Students interested in taking AP Chemistry spring semester should be enrolled in Honor Chemistry during the fall semester of the SAME academic year (See AP Chemistry FAQ)
Difficulty Level: Very Difficult
Estimated Homework: Approximately 90 minutes/day
GPA Weighting: 5.0
Recommended Prerequisites: Recommended B or better in Honors Chemistry: In the Earth System AND successful completion or co-enrolled in Integrated Math 2
Grade Weighting Term 3
Homework: 5%
Lab: 30%
Quiz: 25%
Test: 40%
Grade Weighting Term 4
Homework: 5%
Lab: 50%
Quiz: 15%
Test: 30%
1. I am interested in taking AP Chemistry...what do you think? AP Chemistry is a very difficult class. Several factors contribute to this, however, the biggest struggle for students is the expectation of foundational chemistry skills, increased level of problem solving, application of knowledge and the overall pacing of the course. The chemistry itself is manageable for students who have a strong foundation of chemistry knowledge, but the ability to apply concepts in various scenarios is significantly more difficult. Earning an A in Honors Chemistry does NOT mean you will earn an A in AP Chemistry. Please consider the following information and/or speak to your Honors Chemistry teacher.
You truly enjoy chemistry (or science in general)
You are comfortable being challenged...with the larger goal of learning SKILLS rather than MEMORIZING content
You review your work and exams for the purpose of improving your knowledge and learning from mistakes
You ask for help and attend office hours
You use notes, sample problems, prep books, etc. when you are stuck rather than giving up and going straight for an answer key
You are comfortable learning additional content on your own outside of class
You have 1-2 hours each day to dedicate to AP Chemistry
You did NOT enjoy Honors Chemistry and/or feel unsure about your understanding of content
You expect to get an "A" to boost your GPA
You are taking the class just because your friends are taking it
You need to take AP classes (NOT TRUE!)
You only care about the points
You copy answer keys to get by
You don't attend office hours
You wait until the last minute to complete assignments
You give up when you don't understand something
You have 3-4 academic classes and participate in extracurricular activities which take up a large amount of your time
2. I NEED to take AP Chemistry for college. False! Students who are interested in chemistry have the opportunity to take AP Chemistry, but it is not a requirement for college, even if you are planning to study science in the future. Many students are not ready to take such a rigorous course as a sophomore, especially if you are also enrolled in other AP/Honors classes...and that is perfectly ok! Taking AP courses is not worth negatively impacting your mental health with the sole goal of boosting your GPA or making yourself more competitive for colleges. Pursue your own interests and take level-appropriate classes. You will enjoy it a lot more!
3. What information from Honors Chemistry should I know going into AP Chemistry? AP Chemistry is a "second year" high school course that is roughly equivalent to an introductory college chemistry course. Students are expected to have a foundational understanding of Honors Chemistry topics in order to investigate more advanced concepts (see Prior Knowledge and CP vs. Honors Chemistry FAQ).
4. Where can I find example problems to get a taste of AP Chemistry? See AP Chemistry Prep Questions (KEY) for practice AP questions by topic.
5. What does the AP Chemistry Exam look like? The AP Chemistry Exam has two parts, multiple choice and free response, each weighted 50% of your overall exam score. The multiple choice section includes 60 questions in 90 minutes without a calculator, while the free response section includes three long and 4 short questions in 105 minutes with a calculator.
6. I want to study a STEM related field in the future. How will this class prepare me? Although AP Chemistry is credited as a college course (5.0 GPA scale) it does NOT cover all content that would be included in a first year university chemistry course. As a result, you will have an advantage compared to a student who did not take AP Chemistry by virtue of covering more advanced topics, but there will still be new content as well as increased rigor. Taking AP level courses will also help develop the problem solving and technical skills that students will utilize at the university level.
7. What do I earn for passing the AP Exam? Passing the AP Exam with a 4 or 5 typically earns you college credits. However, this does NOT necessarily mean you can pass out of the university level course, especially if it is a requirement for your degree. DISCLAIMER: Each university has their own policy regarding AP credits (see College Board AP Credit Policy Search).
If you pursue a chemistry related degree (chemistry, chemical engineering, materials, biochemistry, etc.): You will most probably have to take the full General Chemistry course offered by the university as you are NOT exempt from their department requirements. General Chemistry will serve as the foundation for all future chemistry courses.
If you pursue other science/engineering related degrees (physics, biology, geology, environmental science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, etc.): You may be able to partially pass out of the General Chemistry course offered by the university, however, if you are required to take additional chemistry courses (organic chemistry, biochemistry, etc.) or courses within your department that are based on core chemistry concepts, I recommend taking the FULL introductory course offered by the university.
If you pursue a non-STEM related degree: You will most likely earn "general education" credits towards your science requirement.