SAT Chemistry is a SAT II Subject exam that can be taken to show a college a student’s abilities in a specific subject.  The test covers content typically covered in a first year, college-prep chemistry course.  The test is written to cover every topic…they do not expect any one student to know everything on the exam.  You can get the best score (5) without knowing every topic!

Multiple Choice section:

• 60 minutes
• No calculators—only a periodic table
• 85 questions
• Tips:
  • Move on when you get stuck…you’re in a time crunch…move on if there’s something that you never learned or studied.  Remember, the test is written so that a every student will not know everything!
  • Only guess if you can eliminate 2 or more choices.  You’re deducted ¼ point for every wrong answer (to prevent random guessing).  It’s better to leave it blank (no points awarded but no points deducted) than to guess from 5 choices randomly.
  • Get used to working without a calculator.  The calculations on the MC section are simple, but you need to practice them.
  • Scan all the choices before choosing your answer.
    Avoid word traps—try to rephrase things into terms you’re more comfortable with.
  • Beware of absolutes—there are very few things in chemistry that are absolute!

Problem-solving can be a very difficult task.  But when a specific “attack” is used, the problems can be solved much more easily.

General Problem-Solving Technique


A technique for solving any type of problem involves:

• Identify what’s being given
• Clarify what’s being asked
• Select a strategy (trial and error, search, recall, deductive reasoning, working backwards, etc)
• Solve using the selected strategy
• Review your answer

A problem-solving strategy that turns the above “general” strategy into a strategy specifically for solving word problems is the KUDOS method: