The Expert's Guide to the AP Chemistry Exam

AP Chemistry is a challenging subject, and many students feel nervous about taking on the exam at the end of the school year. But if you have a sense of what to expect on the AP Chemistry test well in advance, you'll be able to prepare appropriately for it.

In this guide, I'll lay out the structure and content of the AP Chemistry exam, give you examples of different types of questions you'll see on it, and tell you how to study effectively for it!

How Is the AP Chemistry Exam Structured?

Like other AP tests, the AP Chemistry exam has two sections: a multiple-choice section and a free-response section. On both sections, you will have access to a periodic table of the elements as well as a chart listing any formulas and constants you might need for your calculations.

Also, effective for the 2023 AP Chemistry exam, all test takers will be allowed to use a calculator on both sections of the exam. Previously, calculator use was prohibited on Section I: Multiple Choice, but allowed on Section II: Free Response. For 2023 exam takers, calculators will be allowed on both sections of the AP Chemistry exam. You can read more about the Calculator Policy for AP exams here.

The Multiple-Choice Section

Here is a brief overview of the multiple-choice section on AP Chemistry:

• Number of Questions: 60 questions with four answer choices each
• Time: One hour and 30 minutes
• Scoring: Worth 50% of your total AP Chemistry score
• Calculator Use: Allowed (new policy starting with 2023 AP Chemistry exams)

Be aware that some of these questions will exist as a part of question groups (which consist of a few questions that ask about one set of data), whereas others will stand on their own.

The Free-Response Section

Next up, here is an overview of the free-response section on AP Chemistry:

• Number of Questions: Four short-response questions and three long-response questions for a total of seven free-response questions
• Time: One hour and 45 minutes
• Scoring: Worth 50% of your total AP Chemistry score
• Calculator Use: Allowed

Question Topics

Finally, here are the main practices you'll be tested on with the AP Chemistry exam:

• Describing models and representations, including across scales
• Determining scientific questions and methods
• Creating representations or models of chemical phenomena
• Analyzing and interpreting models and representations on a single scale or across multiple scales
• Solving problems using mathematical relationships
• Developing and explanation or scientific argument

The entire AP Chemistry exam is three hours and 15 minutes long. The test will next be administered on Monday, May 1, 2023, at 12 pm.

You'll probably have to wake up at least this early on the day of the AP Chem test. Also, this corded monstrosity is what people used to set alarms before smartphones. Horrifying, I know.

How Is the AP Chemistry Exam Scored?

As mentioned above, the multiple-choice and free-response sections are each worth 50% of your total score. No points are taken off for incorrect answers on either section (i.e., there is no guessing penalty).

To calculate your raw multiple-choice score, add up all of your correct answers. This means you can earn a maximum of 60 points on the multiple-choice section.

While the free-response section is a little more complicated, you should be able to figure out how many points you've earned if you have scoring guidelines. Short-response questions are worth 4 points, and long-response questions are worth 10 points, meaning you can earn a maximum of 46 points on this section.

Next, convert these raw scores into numbers out of 50 so that they each make up half your final raw score. Say you got 40 out of 60 multiple-choice questions correct. You would convert this score to the equivalent fraction of 33 out of 50. Then, if you got 30 out of 46 points on the free-response section, you would convert that score to the equivalent fraction of 32 out of 50 points.

Finally, add the two scores out of 50 together to get your final raw score out of 100. You can use the conversion chart below to estimate how your raw score might translate to an AP score (on a scale of 1-5). In this case, your raw score of 65 would be right in the middle of the 4 range.

We can't be absolutely sure that these raw score ranges will correlate exactly with these AP scores because the curve is slightly different every year. If you find you're close to the bottom of your goal score range in practice testing, don't get complacent! You should probably put in a little more studying so you can feel more secure.

Source: The College Board

What Do You Need To Know for the AP Chemistry Test?

The AP Chemistry test centers around nine major units, which encompass all the topics covered in the AP Chemistry course. I list them here to give you an overview of what kinds of ideas you should be familiar with before taking the test.

Unit 1: Atomic Structure and Properties

Exam Weighting: 7-9%

Topics Covered:

• Moles and molar mass
• Mass spectroscopy of elements
• Elemental composition of pure substances
• Composition of mixtures
• Atomic structure and electron configuration
• Photoelectron spectroscopy
• Periodic trends
• Valence electrons and ionic compounds

Dude, I'm telling you, this is what everything looks like if you zoom in far enough.

