Questions Commonly Asked About the
AP Chemistry Exam
Q. What is the AP Chemistry Exam?
A. The AP chemistry exam is given once a year to high school students and tests their knowl-
edge of concepts in first-year college-level chemistry. The student who passes the AP exam
may receive one year of college credit for taking AP chemistry in high school. Passing is
generally considered to be achieving a score of 3, 4, or 5. The test is administered each
May. It has two sections.- Section I, worth 45% of the total score, is 90 minutes long and consists of 75 multiple-
choice questions. The total score for Section I is the number of correct answers minus^1 ⁄ 4
for each wrong answer. If you leave a question unanswered, it does not count at all. A stu-
dent generally needs to answer from 50% to 60% of the multiple-choice questions cor-
rectly to obtain a 3 on the exam. The multiple-choice questions fall into three categories:
Calculations —These questions require you to quickly calculate mathematical solu-
tions. Since you will not be allowed to use a calculator for the multiple-choice ques-
tions, the questions requiring calculations have been limited to simple arithmetic so
that they can be done quickly, either mentally or with paper and pencil. Also, in some
questions, the answer choices differ by several orders of magnitude so that the ques-
tions can be answered by estimation.
Conceptual —These questions ask you to consider how theories, laws, or concepts
are applied.
Factual — These questions require you to quickly recall important chemical facts. - Section II, worth 55% of the total score, is 90 minutes long and consists of four parts —
one equilibrium problem, one mathematical essay, writing and predicting five chemical
equations, and three nonmathematical essays.
Q. What are the Advantages of Taking AP Chemistry?
A. • Students who pass the exam may, at the discretion of the college in which the
student enrolls, be given full college credit for taking the class in high school.- Taking the exam improves your chance of getting into the college of your choice. Studies
show that students who successfully participate in AP programs in high school stand a
much better chance of being accepted by selective colleges than students who do not. - Taking the exam reduces the cost of a college education. In the many private colleges that
charge upward of $500 a unit, a first-year college chemistry course could cost as much as
$3,000! Taking the course during high school saves money. - Taking the exam may reduce the number of years needed to earn a college degree.
8684-X Ch01.F 2/14/01 2:49 PM Page 3