My position on the ’20 AP Chem ‘exam’
A lot has happened since the College Board first announced that the 2020 AP Chemistry ’exam’ would be going ahead in a vastly modified format. At the beginning of this process there was an enormous amount of uncertainty. Some (perhaps most) of that uncertainty still...
LO 7.14 in 2020 AP Chemistry ‘exam’?
The College Board should have cancelled the AP chemistry exam in 2020. Period. I'm going to write a longer post on that particular subject later, but for now, the fact that they have not cancelled the AP chemistry exam is already creating some prickly problems for...
COVID-19, AP Chemistry 2020, and the College Board
At approx. 11.15 AM this morning we got word from the College Board on the plans for the AP Chemistry exam in 2020 in the wake of COVID-19. Firstly the facts, in a nutshell, for AP Chemistry. No face-to-face exams in 2020 Instead, 45 minute, at home/online tests 2...
Free AP Chemistry Tutorials during COVID-19
04/03/20: EDIT: I have decided to cancel these sessions, since following recent announcements by the College Board, I beleive that the 2020 'exam' has zero integrity, and I do not wish to be part of the fiasco. As promised, I intend to offer a series of free, online,...
COVID-19, AP Chemistry advice, response and non-response
My inbox has been filled with many questions in the last few days regarding the current uncertainty. Here is my advice, my response, and indeed my non-response to COVID-19, and how it relates to AP Chemistry 2020. Let's prioritize. First and foremost do what ever you...
Running the stadium steps is not ‘fun’
I don't know who is manning the @APforStudents Twitter account, but if this tweet is anything to go by, then they know NOTHING about AP chemistry! So what's my point here? An opportunity to have a pop at the College Board? No, not really. I don't care who runs that...
Here’s why I won’t present another AACT webinar (and neither should you), but …
... if you ever get a chance, you should definitely write an article for ChemMatters, the high school magazine published by the American Chemical Society. In case you don't know, the AACT is the relatively new - American Chemical Society sponsored (that's important to...
Significant Figures etc. on the AP exam
In this post I'm going to attempt to outline a 'definitive' guide to handling significant figures, mathematical operations, and the use of units on the AP chemistry exam. I should state at the outset that it's simply not easy to do that (make a definitive statement),...
2020 AP Chemistry Infographic
The 2020 AP Chemistry Infographic is shown below in its PNG form. Alternatively, you may download a pdf version if you prefer that format. Please feel free to use liberally both electronically and in hard-copy. Hopefully everything is self-explanatory (after all...
My conversation with the AP Chem Czar
Last week I had the opportunity to speak with the AP chemistry Czar. He kindly offer to call me to discuss my concerns over the misrepresentation of the term Steady State Approximation in the CED. I must admit I was a little taken aback to receive the invitation. He...