dabulls

how similar are the two?

my number one school requires the sat II chem, but I also want to test out of freshman chem with a good score on the AP. The subject test is my priority, but seeing as im taking both in may, will preparing for the AP alone suffice for the subject test as well (looking to get a high as possible score on both)?

dreamy

If you are knowledgable about chem, just do the sample tests for both, and analyze the problems afterwards.
If not, get a princeton review for AP chem. If you can study the stuff, you're good for AP. Then do some sample test for SAT II before taking the test.
Either case, I guess you would need to do sample test for both to familiarize the question type, as their emphasis can be different. In terms of the syllabus, there shouldn't be anything on SATII that is not covered in AP (I could be wrong).
Other posts?

Speak_Easy

SAT II Chem is ridiculously easy if you've taken AP Chem. I took both last year, the May SAT II.

The only difference is the special answer format for a few of the SAT II problems.

I was well prepared for AP and just applied my knowledge to the SAT II test. They did not get anywhere near the AP level in terms of specifics. Still, I would recommend taking AP Chem to coordinate with SAT II chemistry.

I just familiarized myself with the format of the SAT II test and also the breakdown of the topics they covered. I spent probably 2 or so hours total preparing for SAT II Chem.

I did very well in on both my AP exam and the SAT II Chem test.

Good luck.

GamaPasa

take a few practice tests (i did three on sparknotes) in addition to ap prep and you should be fine if you have a solid foundation in the ap class.

i also bought a barron's sat II chem book but i barely used it cuz it was so redundant.

dabulls

arite much appreciated...and this may be a rookie question but if i dont do well one the ap test can I keep colleges from seeing it/knowing I ever took it?

DankStarbursts

u dont have to report ap scores until after u get into college, but if u do well on it u can list it on ur college app.

dabulls

thanks i was a bit confused as to how that works

mvsenior

make sure...you look/ do the true, false, correct explanation section of sat 2 chem...that is tricky at first

btw i took sat 2 chem after only 2.5 months of ap...and i did fine ( 730)..so after a year of ap..you should be in good shape

good luck!

dominikidd226

i think AP Chem might actually be a little easier than the SAT II chem test because right now im in honors chem and will be taking AP chem next year and ive looked at some old AP Chem tests and i still have 2 and a half months of honors chem and i could probably take the AP chem test now and get 4. The questions weer really easy. When i looked at some SAT II chem questions though, they seemed a lot harder and i didnt know how to do a lot of them

atbxintel

if u feel that sat II is harder u wouldnt get a 4 on the ap chem test

nygirl786

not necessarily. I got a 5 on the exam, but still though that the SAT II questions were sometimes harder for chem

srrinath

well let me attempt to clarify. AP Chem tends to test you on your application and conceptual understanding of chemical concepts. as such, it's questions tend to be calculational or involve balancing, intepreting graphs so on. SAT Chem tends to test more of your brute force chem knowledge. (with emphasis on that knowledge). some people tend to mug when it comes to AP Chem (sometimes in the last moment); those people may find SAT chem rather different and possibly difficult when done without any additional prep. however if you've been keeping up with whats been taught it class and spending good amounts of time reading up, both papers shouldn't be a problem to you.

somni

I thought the SAT II was harder than the AP. I did not do so well on the SAT II

dolcevalse

You need to know definitions of concepts & experiments & organic functional groups for the SAT. I hate memorizing so I initially had terrible scores on the practice SAT tests (650-ish). Although my scores have skipped around on the practice SAT tests (670-740), I think studying for the AP now will be better than using any SAT review book.