AP Chemistry

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AP CHEMISTRY   The Course   The AP-IB HL Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry usually taken during the first college year.  For some students, this enables them to undertake, as freshmen, second-year work in the chemistry sequence at their institution or to register in courses in other fields where general chemistry is a prerequisite.  For other students, this chemistry course fulfills the laboratory science requirement and frees time for other courses.  AP-IB HL Chemistry will meet the objectives of a good general chemistry course.  Students in this course will obtain a depth of understanding of fundamentals and a competence in dealing with chemical problems.  The course will contribute to the development of the students’ ability to think clearly and to express their ideas, orally and in writing, with clarity and logic.  The college course differs from the usual Regents Chemistry course in the textbook used, the topics covered, the emphasis on chemical calculations, and the mathematical formulation of principles.   The Exam   Students who are enrolled in AP-IB HL Chemistry are expected to take the AP exam towards the end of the first year of the course.  This year's AP Chemistry exam will be administered on May 2nd.  The exam consists of two sections each 90 minutes in length.  In section I, students must answer 75 multiple choice questions and in section II, students must complete 6 free-repsonse questions.   Every exam receives an overall grade based on the AP's 5-point scale.  Below is a table showing the comparison of Red Hook AP Chemistry exams scores from 2003-2011 to the national average.  

AP Grade	Qualification	% of National Students Receiving Grade	% of Red Hook Students Receiving Grade
5	Extremely Well Qualified	18.0	30.0
4	Well Qualified	17.9	38.6
3	Qualified	20.2	25.7
2	Possibly Qualified	14.2	5.7
1	No Recommendation	29.8	0

  College Credit   Most major colleges and universities will give 6-8 credits for scores of 4 or 5 on the AP Chemistry exam.  Some schools have given credit for a score of 3.  Since the policy on AP exams varies from school to school, the best source of information relating to the granting of college credit is the specific institution's catalog or website.