4 ❯ STEP 1. Set Up Your Study Program
Who Writes the AP Chemistry Exam?
A group of college and high school chemistry instructors known as the AP Development
Committee creates the AP Chemistry exam. The committee’s job is to ensure that the annual
AP Chemistry exam reflects what is taught in college-level chemistry classes at high schools.
This committee writes a large number of multiple-choice questions, which are pre-tested
and evaluated for clarity, appropriateness, and range of possible answers.
The free-response essay questions that make up Section II go through a similar process
of creation, modification, pre-testing, and final refinement, so that the questions cover the
necessary areas of material and are at an appropriate level of difficulty and clarity. The commit-
tee also makes a great effort to construct a free-response exam that will allow for clear and
equitable grading by the AP readers.
It is important to remember that the AP Chemistry exam undergoes a thorough
evaluation after the yearly administration of the exam. This way, the College Board can use
the results to make course suggestions and to plan future tests.The AP Grades and Who Receives Them
Once you have taken the exam and it has been scored, your test will be graded with one of
five numbers by the College Board:● (^) A 5 indicates that you are extremely well qualified.
● (^) A 4 indicates that you are well qualified.
● (^) A 3 indicates that you are adequately qualified.
● (^) A 2 indicates that you are possibly qualified.
● (^) A 1 indicates that you are not qualified to receive college credit.
A grade report, consisting of a grade of 1 to 5, will be sent to you in July. You will also
indicate the college to which you want your AP score sent at the time of the exam. The
report that the college receives contains your score for every AP exam you took that year
and the grades you received in prior years, except for any that you request withheld. In
addition, your scores will be sent to your high school.
Reasons for Taking the AP Chemistry Exam
Why put yourself through a year of intensive study, pressure, stress, and preparation?
Only you can answer that question. Following are some of the reasons that students have
indicated to us for taking the AP exam:
● Because colleges look favorably on the applications of students who elect to enroll in AP
courses
● To receive college credit or advanced standing at their colleges or universities
● To compare themselves with other students across the nation
● For personal satisfaction
● Because they love the subject
● So that their families will be proud of them
There are other reasons, but no matter what they are, the primary reason for your
enrolling in the AP Chemistry course and taking the exam in May is to feel good about
yourself and the challenges that you have met.