Running out of time before the AP Chemistry exam? This last-minute cram guide focuses on the highest-yield units, the calculations that appear most often, and exactly what to skip when you're short on time.
AP Chemistry Exam Structure
Section I: 60 MCQ in 90 minutes (50% of score). Section II: 7 FRQs in 105 minutes (50% of score) — 3 long and 4 short. You can use a calculator and the AP Chemistry reference sheets on both sections.
Highest-Yield Units for Last-Minute Review
- Unit 4 — Chemical Reactions: Types of reactions, net ionic equations, and stoichiometry. Appears in nearly every FRQ.
- Unit 5 — Kinetics: Rate laws, reaction orders, Arrhenius equation, and catalysts. One FRQ almost always covers kinetics.
- Unit 6 — Thermodynamics: Hess's Law, ΔG = ΔH - TΔS, entropy, and spontaneity. Thermodynamics FRQs are high-point and predictable.
- Unit 7 — Equilibrium: Le Chatelier's principle, ICE tables, Kp vs. Kc, and solubility product (Ksp). The highest-frequency FRQ topic.
- Unit 8 — Acids and Bases: pH calculations, buffer systems, Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, and titration curves.
What to Skip If You're Really Short on Time
Unit 1 (Atomic Structure) and Unit 9 (Electrochemistry) are lower-yield if you only have hours left. Focus every remaining minute on Units 4–8.
AimFive's Cram Mode targets your worst-performing AP Chemistry questions in 20 focused problems — no review of topics you already know.
AP Chemistry Practice Questions · AP Chemistry Study Guide · How to Get a 5 on AP Chemistry
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