About the College Board AP Chemistry Exam
The AP Chemistry Exam is made up of two parts, multiple choice and free response.
The AP Chemistry Exam is made up of two parts, multiple choice and free response.
Multiple Choice:
There has been a recent change in the grading of the Multiple Choice portion of ALL AP exams. The multiple choice questions will be graded on the number of correct answers. There will be no ¼ point deduction for incorrect responses. It is now to the student’s advantage to answer every question. If you read any “AP tips” online, ignore any strategies discussed about when to skip a MC question. Don’t skip any of them! If you don’t know the answer, try to eliminate some choices and then guess from the remaining answers! Since calculators are not allowed during the multiple choice portion, you should practice doing some basic math without your calculator. Also, as you read a multiple choice problem that requires math, try to think about what type of answer makes sense. Doing the actual math might not be needed to get the answer. |
Free Response:
Also, because this format (of 3 long questions and 4 short questions) is new, we don't have any specific practice ones for you. Just practice any old FRQ! List of Previous FR Question Topics can be found here. |
Calculator Policy:
During the Free Response, a scientific or graphing calculator is permitted. See exclusions below.
[Excludes powerbooks and portable/handhelf computers; electronic writing pads or pen-input/stylus-driven devices (e.g. Palm, PDAs, Casio Class Pag 300); pocket organizers; models with QWERTY (i.e., typewriter) keypads (e.g. TI-92 Plus, Voyage 200); models with paper tapes; models that “talk” or make noise; models that require an electrical outlet; cell phone calculators]
Reference Documents:
You may use the list of commonly used equations and constants provided and a periodic table during the ENTIRE EXAM! I suggest that you print this (if you haven’t already) and use it when you practice free response questions. It will be helpful to already be familiar with this sheet.
These documents are posted here.
Recent Free Response Questions and Scoring Guides:
Check out these Free Response sections from recent AP Exams. The scoring guides (answers) are listed as well. Look over this closely to get an idea of the types of answers that the graders are looking for. Practice as many of these as you can! Answer the questions without looking at the scoring guides first!
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/exam/exam_information/1998.html
Helpful for studying:
You can find a list of some common colors of precipitates, colors of solutions, ... here.
Net Ionic Equations:
This topic used to be a required question. We do not know how this will present itself on this new exam. You should practice writing net ionic equations. My bet is that they will show up in some way.
Summary of what you need to know for the AP Exam (from previous AP Exam, but a good review none the less)
Want to know how to translate a percentage grade on a practice AP test to an AP grade (1-5)?
http://appass.com/calculators/chemistry
We do not know if the above will hold true on this new AP Exam format.
Eight Suggestions for More Effective FRQ Responses - from the College Board
How to Handle Math Questions without a Calculator
http://apchemistrynmsi.wikispaces.com/file/view/MC%20Math%20Review.pdf/118452039/MC%20Math%20Review.pdf
During the Free Response, a scientific or graphing calculator is permitted. See exclusions below.
[Excludes powerbooks and portable/handhelf computers; electronic writing pads or pen-input/stylus-driven devices (e.g. Palm, PDAs, Casio Class Pag 300); pocket organizers; models with QWERTY (i.e., typewriter) keypads (e.g. TI-92 Plus, Voyage 200); models with paper tapes; models that “talk” or make noise; models that require an electrical outlet; cell phone calculators]
Reference Documents:
You may use the list of commonly used equations and constants provided and a periodic table during the ENTIRE EXAM! I suggest that you print this (if you haven’t already) and use it when you practice free response questions. It will be helpful to already be familiar with this sheet.
These documents are posted here.
Recent Free Response Questions and Scoring Guides:
Check out these Free Response sections from recent AP Exams. The scoring guides (answers) are listed as well. Look over this closely to get an idea of the types of answers that the graders are looking for. Practice as many of these as you can! Answer the questions without looking at the scoring guides first!
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/exam/exam_information/1998.html
Helpful for studying:
You can find a list of some common colors of precipitates, colors of solutions, ... here.
Net Ionic Equations:
This topic used to be a required question. We do not know how this will present itself on this new exam. You should practice writing net ionic equations. My bet is that they will show up in some way.
Summary of what you need to know for the AP Exam (from previous AP Exam, but a good review none the less)
Want to know how to translate a percentage grade on a practice AP test to an AP grade (1-5)?
http://appass.com/calculators/chemistry
We do not know if the above will hold true on this new AP Exam format.
Eight Suggestions for More Effective FRQ Responses - from the College Board
How to Handle Math Questions without a Calculator
http://apchemistrynmsi.wikispaces.com/file/view/MC%20Math%20Review.pdf/118452039/MC%20Math%20Review.pdf