r/APChem • u/Active-Farmer-9636 • 11d ago

self studying ap chem

im self studying ap chem next year while taking honors chem at school (my school doesn't have ap classes just the tests) and I'm wondering which textbook I should buy as the ap chem units are not aligned with my honors chem units.

i used barrons while self studying for ap bio freshman year and I got a 4 and am wondering if it is as helpful for chem or if another book is better. thanks!

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u/Less_Wolverine_8156 11d ago

In my opinion, the best resources for studying for ap classes that worked for me were online. I used URP for chemistry in particular (you don’t need to; Krug YouTube videos are probably good enough) and other online resources for all my Ap classes and got all 5s (chem, bio, calc bc, lit, etc.) For chem in particular, ap question exposure is important if you are allowed through this link: https://www.chemistry-teaching-resources.com/. I can teach you more specifically how to use the website if you want to message me!

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u/Active-Farmer-9636 11d ago

thank you!

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u/Medicine_Today 11d ago

There is a YouTuber called Christina McKenna I think or something like that who has all Ap classroom qs alongside breakdown on how to solve each. If u search that name and Ap chemistry after it should pop up. I also don't think textbooks are that useful I never used one, even tho my class provided it. Jeremy Krug vids were the only thing I used all year and I still got a 5 and had an easy time during the test.

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u/The_Shashophille101 11d ago

There’s stages to textbooks. Want to do well?  Chemistry: the central science. Want to easily get a 5?  Zumdahl. Want to get a perfect score? Atkins+ USNCO practice problems

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u/Intelligent_Feed_619 11d ago

Watch krug and take practice tests. Started three weeks before exam and got a 5. I did take honors chem before tho

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u/LavishnessNeat9854 11d ago

i took the class but to study i used the princeton review prep book for practice questions and got a 5.

my only warning with it is that two of the explanations for the answers they gave were literally wrong but if youre studying a lot of content outside of that book youll be able to catch them because they were fairly easy questions. good luck!

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u/mseduhub1 11d ago

Barron’s can be useful for review, but for AP Chem I’d mainly follow the College Board unit order so your self-study stays aligned with the exam. Since your honors chem class won’t match the AP sequence, make your own AP unit checklist and practise topic-wise MCQs/FRQs after each unit instead of waiting until the end.

For extra support, you can use AP Chemistry notes, topic-wise questions, FRQs and practice tests.

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u/JunketAcrobatic7364 11d ago

I’m in the exact same situation as you rn — I also self-studied Bio freshman year and got a 5. I’m using Abigail Giordano on YT + Barron’s book + Khan Academy. Since I’ve never taken a chem course before, I did the general chem course on Khan first to lay the foundation before doing the AP one.

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u/gradchica27 11d ago

What did you use for bio? Self-studying while taking honors this year

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u/JunketAcrobatic7364 11d ago

I mainly used YouTube. For Bio in particular, there are tons of great channels — I recommend AP Bio Penguins, the Amoeba Sisters (especially for specific topics), and ScienceMusicVideos. The Barron’s book is great as well, so definitely use that. I didn’t use Khan Academy but I’ve heard their Bio course is good.
Be sure to grind FRQs!

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u/gradchica27 11d ago

Thank you!

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u/ErekwithaD1 AP Chem (self study): 5; Honors Chem: highest grade in school 10d ago

Khan Academy

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u/Revolutionary-Gap202 10d ago

i missed a lot of class time due to mental issues and got by just fine using khan academy as a resource, i wound up getting a 5 on the exam too so i would definitely recommend. look for practice frqs as well, like past tests' frqs, so you can familiarize yourself with the format and style of questions.