How to Study for the AP Chemistry Examination

The Most Important Strategy: Take Full-Length Timed Practice Exams

Taking the AP Chemistry exam is a long gruelling experience that can leave you feeling exhausted really fast. It does after all pertain to excelling in 60 MCQs and 7 FRQs for about 3 hours and 15 minutes. 

So, where can you get full-length practice exams? Excellent question. You can get these practice exams from your teachers in the form of a Mock exam. You can also get them in many commercially available study books. You can also get them in the Bluebook testing app. The College Board specifically asks students taking hybrid digital exams and digital exams (AP Chemistry being a hybrid-digital AP exam) to proceed to the “Practice and Prepare” section on the Bluebook application to attempt a test preview.

Score yourself to see how well you did and if it were a real exam done under timed conditions, how well would your score be? If you don’t end up with a score you like, hammer down on the concepts existing behind the questions you failed to better understand them and better respond to questions asked in practice exams and in the real exam. 

Practice the hybrid-digital way of taking AP Chemistry

Once again, AP Chemistry is a hybrid digital exam. What this means for students, as mentioned by College Board of ALL Hybrid-Digital AP exams, is that you are required to complete Multiple-Choice questions and look at Free-Response Questions in the Bluebook testing application then write by hand your FRQ responses in paper booklets provided.

This may look like a simplistic study strategy but failing to understand this hybrid-digital way of taking AP Chemistry can result in: 

1. Precious time wasted slowly switching between your computer screen and paper.
2. Development of mental strain when reading long questions on a screen for the first time.
3. Guessing how the Bluebook app works because it is your first time using it.
4. Failure to develop a faster writing speed when handling the FRQ responses on your paper exam booklet.
5. Failure to properly understand how to use the provided timer to manage your time when taking the exam. (Time Debt vs Time Savings are a crucial factor for any AP exam assessment endeavor including AP Chemistry – Ask @ivysocratesinsta or email us at hezron@ivysocrates.com for specific list resource on this.)

Less Memorization of items present in the equation packet

Unlike Chemistry class where rote memorization might have scored you some decent points, the AP Chemistry exam does not MOSTLY reward memorization of facts and vocabulary terms.

The AP Chemistry exam expects you to apply your knowledge, not memorize what you study unless when required in part of applying your knowledge. The exam wants you to use Mathematical equations to solve problems, and use the logic of science to elaborate on why one chemical is different from another. 

Memorization of equations and constants is not a helpful strategy because of the equation packet you will receive when taking your AP Chemistry examination. This packet will contain a full periodic table with two full pages of equations and constants. You will also be allowed to use approved calculators. Why memorize the information to something you will have access to when doing your exam? It doesn’t quite add up, right?

It is much more valuable to instead use your time developing skills and concepts on things like Coulomb’s law, ionic compounds, the lewis electron-dot diagram, Stoichiometry problem solving, moles, net ionic equations, spectator ions, equilibrium problem solving using the ICE box method, titration curve interpretation, enthalpy, entropy, thermodynamic favorability and so on and so on. 

More Memorization of items absent from the equation packet

There are things that require memorization for proper application of concepts. Things that the College Board will not include in the equation packet. The things that require memorization for the AP Chemistry examination are:

1. VSEPR Theory table
2. Reaction order identification i.e. 0 Order: Straight line for [A] vs. time, 1st Order: Straight line for ln[A] vs. time, and 2nd Order: Straight line for 1/[A] vs. time
3. Complete ionization principle that is: strong acids and bases break apart entirely into ions when dissolved in water.
4. The six strong acids i.e. HCI, HBr, HI, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, and HCIO₄
5. The identification of strong bases aka hydroxides from Group 1 and 2 on the periodic table are strong bases.
6. The prediction of thermodynamic favorability aka how the signs of enthalpy and entropy determine if a process is “favored” or in other words if a process is spontaneous (College Board exclusively uses the term “Thermodynamically Favored”). For example: When enthalpy is negative and entropy is positive, the process is always favored. Another example: When enthalpy is positive and entropy is negative the process is never favored.
7. Process identification based on their Mathematical signs eg ▲H<0 (Heat is released) is exothermic, endothermic when heat is absorbed aka ▲H>0, ▲G<0 is the Mathematical sign for favored process, and ▲G>0 is the Mathematical sign for Non-Favored Process.
8. The five mnemonic devices and functional rules for Galvanic cells such as: RED CAT and AN OX: Reduction happens at the cathode, and oxidation happens at the anode. See how perfectly aligned that is? Here is another mnemonic – OIL RIG which allows us to remember the Galvanic function rule Oxidation is losing electrons, and reduction is gaining electrons. Other mnemonics are The CAT gets FAT, A/C, and Salt Bridge Flow. Do you know what Galvanic Cells Function rules they represent? Give them a try then email your answer to hezron@ivysocrates.com to see if you have nailed it.
9. Many sources online will discourage memorization of all polyatomic ions. Some will encourage the memorization of common polyatomic ions. Examples of sources that discourage memorization of polyatomic ions are this and this. An example of a source that encourages memorization of common polyatomic ions is this. We strongly agree with sources that encourage memorization of common polyatomic ions because failing to memorize this can cause language barrier problems for example if asked to write a net-ionic equation for the reaction between Silver Nitrate and Sodium Carbonate, and you don’t know that Carbonate is CO₃²⁻, you cannot write the correct formula NA₂CO₃.

