For decades, the new student has been terrified by the concepts of chemistry and its relatives.
Here’s a few of the horrors that SAT chemistry has in store for you.
Now now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s begin by analysing what the SAT chemistry exams really are and what they really have to offer.
In one sentence:
“The SAT Subject Test in Chemistry is a one-hour multiple choice test given on chemistry by The College Board.”
-Wikipedia
Yup, there it is. There you go. One hour of questions on the subject of chemistry that decides your future and, possibly, your tuition fees. Boy, Wikipedia makes everything sound so easy and fun.
So, why apply for SAT? Why do you, the student, really need it?
Well, the simplest reason is that good colleges like SAT. In fact, they like SAT so much, they decided to use its score as an entrance requirement!
As a student searching for a good college, your SAT score must be high enough to meet the college’s entrance requirements. The same rule applies for SAT chemistry. To be offered a chemistry course in a good college, you must meet and/or exceed the required score for the SAT chemistry exam.
So, how does this magic hullaballoo work? Let’s take this apart one point at a time!
1. Format: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope, it’s just an exam
The one-hour SAT Chemistry exam contains 85 questions, divided into three sections. Each section is designed to test the student’s ability to calculate, analyse and remember the concepts of chemistry.
The first 23 questions (labelled 1-23), are classification questions. They are easy and fun as long as you, the student, have done your research and prayed to whatever god you hold sacred.
The next 15 questions, numbered 101-115 (yeah, that’s right), are Relationship Analysis Questions. The SAT chemistry exam is the only SAT currently incorporating RAQs in the exam, and for good reason too. Chemistry is a subject which requires a high degree of accuracy when it comes to its theory, concepts and values.
Relationship Analysis Questions require the student to identify the truth value of two statements. If both statements are true, the student will then have to analyse the relationship between the two statements to see if the second statement correctly explains the first statement.
The last 47 questions numbered 24-70 are standard, run of the mill, multiple-choice questions. As long as you didn’t waste your time playing fortnite instead of studying, you can tackle these swiftly.
IMPORTANT: This is so important that it had to have “important” written in front it.
The SAT exams use the Metric system of measurements. Meters! Not feet, people!
2. Scoring: 100% or bust!
Contrary to beliefs of entrepreneurs, marks are a real thing, and they can decide the college you go to and, eventually, your future.
The scoring system for the exam as simple as that of a game show!
For every correct answer, you are rewarded 1 point. For every question left blank, you are given a big, fat, zero (obviously).
Just to prevent guessing and making your life unbearably difficult, ¼ marks are deducted from the score for every incorrect answer. No sweat!
This is not all though. This score is then converted to a scaled score of 200-800. This scaled score determines you rank. A high SAT score means a better college (duh).
3. Preparation for SAT Chemistry: Turn off that game,son!
The College Board recommends a one-year college preparatory course in chemistry, a one-year course in algebra, and experience in the laboratory. As far as laboratory experience is concerned, it is always a great idea to go to the lab and get your hands dirty. That being said, there’s an easier way of tackling the lab side of things without even setting a foot in one. Since only some SAT chemistry questions are chemistry lab related, it’s easier to just memorize the lab related concepts beforehand. Some lab-based questions may use diagrams, so it might be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the lab equipment.
It is important to note that it is not the difficulty of the exam questions that causes problems for the student, it’s the completion of these questions within the given time frame!!!
This is where practice and preparation can save a student’s life. An online course of SAT chemistry, coupled with live recordable classes, loads of quizzes and study material can really help a student along the way! That is, as long as the student is willing to commit the time and energy needed to use these resources to his advantage!
Talk to us here ! We are ready to help you achieve your goal in SAT chemistry! After all, every student deserves the best!