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I took AP Chem in 10th grade; I did well in the class, but didn't take the AP test, so I'll have to take the placement test when I get to Stanford for either 31X or 31A.
If I don't do well on the placement test and it recommends that I take 31A, do I have to take it, or can I just elect to take 31X?
regardless, if i were you, i would not take 31X. 31X is much harder than it needs to be and a good amount of physics knowledge is needed for it. Most of the people that took it in my dorm regretted not taking the 31A/B series, which is much easier.
31X is not much harder! It is a fast course, but you should be fine if you have a gen chem backgound. And it really requires no physics - you need a couple of equations but you get an equation sheet. It saves you a quarter of agony over mostly useless chemistry. Also, the 31X curve is better than the 31ab curve.
Chem 31a has about the same grade distribution as 31x, but when you take chem 31b, you'll AN INCREDIBLY LARGE amount of people getting PERFECT scores on the midterms.
Almost everyone I knew in chem 31b wasn't worrying about trying to beat the curve or anything like that, because there isn't a curve. Everyone was just trying to get an A+ instead of an A because people were pwning the incredibly easy midterms.
Chem 31A/B might cover more stuff than 31X, but it is definitely an easier series.
Chem 31A/B has a reputation for having *ahem* slower students. There's nothing wrong with Chem 31X. Both classes have tons of premeds dropping out anyway, as do the organic chemistry classes after that. You should take the class that the placement test recommends for you.
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