<p>Hey so my friend and I are going to study for the 2010 USNCO. Our plan was to read Atkins Chemical Principles book this summer, and then read a few chapters out of Francis Carey's Organic Chemistry book. Then do practice problems/tests and whatnot. We're both going to be enrolled in AP Chem next year. </p>
<p>SO my questions are...
1. Do you think with limited chem knowledge (honors chem 1 and a half years ago) we can just jump right into Atkins? We're both really smart kids so we could deal with some difficulty, but if major prior knowledge is required I'd love to know. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Any book recommendations/changes in the ones I suggested? </p></li>
<li><p>If we read all of Atkins and some of orgo (and understand it), along with the AP Chem labs we'll be doing how do you think we'll stand?</p></li>
<li><p>Any estimate for the local scores needed for Chicago? 52ish?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And if you have made high honors/camp/int. team please tell me what you did to prepare and all your scores and stuff.</p>
<p>"Hey so my friend and I are going to study for the 2010 USNCO. Our plan was to read Atkins Chemical Principles book this summer, and then read a few chapters out of Francis Carey’s Organic Chemistry book. Then do practice problems/tests and whatnot. We’re both going to be enrolled in AP Chem next year. "</p>
<p>That’s actually my exact plan too…</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard that’s enough for Semis, at the least, though it depends on area. (My section is really soft, we don’t even take the local test to qualify, we have a separate, easier test.)</p>
<p>Yea, so here’s a bump.</p>
<p>Yeah from what I’ve read just by doing that we could easily pass the locals. </p>
<p>And I forgot to put that we were going to read the books during the summer, and thats why I have question #1.</p>
<p>Damn it, I meant 2011 USNCO. Not this year’s.</p>
<p>For some reason or another, I’m taking this region’s locals next saturday.</p>
<p>Hm. Looks like I’m cramming AP Chem in a week (I’m actually quite serious). Wish me luck for making Semis.</p>
<p>what is the Blue Book in the National Exam?</p>
<p>It’s a booklet of lined paper, around 8.5’‘x7’', which has a blue cover. You write your answers to the free response questions in there. You’ll see when you take the test.</p>