Chemistry Notes
Practical thinking on AP Chemistry, college Gen Chem, and what actually works when you're stuck. Written by someone who's been in the classroom for 18 years.
How AP Chemistry FRQs Are Actually Scored
Most students have never seen how the College Board actually scores an AP Chemistry FRQ. Understanding the rubric structure changes how you write — and how many points you earn.
The Real Reason Students Lose Points on AP Chemistry FRQs
Half your AP Chemistry score is the free-response section. Here's exactly why students lose points on FRQs — and the pattern that fixes it.
What to Do in the Last 4 Weeks Before the AP Chemistry Exam
Four weeks is enough time to meaningfully improve your AP Chemistry score — if you use it strategically. Here's exactly what to do, week by week.
AP Chemistry Thermodynamics: The Concept Students Misunderstand Most
Thermodynamics asks students to reason about three connected quantities at once. Here's how to think about enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy so they finally make sense.
AP Chemistry Electrochemistry: What Students Get Wrong (And How to Fix It)
Electrochemistry has the reputation of being the unit that destroys AP Chemistry scores. Here's why it feels so hard — and what actually makes it click.
AP Chemistry Equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s Principle: What the Exam Actually Tests
Le Chatelier's Principle is the most-used and most-misapplied concept in AP Chemistry. Here's what students actually get wrong — and how to fix it.
How to Study for AP Chemistry the Right Way
Most AP Chemistry students study hard and still don't score well. The problem isn't effort — it's approach. Here's what the highest-scoring students do differently.
Organic Chemistry vs. General Chemistry: What’s Actually Different
Students moving from Gen Chem to Organic Chemistry often expect more of the same. They're wrong. Here's exactly what changes — and how to prepare for it.
What Changes When You Go From Gen Chem 1 to Gen Chem 2
Students who passed Gen Chem 1 are often surprised by how different Gen Chem 2 feels. Here's exactly what changes — and how to adjust before the first exam.
Stoichiometry in College Chemistry: Why This One Skill Decides Everything
Stoichiometry isn't just one topic in Gen Chem — it's the foundation every other topic is built on. Here's why gaps here cost students throughout the entire course.
What Pre-Med Students Get Wrong About General Chemistry
Pre-med students often arrive in Gen Chem with the wrong expectations — and pay for it on the first exam. Here's what's different about chemistry and what actually works.
The Best Way to Study for a Gen Chem Exam
Most students study for chemistry by reading notes and watching videos. Neither of those prepares them for the exam. Here's what actually works.
How to Go From Failing to Passing Gen Chem
Failing a chemistry midterm doesn't mean you can't pass the course. Here's the four-step recovery plan that actually works — and when to ask for help.
How to Tell If Your Student Needs Chemistry Tutoring (Not Just More Practice)
More studying isn't always the answer. Here's how to tell when a chemistry tutor will actually help — and what to look for when you're choosing one.
Why AP Chemistry Is Harder Than Regular Chemistry
Students who did fine in regular chemistry walk into AP Chemistry and feel lost by October. Here's exactly why — and what the data says about how hard this exam actually is.
The 5 AP Chemistry Topics That Separate a 3 from a 5
Students who score a 5 aren't necessarily smarter — they've mastered five specific topics where the exam is actually won or lost. Here's what they are and what to do about them.
What Your Chemistry Professor Actually Wants to See on an Exam
After 8 years teaching college chemistry, I can tell you: most students lose points not because they don't know the material, but because they don't know what 'correct' looks like from a grading perspective.
What to Do If You Failed Your Chemistry Midterm
Failing a chemistry midterm doesn't mean you're bad at chemistry. It means something specific went wrong — and that specific thing is fixable if you figure out what it actually was.
Why AP Chemistry Is Hard (And What to Actually Do About It)
AP Chemistry's reputation is earned — but it's misunderstood in a way that causes students to prepare wrong. Here's what's actually happening, and what the highest-scoring students do differently.
Why You’re Failing Gen Chem — And It’s Usually One of These Three Things
If your grades aren't reflecting how hard you're working, you're probably not doing the wrong things. It almost always comes back to one of three patterns.
What to Expect From Your First Chemistry Tutoring Session
Most students come to the first session not sure what's supposed to happen. Here's exactly what I do — from the free Chemistry Check-In through the first session and beyond.