Which is easier, AP Chem or AP Bio?

<p>I took AP Bio as a junior and am taking AP Chem as a senior presently. Personally, I was really a Bio junkie/nerd so I was really into the class whereas most of my fellow peers absolutely abhorred it. I earned a 5 on the AP Bio exam and am confidently attempting to do the same for AP Chem. Bio is just generally pure memorization of a ****load of content, whereas Chem tends to have some theory but is generally more applicable and involves much more math related stuff. While I loved Bio, I worked my butt off throughout the year in that class and I didn't really mind. Now Chem I don't really 'love' compared to bio but in terms of the workload, it has been so much lighter since it tends to be about knowing all the formulas and equations and just applying them - I have spent so little time on Chem this year compared to the hours I would spend weekends reading up on Fungi and animal classification and whatnot. So I guess it really depends on your strengths - part of it may also depend on the teachers...my AP Bio teacher was absolutely insane with cramming info in as little time as possible, which was why we learned so much compared to most AP Bio classes in my opinion. If you had a rather easy time memorizing info with APUSH (assuming you have or are taking it), then AP Bio wouldn't be much different - although a lot more interesting. That is just my take on it though.</p>

<p>Well thank you. That really helps alot.</p>

<p>
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The AP Bio teacher is frickin crazy and the average grade is a B but mosly everyone passes the test with atleast a 3.

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lol. doesn't THAT sound frickin crazy. my AP bio test there is 100% pass rate...actually 100% of the people get 5's so yeah.</p>

<p>Maas0890 proved my theory right. lol</p>

<p>good advice guys</p>

<p>i guess i would say that i like bio the best
but i'm also decent at math, like is plug/chug enough to do well in chem? b/c i can use formulas (ie gas laws) and put in numbers, but i don't know why the heck i'm doing it lol</p>

<p>yeah i would say if you're good at plug/chug you are a PERFECT candidate for AP Chem :P. Hope you don't plan on taking physics.</p>

<p>I think AP Chemistry is easier because you just have to memorize formulas. and I am better at math.so...</p>

<p>snipez, so it wouldn't really matter if i didn't understand the concepts, but i knew how to do the formulas? and why would physics be bad, isn't it also like plug/chug</p>

<p>AP Chem is way easier than AP Bio in terms of effort required. Both
are roughly equivalent from a complexity perspective.</p>

<p>sports61kh, it's best to to understand as much possible. sure many of the equations in chemistry are derived from calculus (like just about every other formula you encounter in high school) so you may just plug and chug, but many of the equations should make sense because they are rooted in theory.</p>

<p>in physics, all the equations you have should make logical sense because they are all derived from very basic definitions. if you don't bother with the derivations and rely fully on the equations, you are missing some very valuable problem solving skills. and the hardest physics questions ask you to come up with the appropriate relations instead of just having you search for suitable formulas.</p>

<p>thanks for the clarification snipez</p>

<p>yeah, thanks!</p>

<p>I would say AP Chem is easier. AP Chem relies on really knowing a few concepts per chapter, and then being able to apply them to problems. AP Bio relies a lot more on memorization of facts.</p>

<p>AP Bio, for me. Unfortunately, it's also the AP science that I find the most boring.</p>

<p>I loved AP Chem, and I am loving AP physics, but bio just sucks. It's massive amounts of memorization geared towards the AP test. Plus it's very dull (imo) and lacks math.</p>

thats a HUGE and super rigorous courseload

ap bio so much stress
ap chem fun and easier to understand
both are interesting tho