Who here scored 750+ on SAT Chemistry and 4 or 5 on AP?

you'llsee... · 02-02-2008, 07:09 PM

Okay, so I will be purchasing PR for AP chemistry. I also plan to take the SAT Chem test in may, but I won't have time to read a whole other prep book for it.

From your experience, does PR for AP chem. also cover enough info. for the SAT chem exam to "ensure" a 750+?

thanks in advance for the input!

srrinath · 02-02-2008, 08:57 PM

almost everyone (minus one or two ppl) in my school who took AP chem (90+/say 100 in the cohort) had a five for chemistry. and among those who have taken sat chem (maybe two dozen or so), they all had 750+es. so go make of that what you must.

that having been said, chemistry at the AP is far more calculational that the sat which is way more conceptual.

interelations09 · 02-03-2008, 04:36 PM

I am also thinking about taking the SAT subject test, do you know what the curve is like though?

you'llsee... · 02-03-2008, 05:04 PM

^ ah! don't change the subject of the thread..lol.

ps: use the search function type in "SAT Chemistry Curve", interelations09

vrdabomb5717 · 02-03-2008, 08:01 PM

I got a 5 on the AP, and a 770 on the SAT II Chemistry exam. In my opinion, Princeton Review was a good prep book for the AP, and was a decent one for the SAT II. The main problem with the SAT II is that it asks quite a few conceptual questions, which Princeton Review is sort of lacking in. That said, my teacher prepared us well for both exams by going over the material, conceptuals included, but using only Princeton Review is a risky strategy, If I were you, I'd go over some conceptuals before taking the SAT II. Otherwise, you should be fine. The math involved with the AP is far harder than the math involved with the SAT II, so there should be no problem there.

you'llsee... · 02-03-2008, 09:30 PM

^ a few days ago I asked if PR was good for conceptual questions, and everyone said it was...I suspected that the people who answered my thread had never even seen PR's book for APchem.

anyway, thanks for the great advice. Do you reccomend I also purchase barron's for SAT chem then?

interelations09 · 02-04-2008, 10:37 PM

ah! sorry. Thanks for the help though ended up finding good information. Also I've heard that Barrons is better for chemistry, but that's from my chem teacher not from any students.

sports61kh · 02-05-2008, 06:41 PM

do u need to have taken at least chem honors (let alone AP) to do well on SAT chem? b/c i want to take it, but i only took basic chem last yr

Senluck · 02-07-2008, 01:35 AM

I indeed have took AP Chem and SAT Subject Chem.

Thinking that SAT II should not be too hard, I didn't study for SAT II. I just studied using PR AP chem book. Guess what, I got a 690.
I read through Barron's SAT II Chem book once or twice and managed to get a 770 the second time (I should've got 800. My proctor did not manage the time correctly)

miss secret · 02-07-2008, 01:48 AM

I took both exams- I got a 790 on the SAT Chem and a very high 4 on the AP test.

I took the SAT subject test in May, right before the AP exam. To study, I used the Sparknotes prep book with notes. I found that the review section was incredibly helpful and concise. Also, the practice tests were good, but they are harder than the actual test, so don't get discouraged if you're scoring mediocre.

That prep book also helped for the AP exam...except the exam covers more difficult and in-depth material.

you'llsee... · 02-07-2008, 09:57 AM

^thank you

rob22 · 02-07-2008, 11:41 PM

I got a Chemistry - 790 / AP - 5 ... For me the AP test was very mathmatical and got extremely complex at times. The SAT test was very simple, but they tested stuff that you may not be used to. For example, they might ask the color of some random chemical, or the name of some lab equipment for an experiment. Also the T/T/CE questions were really hard for me, because it's so basic, conceptual stuff that is rushed over in AP (at least for us) just barely, and I really expected like a 720, so there must be a decent curve where like -3/-4 = 790?

you'llsee... · 02-08-2008, 10:01 AM

^ thanks so much

you'llsee... · 02-10-2008, 09:26 PM

keep the good advice coming...

theoneo · 02-12-2008, 03:59 AM

I did the exact same thing - I took the SAT II like five days before the AP exam. The problem was I didn't realize that I would be studying for other AP exams I had that week so make sure you know your schedule. I should've taken it in June. Anyway, I did some prep from the PR AP book and the Barron's SAT II book (although I believe the answer key is not entirely correct) and they got me a 780 and a strong 5. For some reason I couldn't answer some SAT II questions and then I ran out of time so I wish I had worked on my pacing. I also had a really, really good teacher so I didn't have to cram much. Just take the Real SAT II's practice test in a couple months and see how you do on that because it's pretty accurate.