<p>Took the exam today! I thought it was okay, but definitely harder (atleast for me) than last year’s. Looking at about 54-56. What is usually the minimum score needed on the local exam to qualify for the national exam?</p>
<p>@sMITten The deadline for administering the local exam is April 2.</p>
<p>Minimum cutoff will depend on your region. Sometimes a 50ish is enough, or even the high 40’s, but my region needed at least 54ish from what I’ve heard. Some regions will need 58 and above so I don’t really know about your region. </p>
<p>VictorWang, I’d just suggest taking the old local exams and reviewing the stuff on there that you don’t understand or know as strongly as other topics. You don’t really need Molecular Orbital Theory for the local exam; I saw it come up on a national exam but your best bet is to study from the actual local exams and then to use Atkins to help figure out concepts.</p>
<p>O sorry Apoc314, I wasn’t clear. I bought Atkins to study for the national exam, not the local exam. But I’m assuming then since you mentioned Molecular Orbital Theory that I should study that. What chapters should I study for the national exam (or is it more productive to go through past national exams first)?</p>
<p>Definitely go through past national exams first, and let that guide you in terms of where you need to study in more depth.</p>
<p>Agreed. Study the national exams and then use the book to cover material you feel “shaky” on.</p>
<p>got score today, 59</p>
<p>Does anyone know a good way to practice descriptive chemistry? The Olympiad throws in random questions on these topics sometimes. Is there a good book for this?</p>
<p>First timer on usnco, but IMO best way to know descriptive chemistry is through experience with the items themselves by just doing a lot of chemistry altogether, but otherwise I would just find a table or something in a prepbook/textbook. For an elementary description… SAT chem/AP chem books have a section on descriptive chem… Not going to highly recommend this though</p>
<p>Need to brush up on acids/bases and electrochemistry, taking locals on the 29th (spring break atm)… High score in my region last year was a 49. (… wat)</p>
<p>sunshine, I’d say the best book for descriptive chemistry is whichever one you feel most comfortable with. Some people say use Atkins for the rigor, but a lot of people find Zumdahl more student-friendly. Those random “you know it or you don’t” questions can’t really be prepared for, so just find a comfortable text (or web site) and read.</p>
<p>Ktk’s comment about doing it instead of reading it is a good one when it comes to familiarity with lab equipment and different chemicals. There is always something about the colors of metal salts, for example, and actually having seen and worked with those chemicals helps you remember better than reading a list in a book ever would.</p>
<p>I was panicking because I’ve been making ridiculous mistakes (2 years since chem…) and haven’t been able to get 55’s, but what the …?
[News</a> VCHS Students Take on Difficult National Chemistry Exam; Senior Has Highest Score in Portland - Valley Catholic School](<a href=“http://www.valleycatholic.org/news/index.php/3021/vchs-students-take-on-difficult-national-chemistry-exam-senior-has-highest-score-in-portland/]News”>http://www.valleycatholic.org/news/index.php/3021/vchs-students-take-on-difficult-national-chemistry-exam-senior-has-highest-score-in-portland/)
</p>
<p>oh wow it’s almost 2am. Polyphasic sleep schedules ftw.</p>
<p>^ That is definitely not the case in our region. With three very competitive science-oriented schools, above a 50 (sometimes even 52/53) is a must for passing on to the national exam.</p>
<p>lol a 49? any student in AP chem on track for a 5 could get above a 45, and most likely around 50ish</p>
<p>just took the test today… not sure how i did, i couldn’t focus. test seemed ok though.</p>
<p>i think every section that uses the local examination will release their score this friday, the latest</p>
<p>is everybody’s local exam the same?</p>
<p>^Most sections use the local exam given by ACS. Some of the more competitive sections make up their own local exams.</p>
<p>that’s kind of an unusual approach… but i suppose if everyone is maxing out the ACS exam it makes sense, I think.</p>
<p>Just took it today. I thought it was harder than the local exam last year. I know I already got 6 wrong. FMLLLLLLLLL!!!11!1</p>
<p>Mm, test was harder than the practice tests I took, but I was more prepared for it than those practice tests… In the end since the cutoff is so low, it’s just competing against my school colleagues, and since I haven’t taken chem since soph year, meeeeh.</p>
<p>The questions seemed to be a bit more random fact oriented than usual, in my view.</p>
<p>YES EXACTLY. Much more random facts than usual and less pure calculations (which I like!! >.<)
Since I go to a super-competitive school (last year’s cutoff was 55/60), I probably won’t make it. gah.</p>