Cracking the AP Chemistry Exam

I loved this book! I purchased this book and the Barron's review book for AP Chemistry, and its very obvious that this book was the better of the two. Keep in mind though, that this is only a review book and it only goes over certain ideas/formulas that you have to know. For this book to be helpful to you, you must already have a good grasp of AP chemistry and you do have to study regularly the whole year. I like how it breaks the topics up and just uses a couple of sentences to state a rule/explain a formula/explain an idea. The multiple choice questions for each chapter are EXACTLY like the questions in the actual AP exam, and so are the short response/essay questions. If you go over every chapter, review the ideas, do ALL the multiple choice questions/essay questions you are sure to get that 5! **Also, the practice tests in the back are harder than the actual test, so keep that in mind! I loved this book because it showed me exactly what to expect and the questions are exactly like those on the actual AP exam. The AP exam was no surprise for me and I got a 5! I HIGHLY recommend this book.

There is no better book to score a 5 with than the Princeton Review.It's not there to teach you chemistry; it's there to review for you the tough year of all the material covered, and then some. I did well in the AP Chemistry class, but the book definitely came in handy close to the exam. It very easily condenses the plethora of knowledge one should achieve in the course and condenses it into easy-to-understand chapters. The sample tests and full length exams prepare you for the most challenging of questions, with complete, fully-developed answers. This book was the light at the end of my ending tunnel. Without it I probably would've only gotten a 4 on the exam; but come exam day, with the help of PR, I was so prepared that two months later I received my 5. Good luck to anyone brave enough to take the course; it is challenging, but definitely worth it in the end. I recommend this book to everyone planning on taking the AP Exam. Good luck and have fun

My teacher uses this book to reinforce what we learn in class. Each time we have a test, the respective chapter of this book is due as homework. It's a great way to practice and keep your skills honed for the AP test. The really great thing about Cracking is that there are practice questions after every chapter, and there are detailed solutions (not just answers) to those questions. There's a multiple choice, problem and essay section, just like on the AP test. Don't rely on this book alone to get a 5, because it's mostly intended for review, but it's a great tool to have handy when you're working/studying. Everything is very clear.

I'm a junior in AP chemistry. I've slacked off all year, my grades on exams were generally Bs and Cs, but I wanted a chance for redemption: I intended to do well on the AP chemistry exam. Not just well -- I wanted a 5. So, a few days before the exam, intimidated by the voluminous textbooks, filled with dry, academic pages, I decided to wander into my local book-store to purchase this little gem. It looked like it covered all the topics that I had no clue about on my class exams, so figured that I could learn from this book -- and I was right! I spent a total of 10 consecutive hours reading the book, doing all the practice problems, and going over what I did wrong. I learned a lot -- I essentially doubled my knowledge of chemistry over the course of less than a day. When the exam came, I walked into the test center, a little nervous, but confident overall because I'd prepared. As I completed the exam, I was in shock as to how easy the questions were. That was for the multiple choice. I said to myself, "there's no way in heck that the free responses will be this easy!". I was wrong. When I did the free-response, I found myself able to wield the tools of chemistry like a guy who'd actually paid attention all year. With confidence, I completed each question in full confidence: there was nothing that I didn't know how to do on the free responses (okay, there was one part of an essay, but meh). I am confident that because of this book, I scored a five. Not just a "skin-of-my-teeth" five, but a true, solid A. If you want to prepare for AP chemistry, read this book, do the exercises, and relax. You're on your way to a five.

This book is absolutely incredible for preparing you for the AP. I had to cram for the AP the weekend before and this book was a tremendous help. I read the other review and it said that the multiple choice in the Princeton Review was harder than on the AP, but I beg to differ. I thought that the Princeton Review practice tests were easier than the real thing, but the information in the book was very good to study. All Princeton Review books are great and they are the best to choose from. They are especially good with the SAT's and are not as boring as most others. They are written in a more casual language rather than the tedious and boring style of something like Barron's. Overall, I highly recommend this book and I suggest that past tests are purchased from the college board to prepare for the AP if you want to get a guaranteed 5.