Unit 2: Molecular and Ionic Compound Structure and Properties

Exam Weighting: 7-9%

Topics Covered:

• Types of chemical bonds
• Intramolecular force and potential energy
• Structure of ionic solids
• Structure of metals and alloys
• Lewis diagrams
• Resonance and formal charge
• VSEPR and bond hybridization

Salt: what a square.

Unit 3: Intermolecular Forces and Properties

Exam Weighting: 18-22%

Topics Covered:

• Intermolecular forces
• Properties of solids
• Solids, liquids, and gasses
• Ideal gas law
• Kinetic molecular theory
• Deviation from ideal gas law
• Solutions and mixtures
• Representations of solutions
• Separation of solutions and mixtures chromatography
• Solubility
• Spectroscopy and the electromagnetic spectrum
• Photoelectric effect
• Beer-Lambert Law

Matter is always making changes to be its best self. Good for it.

Unit 4: Chemical Reactions

Exam Weighting: 7-9%

Topics Covered:

• Introduction for reactions
• Net ionic equations
• Representations of reactions
• Physical and chemical changes
• Stoichiometry
• Introduction to titration
• Types of chemical reactions
• Introduction to acid-base reactions
• Oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions

Unit 5: Kinetics

Exam Weighting: 7-9%

Topics Covered:

• Reaction rates
• Introduction to rate law
• Concentration changes over time
• Elementary reactions
• Collision model
• Reaction energy profile
• Introduction to reaction mechanisms
• Reaction mechanism and rate law
• Steady-state approximation
• Multistep reaction energy profile
• Catalysis

Molecular collisions are a lot like car collisions except smaller! Aren't you glad I'm here to enlighten you?

Unit 6: Thermodynamics

Exam Weighting: 7-9%

Topics Covered:

• Endothermic and exothermic processes
• Energy diagrams
• Heat transfer and thermal equilibrium
• Heat capacity and calorimetry
• Energy of phase changes
• Introduction of enthalpy of reaction
• Bond enthalpies
• Enthalpy of formation
• Hess's Law

This is a star, or, more scientifically, "a crazy-hot ball o' energy."

Unit 7: Equilibrium

Exam Weighting: 7-9%

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to equilibrium
• Direction of reversible reactions
• Reaction quotient and equilibrium constant
• Calculating the equilibrium constant
• Magnitude of the equilibrium constant
• Properties of the equilibrium constant
• Calculating the equilibrium concentrations
• Representations of equilibrium
• Introduction to Le Chatelier's Principle
• Reaction quotient and Le Chatelier's Principle
• Introduction to solubility equilibria
• Common-ion effect
• pH and solubility
• Free energy of dissolution

Unit 8: Acids and Bases

Exam Weighting: 11-15%

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to acids and bases
• pH and pOH of strong acids and bases
• Weak acid and base equilibria
• Acid-base reactions and buffers
• Acid-base titrations
• Molecular structures of acids and bases
• pH and pK_a
• Properties of buffers
• Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
• Buffer capacity

Unit 9: Applications of Thermodynamics

Exam Weighting: 7-9%

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to entropy
• Absolute entropy and entropy change
• Gibbs Free Energy and thermodynamic favorability
• Thermodynamic and kinetic control
• Free energy and equilibrium
• Coupled reactions
• Galvanic (Voltaic) and electrolytic cells
• Cell potential and free energy
• Cell potential under nonstandard conditions
• Electrolysis and Faraday's Law

Join these kooky characters in the new hit dramedy Bonds: They're Stuck Together. Oh man, you've never seen chemistry like this before. Will they? Won't they? Who cares?

Sample AP Chemistry Questions + Explanations

Here are examples of each type of question you'll see on the AP Chemistry test. I'll also walk you through the answers to give you an idea of how to approach and solve them.

Sample Multiple-Choice Question

Many questions on the AP Chemistry exam ask you to make predictions about chemical properties or reactions based on data like this.

In this case, the answer is A. The coulombic attractions are weaker in NaCl than they are in NaF because the ionic radius of F^- is smaller than that of Cl^-. The attraction between molecules will be greater in NaF, and the bonds will be harder to break.

Sample Short Free-Response Question

In this question, part a requires an understanding of why or why not reactions might occur between molecules.