Understand the format and rules of the AP Chemistry examination

Needless to say, it is imperative to be familiar with the rules of the AP Chemistry exam and the exam format. Understanding things like the total duration of the exam, the format of the examination, the rules for using calculators, the tested skills, and the response requirements is crucial.

We shall make your load lighter by providing you with the AP Chemistry exam format and rules. 

What is AP Chem’s exam format?

This information is sourced from College Board’s AP central page on AP Chemistry.

1. Like many other AP exams students take, AP Chemistry has two sections namely the Multiple-choice Questions or MCQs and the Free-Response Questions also called FRQs.
2. The MCQs will give you 60 questions requiring completion in less than 1 and a half hours. 
3. The MCQs account for half of the total examination score.
4. The AP Chemistry’s FRQs will provide you with 7 questions requiring completion in less than one(1) and three quarters (¾) of an hour.
5. The FRQs, like the AP Chem’s MCQs, account for half of the total examination score.
6. Your MCQs will include stand alone questions or clustered questions based on a provided stimulus (diagram, graph, or data table).
7. Your FRQs contain three Long-Answer Questions (LAQs) and 4 Short-Answer Questions (SAQs). Your LAQs can give you 10 points each and your SAQs can give you 4 points each for perfect expected responses provided.
8. AP Chem’s FRQs demand mastery in all six of the AP Chem’s course skills.

What are AP Chem’s exam rules?

Of course you understand cheating of any kind won’t be tolerated by the College Board. This applies to all AP examinations and assessments.

Therefore, this specific part of our guide will function to remind you of AP Chemistry’s calculator policy requirements.

1. Calculators allowed are: Scientific/Graphing Calculator, the 4-function calculator, and the Built-in Desmos Scientific/Graphing Calculator on College Board’s BlueBook application. (View the list of Approved Handheld Graphing Calculators)
2. You can use these permitted calculators on both the AP Chem MCQ and FRQ.
3. You can use at most 2 of the permitted handheld calculators.
4. (Recommendation) Only choose to bring and use calculators that you are most comfortable using for the exam aka ones you are super confident in AS LONG AS THEY ARE ALLOWED BY COLLEGEBOARD! – THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
5. Ensure Calculators you use are in perfect functioning condition to avoid losing precious exam time.
6. The College Board DOES NOT require you to clear or delete your Calculator memories before your AP Chem exam and after.
7. You aren’t allowed to participate in activities that might signal cheating in the AP Chemistry exam with your calculators. These activities include – sharing calculators with others in the exam room, using your calculator to communicate with other calculators in the exam room, manipulating calculator memories to contain test materials before leaving the exam room.
8. You aren’t mandated to have a calculator for the AP Chem exam.
9. It isn’t advised to bring the 4-function calculator to the AP Chem exam.

Effectively review your AP Chem Study Notes

AP Chemistry contains 91 topics in all its 9 units as such making AP Chem one of the APs with the larger curriculums – This is not to say AP Chem’s curriculum is the largest.

This means that students need to review AP Chemistry much more thoroughly than many other AP courses because of the improved likelihood of forgetting what you studied in earlier topics.

To better combat the possibility of forgetting earlier concepts studied, an excellent solution would be Active Recall — a mechanism involving challenging yourself to solve problems or explain concepts from memory before checking your notes.

While we don’t currently offer our own notes, we strongly recommend Jeremy Krug’s review videos which are 100% free and have proved to be very helpful for many students who have sat for the AP Chemistry exam using his resources. Jeremy Krug’s video series is an excellent external resource that aligns perfectly with these 91 topics. A link to these videos is to be found here.

Try not to study alone — You can easily procrastinate or be easily distracted 

Studying alone can be challenging for many students. With all the distractions that can surround your study table or study room, it can even be virtually impossible for some to even review a single concept. For this reason, it may help to develop study sessions in more study-conducive places (Spots with plenty of table space and outlets) such as in a park or a coffee shop (Definitely not the library if your group debates about concepts a lot) with your classmates or AP Chemistry pals.

Aim for a small group of 3–5. This keeps the conversation focused while ensuring enough ‘brain power’ is in the room. This helps with accountability too — for instance, you know you need to present on a specific topic to better help your colleagues understand a concept. Your colleagues are relying on you to do this.

An important disclaimer to remember is that study groups work best in AP Chemistry for explaining complex theories such as Orbitals or Thermodynamics. Studying solo can be more beneficial than study groups for mastering the math and stoichiometry.

When participating in groups in the park, it may be beneficial to use tablets, laptops, and phones instead of books and pens to help combat the likelihood of wind blowing away your study materials. In addition, it may be helpful to set up in an area with some shade to help block out the sun.

Conclusion

AP Chemistry is often called one of the hardest AP courses for a reason—it’s a marathon, not a sprint. By focusing on the 91 topics through the lens of application rather than just memorization, you are already ahead of the curve.

Remember: use your study groups for the “big ideas,” lock yourself in a room for the “math days,” and treat the Bluebook app like your best friend before exam day arrives. The equation sheet will give you the numbers, but your hard work will give you the intuition.

Now, grab your calculator, pick a unit to master today, and start your climb toward that 5!

If you enjoyed this guide, consider subscribing to our AP Study Guidance Newsletter to receive updates when we publish new AP Study Guides for you to read. All the best in your AP Chemistry examination!