and missing links in your foundation.
Hamlon - you want to receive credit at the high school level for a pre-req for APChem, but not study for AP Chem itself?
Doesn’t that merely mean studying AP Chem? Or is the school’s Chem class (which you will enroll in) the pre-req with nothing more, and you wish to study the work for that?
@WorryHurry411 I have people I can ask for help, but need somewhere to start so I can learn the basics and really understand the material. That is why I want to start studying now.
@Waiting2exhale I am supposed to be in Honors Chem next year, but want to enroll in AP Chem instead. To do this, I am required to have a credit for some type of preparatory chem class which I can get through an exam for acceleration. The EA can only give me regular chem credit, but I am fine with that. I also want to make sure I am adequately prepared for taking AP Chem. I am not directly studying for AP Chem because I would be (hopefully) taking it during the upcoming school year. Having credit for the prerequisite would also make it easier to change my schedule.
@Hamlon ah, gotcha
Okay. My info on this subject is in the dead computer in the next room, but I’ve done lots of research on self-study AP Chem courses, and some of those programs had extensive syllabi listed. In addition, I bookmarked the site of a professor who is supposed to be an excellent open course ware professor on the subject. His videos are intended to basically give the student “recitation,” or further in-depth clarification of specific course material in a very focused presentation.
I will PM you tomorrow with this information after I run the OS through another (working) computer. The information was the most current I found as of June, 2015.
@Waiting2exhale So would these courses be appropriate for someone who has no Chem experience and only wants to self-study the Honors Chemistry material?
No chem experience at all? Oh, sorry. Forgot about that part. No, they would not.
The syllabi would introduce you to topics that need to be covered for AP Chem, and in that way expose you to terms and processes, but I guess that is not the same as introducing you to chemistry. I am sorry, Hamlon, I goofed.
@Hamlon, going back to your original post, what is the “required elective” you must take? Is this something that might be offered in the summer so you can get it out of the way to make room for your Chem - AP Chem sequence?
I’m going to guess your two music classes are something like Band/Orchestra and then Jazz/Music Theory - something like that? If you are not going to be a music major (and even if you are) the second of these is really an elective.
I know that my S as a senior had to drop Jazz Band because the class period it was offered conflicted with something he needed.
Self studying Chem is one option, but you may have a few other options you could consider. Really depends what your overall goals are. And I believe you are currently a sophomore. A lot of things change.
I am curious why you had Physics in 9th grade? That is not typical.
@lots2do: Apparently there has been long term examination and, presumably, a re-evaluation of the order in which the high school sequence of science courses is taught. My son goes to college in Massachusetts, and knows kids who took physics in freshman year of HS.
Some info:
http://www.slapt.org/resources/physics_first/Inverting_the_sci_sequence.pdf (1994):
“There is considerable evidence for the benefits of restructuring of the secondary science curriculum to invert this traditional order. Physics before chemistry before biology can be a more effective order for increasing student understanding of each of these major branches of science.”
https://www.aapt.org/Resources/upload/PHYS_first.pdf (2009):
What Is Physics First?
Physics First calls for a re-sequencing of high school courses so that students study physics before
chemistry and biology.
@lots2do I have to take one PLTW elective a year to stay in the STEM program. It’s the only reason why I decided to go to my home school instead of the magnet. There are less than 100 kids in the entire program and the school district wouldn’t put an elective in Summer school that is only taught to such a small amount of students. I also plan on possibly going to a Summer program (if I get in) and wouldn’t be home most of the Summer. I’m really interested in music and science and genuinely want to pursue both of these in college and for the rest of my life. I had to take Physics in 9th grade because it was necessary for the Sophomore engineering class. I would like to have been in Chemistry this year, but the school wants us to get state-testing out of the way as soon as possible because some kids will probably have to test multiple times. I genuinely want to take an AP Science course next year for the challenge.