First, you need to explain how collision energy affects whether two molecules will react with each other. Only collisions with enough energy to overcome the activation energy barrier (typically represented by the variable E_a) will reach the transition state and break the F-F bond.

Next, you need to identify one other factor besides collision energy that influences the likelihood of a reaction between two colliding molecules. You could say that in order for a collision to be successful, the molecules must have the correct orientation. You would need to mention the specific bonds being formed and broken. Only molecules with the correct orientation can start to form the N-F bond and break the F-F bond. The molecules have to contact each other in very specific places for the transition to take place.

Part b is about rate laws, and the first part is pretty straightforward. You have a 50/50 chance of circling the right one even if you have no idea what the answer is. For the record, it's the second option, rate = k[NO₂][F₂].

You then need to explain why you made your choice to get the last point on this question. The second rate law is the correct answer because Step I is the slower, rate-determining step in the reaction mechanism. Step I is an elementary reaction, so its rate law comes from the stoichiometry of the reaction molecules, NO₂ and F₂.

Sample Long Free-Response Question

In part a of this question, you're asked to write two net-ionic equations. Writing balanced equations based on experimental scenarios is an important skill for the test. For part i, the neutralization reaction is H⁺ + OH^- = H₂O (liquid). For part ii, the precipitation reaction is Ba²⁺ + SO₄^2- = BaSO₄ (solid).

In part b, you need an understanding of what causes electrical conductivity in chemical substances and why the conductivity decreases at first in the situation described. For part i, the solution is conducting electricity as the first 30 mL of the H₂SO₄ are added due to the presence of Ba²⁺ and/or OH^- ions that haven't yet been scooped up for the reactions (you could mention either one and still get a point). For part ii, you could say that the conductivity decreases because these two types of ions are steadily removed by the precipitation and neutralization reactions (Ba²⁺ ions are taken to form BaSO₄, and OH^- ions are taken to form water).

Side Note: The conductivity goes back up after the equivalence point because of the additional H^- and SO₄^2- ions that now exist in solution after all the Ba²⁺ and OH^- ions have been used up by the reactions.

Part c requires some attention to detail in unit conversion as well as a logical assessment of the information you're given. Molarity is moles per liter, so the question is how many moles of Ba(OH)₂ were there per liter in the original solution without the added H₂SO₄.

Since the conductivity starts going back up after 30 ml of H₂SO₄ are added, that means that at that point the number of moles of H₂SO₄ is equal to the number of moles of BaOH₂ in the original solution. We can calculate that 30 mL of 0.10 M H₂SO₄ is equivalent to 0.0030 moles (0.10 moles/liter multiplied by 0.030 liters). There should be the same number of moles of BaOH₂ in the original solution, so we can divide 0.0030 moles by the original 0.025 L (25 ml) to arrive at our answer of 0.12 moles/liter or a molarity of 0.12 M.

Part d requires you to use K_sp (the solubility product constant) to determine the amount of Ba²⁺ ions that remain in solution at the equivalence point. The question tells us that for BaSO₄, K_sp = 1.0 x 10^-10. The solubility product constant equals the product of the number of ions of each component of the precipitate. Each of these is raised to the power of its coefficient in the original net ionic equation, which in this case is 1 for both:

K_sp = [Ba²⁺] x [SO₄^2-]

At the equivalence point, the amount of each of these ions is equal. This means that [Ba²⁺] x [SO₄^2-] = [Ba²⁺]² and [Ba²⁺]² = 1.0 x 10^-10. The number of Ba2+ ions would be the square root of K_sp, which is 1.0 x 10^-5 M.

Part e asks you to explain why there is a lower concentration of Ba²⁺ ions in solution as the amount of H₂SO₄ added increases past the equivalence point. In this case, you would need to mention the common ion effect and the fact that if you add sulfate ions to an equilibrium reaction involving other sulfate ions, the reaction will consume the added ions to reach a new equilibrium. This means that more of the precipitate (BaSO₄) is formed, and more Ba²⁺ ions are taken out of solution to contribute to it.

Equilibrium must be reached. Transition from doing ... to being (I've been getting into yoga lately even though I can't touch my toes without feeling like my whole body is being ripped apart).

As you can see, the questions on the AP Chemistry test range from short and sweet to long and moderately evil.

