I am currently a 9th grade student and course selection for my 10th grade year is right around the corner and I am trying to get different perspectives on if I can handle AP chem. I have been told countless times AP chem is the hardest course at my high school but I still would really like to take I.T. I have a definite interest in STEM but the only thing is that I have not taken chemistry yet and that is a prerequisite. However, I do have a solid A+ in Biology honors and a solid A in Algebra 2 honors, at my school that permits you able to take this course. Also in 8th grade we spent half the year on Chemistry but that was really basic information. Lastly I have enrolled in a Duke STEM program over the summer which might give me background knowledge and would be willing to take a CTY or other chemistry course as well. Do you think I will be able to manage and succeed in this course because I would not want to get Bs in this class. Should I take AP chem, thoughts?
If you can find practice questions for the SAT subject test in chemistry, that may help you determine how well you know your regular high school chemistry material that is a prerequisite for AP chemistry in your school.
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests/subjects/science/chemistry has a few practice questions; you may want to search for more.
Have you taken a general chemistry class? If not, jumping right into an AP Chem class will be beyond belief. I recommend taking the class as a junior or senior when you have refined study habits. I recommend taking AP Bio before Chem, so you can get used to the rigor, and Bio is STEM as well.
I agree with @trufflemac24 - that being said, some schools do have placement tests you can take to get into AP Chem. If yours doesn’t, I’d suggest trying to find a final exam on the internet for honors chemistry. If you can pass the exam with an 80% or above and feel very confident in the material, you might want to go for it. You could take a summer chemistry class or find a tutor to work with to learn first-year chemistry. If your school lets you take AP Bio, that might be a good choice, but you should also find room in your schedule to take a regular/honors chem class.
I’m currently a sophomore in Honors Chem, and my middle school spent half of 8th grade on chemistry too, but it didn’t even scratch the surface of what we’re doing now, so I’d make sure to spend a lot of time over the summer learning chemistry. Don’t be too worried about finishing AP Chem - you can always double up on AP sciences later in high school. Also, are you taking any other AP courses next year? We can’t really tell you what to take without context - it’s important to challenge yourself, but don’t go crazy with the AP’s. good luck!!
I’m a sophomore in AP Chem right now. I have a 94 in the class, and I actually am finding it pretty easy, despite not having taken honors previously. Though, since it is a prereq at your school, I would try to brush up on basic chem skills like stoichiometry, periodic table, dimensional analysis, molecular/empirical formulas, etc. before taking AP. I assume they will spend at least a little time reviewing basic chemistry, and if you are determined, I’m sure you will be fine:)