Chemistry Content Review

Page Index

1. Format of the test
2. Why should you take the test
3. Topics tested
4. Knowledge applications
5. Format of questions
6. Online resources
7. Recommended Books
8. Tips and tricks

What’s the Format of the Test, and When Is It Offered? Here's a basic rundown of the structure and scoring of the Chemistry SAT Subject Test (also known as the Chemistry SAT II):

• 60 minutes long
• 85 multiple-choice questions

Scores can range from 200 to 800 The test still has a quarter-point deduction for incorrect answers (even though this policy was abolished on the new SAT). Calculator use is not permitted, but you will have a periodic table for reference. The Chemistry SAT Subject Test is offered in October, November, December, January, May, and June. In other words, you can take it on every regular SAT test date except the one in March. Why should you take the test ? Some colleges and university programmes require you to take the chemistry subject test if you wish to take science resisted major. Moreover, even if the requirement for the test is not mandatory, it is a good way to tell the college/university about your interest and improve your chances of getting in. Topic Percentage of Test

• Structure of matter (atomic structure, molecular structure, bonding) : 25%
• States of matter (gases, liquids and solids, solutions) : 16%
• Reaction types (acids and bases, oxidation-reduction, precipitation) : 14%
• Stoichiometry (mole concept, chemical equations) : 14%
• Descriptive chemistry (periodic trends, nomenclature, predicting products of reactions) : 2%
• Lab practices (equipment and measurements, scientific method, data interpretation) : 8%
• Thermochemistry (calorimetry, enthalpy and phase changes, entropy) : 6%
• Equilibrium and reaction rates (equilibrium systems, rates of reactions) : 5%

The College Board also breaks down questions by skill on this Subject Test: Skill Percentage of Test

• Application of knowledge : 45%
• Synthesis of knowledge : 35%
• Fundamental concepts and knowledge : 20%

The most common questions, at 45 percent of the test, are application of knowledge questions. These will ask you to apply your knowledge of chemistry to scenarios presented on the test. Synthesis of knowledge questions, at 35 percent of the test, will ask you to draw conclusions based on data provided by the test as well as your background knowledge of chemistry. Only twenty percent of questions will test you on fundamental concepts and knowledge. These questions just involve factual recall. Question Formats on the Chemistry Subject Test The College Board groups questions on the Chemistry SAT Subject Test into three different formats: Format 1: Five-Choice Completion These are what I would consider “normal” multiple choice questions. They're just individual questions that ask you to choose the correct answer out of five choices. In some cases, you'll get a list of three statements labeled with roman numerals and will be asked to decide which ones are true (if any). Format 2: Classification For these types of questions, you'll see one list of choices that applies to a group of several questions. Each choice can be used more than once or not at all. In other words, your answer to any individual question could also be the answer to other questions in a given group.  Where to Find Practice Materials Here I'll list a few different resources, both print and online, that you can use to practice your skills for the SAT Subject Test in Chemistry. You should always come back to official College Board questions(which you can find on the College Board website, the first listing under Online Resources) in your studying to verify that you're up to speed with the format of the test, but unofficial practice is still helpful for learning the content. Review Books If you want to add structure to your studying, you might consider buying a review book or a book of practice questions. A review book containing content that's specifically tailored to the Chemistry SAT II can improve the efficiency of your studying. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• Barron's SAT Subject Test Chemistry 12th Edition Cracking the SAT Chemistry Subject Test (Princeton Review)
• Sterling Test Prep SAT Chemistry Practice Questions
• Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests (from College Board, but won't have as in-depth coverage of the material since it includes ALL the subject tests, not just chemistry)

  Online Resources College Board Website You can practice questions in all the formats you’ll see on the test here. There are only 39 questions, but they can help you get a feel for the test. You should also check out this document that has all the information you need for the test (and other subject tests if you’re interested) along with more sample questions. CrackSAT There are tons of different quizzes here on various topics in chemistry. You won’t find any of the weird Relationship Analysis true-false questions, but this is still overall a pretty good resource for regular multiple choice questions. Learnerator This site has practice quizzes for all topics that include an automatic assessment of your knowledge. Questions are divided by difficulty level so you’ll know when you’ve really mastered the material.   SparkNotes Practice quizzes on every topic with detailed answer explanations. These aren’t automatically scored like some of the other ones on this list, but I think the way it goes over the reasoning for each choice makes it worthwhile as a resource.   Full Practice Test from Princeton Review Book This is a complete test that you can print out, take, and score. It even has a conversion table so you can see where your score falls. Since it’s from a review book, it’s not exactly the same as the real test, but it does have all the same types of questions.   Practice Test PDFs These are super old exams (we’re talking 80s and early 90s), but they still have the same question types as the current test.   ReasonPrep YouTube Videos These videos walk you through the answers to sample questions found on official practice tests and in the official review book.   Conclusion To recap, the SAT Chemistry Subject Test is an hour-long multiple-choice exam that contains 85 questions and is scored out of 800. It's offered on all the regular SAT test dates except March. Topics on the test include:

1. Structure of matter
2. States of matter
3. Reaction types
4. Stoichiometry
5. Lab practices
6. Descriptive chemistry
7. Thermochemistry
8. Equilibrium and reaction rates

Most questions will test your ability to analyze different experimental scenarios and draw conclusions. The questions come in three formats:

• Five-choice completion
• Classification
• Relationship analysis

When you study for the test, five tips to keep in mind are:

1. Identify your weaknesses
2. Replicate real testing conditions
3. Plan out your studying wisely
4. Practice lots of relationship analysis questions
5. Don't over-study

When you take the test (or a full practice test), you should be sure to:

1. Stay calm
2. Do easier classification questions first.
3. Read carefully on relationship analysis questions.
4. Avoid guessing unless you're down to just two choices

Use the online resources and review books listed in this article to brush up on your skills. You should have no problem acing this test if you know what to expect!