An important thread that runs through all of them is that you need to know basic background information about why certain substances act the way they do. For example, why do some substances have higher boiling points than others? What does collision energy have to do with molecular reactions? Why do some chemical substances conduct electricity?

Being able to justify your answers is very important. Make sure you never lose sight of the fundamentals as you get into more complex calculations and concepts.

How To Study for AP Chemistry: 6 Key Tips

Here are some additional tips that will help you prepare for the AP Chemistry exam appropriately and improve the efficiency of your studying!

#1: Always Ask Why

Don't gloss over questions you got right through lucky guesses. If you don't understand exactly why the correct answer is correct, you need to review the concept until you do. Chemistry builds on itself, so if you don't get the fundamental reason your answer was correct or incorrect, you could be in for a whole mess of trouble in the future.

For example, you might have memorized that a certain molecular compound has a higher boiling point than another, but that doesn't mean you necessarily know why this is the case. Make sure you always know why certain properties occur based on molecular and atomic structure so that you can justify your answers and adapt your knowledge to a variety of scenarios.

#2: Memorize Formulas

You should memorize all the formulas you need to know for the test. Even though you'll get a formula sheet, it's going to be much easier to get through the questions if you don't have to keep consulting it. For each formula, make sure you know the types of questions it will help you answer and how else it could come into play on the test.

#3: Review Your Labs

Labs are critical in AP Chemistry because they show you the real-life implications of the facts you've been studying. You'll see many questions on the exam that deal with lab scenarios, and it's much easier to understand these types of questions if you're somewhat familiar with the setup. It's crucial to understand why you got the results you did for each lab and to be able to connect them to facts about chemical reactions and properties of different substances.

#4: Learn To Estimate

The multiple-choice section of the AP chemistry exam doesn't let you use a calculator. This is kind of scary for some people, but it shouldn't be a big obstacle if you're well prepared. You'll save yourself a lot of time if you practice doing multiple-choice questions and estimating logical answers without going through long calculations. The more familiar you are with the mechanics of chemical reactions, the easier it'll be to estimate the answers to these problems.

#5: Practice With Official Materials

The College Board offers free downloadable AP Chemistry materials you can use to get more used to the content of the exam and to practice real multiple-choice and free-response questions. All free-response questions include sample answers as well as commentary that explains what is particularly good (and not so good) about the response.

#6: Get a Review Book

This is one of the AP classes for which it's extremely helpful to have a review book to guide your studying. Since the material is complicated and there are a lot of different things you need to know how to do, a review book can help ground you and give you a better handle on how to structure your review overall. You'll also get a lot of additional practice problems and answer explanations. While you should still use your labs and notes from class, a review book will help you better organize your thoughts.

Here are a couple of books I recommend:

• 5 Steps to a 5: AP Chemistry 2023 (about $18 on Amazon)
• Barron's AP Chemistry (about $30 on Amazon)

For practice questions, you can also get the book Sterling AP Chemistry Practice Questions (about $16 on Amazon). It's not technically a full review book, but it will give you more practice resources to use as you study the material on the test.

Sometimes this is how your mind acts when you're trying to study something complicated. Let a review book guide your way so the journey toward enlightenment is less anxiety-ridden!

Conclusion: How To Study for the AP Chemistry Exam

In summary, here are the basic logistical facts to keep in mind about the AP Chemistry exam:

As I'm sure you've noticed, there's a lot of material to learn for the AP Chemistry test. This is why starting your studying early and keeping up with the progress of your class throughout the year are so strongly connected to your level of success on the test.

Here's a quick review of my top six tips for preparing for the AP Chemistry exam:

• Always ask yourself why the answer is correct on practice questions
• Memorize all the formulas
• Review your labs, not just your notes
• Learn to estimate on multiple-choice questions
• Practice with official AP Chem materials
• Use review books to organize your studying

If you're focused and diligent, nothing on this test will be a chemystery to you because you'll be a regular Sherlock Coulombes ('cause you'll know all about London dispersion forces. OK, I'm done now).

What's Next?

If you get a 5 on AP Chemistry, what does that mean for you? Find out how AP credit works at colleges.

If you read this article, you're probably taking AP Chemistry. But your final high school schedule might not be set in stone just yet. Read this article for comprehensive advice on how many total AP classes you should take in high school to reach your goals.

How can you use your knowledge of chemistry to help clean your stuff? Read up on muriatic acid (and what not to combine it with) here.

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.