Best way to stay on top of AP Chemistry?

[Anonymous]

DS is taking his first AP class this year and it is AP Chemistry. I actually never took even 1 AP class so I don't know. As long as he is basically doing OK in class, is that enough to do well on the end of year AP test? Or do kids typically study or review all year long -- especially if they are trying to score a 5? Are there recommended books or online programs for this course that you know about and recommend?

[Anonymous]

OP again, not sock puppeting but I found this site that seems useful:

https://apchemistrynmsi.wikispaces.com/AP+Chemistry+Class+Lecture+Notes+AND+instructional+videos

[Anonymous]

There were many students in DD's AP Chem class who actually had a tutor who taught them a chapter ahead. Not kidding. I would not focus so much on the eventual AP score. Hope DC keeps the grade in the C-B range, B would be great, A phenomenal (don't know if there is grad inflation at your HS ...) Your DC should probably repeat the class in college, to be on the safe side, regardless of the HS AP score, especially going into the sciences/pre med.

[Anonymous]

The "Five Steps to a 5" series is excellent for the sciences. My children found the books to be very helpful, and both of them got 5s in AP Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There were many students in DD's AP Chem class who actually had a tutor who taught them a chapter ahead. Not kidding. I would not focus so much on the eventual AP score. Hope DC keeps the grade in the C-B range, B would be great, A phenomenal (don't know if there is grad inflation at your HS ...) Your DC should probably repeat the class in college, to be on the safe side, regardless of the HS AP score, especially going into the sciences/pre med.

Thanks! I don't know how rigorous the class is -- my son isn't attending one of the highly competitive DC area high schools. He's doing OK in the class so far, but I don't know what the grading curve or expectations are. I know the teacher is happy if kids score a 3 on the exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The "Five Steps to a 5" series is excellent for the sciences. My children found the books to be very helpful, and both of them got 5s in AP Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.

When did your kids start using these books? Only at the end of the school year for review? Or during the course?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There were many students in DD's AP Chem class who actually had a tutor who taught them a chapter ahead. Not kidding. I would not focus so much on the eventual AP score. Hope DC keeps the grade in the C-B range, B would be great, A phenomenal (don't know if there is grad inflation at your HS ...) Your DC should probably repeat the class in college, to be on the safe side, regardless of the HS AP score, especially going into the sciences/pre med.

The Whole pint of these courses is to NOT have to take them in college. Just take Chem honors instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were many students in DD's AP Chem class who actually had a tutor who taught them a chapter ahead. Not kidding. I would not focus so much on the eventual AP score. Hope DC keeps the grade in the C-B range, B would be great, A phenomenal (don't know if there is grad inflation at your HS ...) Your DC should probably repeat the class in college, to be on the safe side, regardless of the HS AP score, especially going into the sciences/pre med.

The Whole pint of these courses is to NOT have to take them in college. Just take Chem honors instead.

Kinda late for that...

The better STEM programs want kids to have taken the hardest STEM class offered, which means one of those tough APs.

If your child has a good, experienced, teacher, puts in the hours, and stays on top, he'll do fine. We found the secret in Phys 1 was getting things done early enough to see the teacher before homework was due to deal with any challenges.

Also, learn to google. You may need to help your kid with technical googling if the skills arent there yet. The topics are standard. Somewhere in the US, some college prof at a relatively low-ranked school has posted a really great solution to a problem set that goes over the same material. These problem set solutions can often answer any questions when your kid is confused.

[Anonymous]

I took the class years ago, and didn't do any special tutoring or anything. What I did do was complete every problem for every chapter, even if it wasn't specifically assigned as homework. If I didn't understand one, I asked the teacher about it. It's all about practicing. (FWIW, I got a 5 on the exam.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If your child has a good, experienced, teacher, puts in the hours, and stays on top, he'll do fine. We found the secret in Phys 1 was getting things done early enough to see the teacher before homework was due to deal with any challenges.

This is the part I'm not sure about. My son so far seems to be getting good grads, and he is studying with some friends. He says he's mostly been helping his friends -- that he already understands or knows everything he's been learning. That seems odd to me. I'm thinking the class might be too easy/standards too low for a rigorous AP class, with a teacher just happy to have a majority of kids passing the AP with a 3. (This is not your typical high status DC area high school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If your child has a good, experienced, teacher, puts in the hours, and stays on top, he'll do fine. We found the secret in Phys 1 was getting things done early enough to see the teacher before homework was due to deal with any challenges.

This is the part I'm not sure about. My son so far seems to be getting good grads, and he is studying with some friends. He says he's mostly been helping his friends -- that he already understands or knows everything he's been learning. That seems odd to me. I'm thinking the class might be too easy/standards too low for a rigorous AP class, with a teacher just happy to have a majority of kids passing the AP with a 3. (This is not your typical high status DC area high school).

Me again. Didnt consider that.

So, if your assessment is that the teacher's class is not sufficiently rigorous, and you have the means, hire a tutor. If you don't have the means, talk to the teacher about what extra chapters need to be covered.

Pull out the teacher's syllabus, and compare it to what you can find on line from Washington-Lee, Wooten, or the like. If you conclude it is dumbed down, get a tutor.

But is your kid ready for as much as you think? Remember, if this class s watered down, the basic tenth grade chem might have been too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
But is your kid ready for as much as you think? Remember, if this class s watered down, the basic tenth grade chem might have been too.

I don't know!! He got easy As in Honors Chem last year -- I never saw him study, anyhow. He's doing fine in AP Chem, so far. I just thought kids would have to work harder in an AP course.

I'll check his teacher's syllabus against another class.

[Anonymous]

Another resource is Khan Academy, which has a module on AP Chemistry designed by the College Board.

It is one of the harder AP exams; in 2016

9% of all students (internationally) who took it scored a 5
16% scored a 4
26% scored a 3
27% scored a 2
22% scored a 1

[Anonymous]

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-chemistry

[Anonymous]

OP -- why is your son taking AP classes? If it is to get into competitive classes, no, you don't want to just go with what the class teaches and hope for the best. The quality of AP teaching varies widely across schools. One of the ways colleges distinguish as real AP class vs. a fake one is how well the kids do on the APs. So if a kid is taking an honors course and gets an A, but gets a 2 on the AP exam itself, that suggests that the course is not very rigorous.

Aside from norming, the colleges want to know how well did the individual student really mater the material. Is he really an AP level student? Not if he doesn't hit 4s and 5s (most competitive colleges require 5s to get course credit in college or even to advance out of basic freshman core classes).

So, unless your kid really loves the subject, it's not a great idea for him to take AP classes and not do well on the exam.