AP Chem Curriculum
2015-2016
TEST: May 2, 2016
(1st Exam--Monday Morning)
BIG IDEA
1
The chemical elements are fundamental building materials of
matter, and all matter can be understood in terms of
arrangements of atoms. These atoms retain their identity in
chemical reactions.
2
3
4
Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or
reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons.
BIG IDEA
5
The laws of thermodynamics describe the essential role of
energy and explain and predict the direction of changes in
matter.
BIG IDEA
6
Any bond or intermolecular attraction that can be formed can
be broken. These two processes are in a dynamic competition,
sensitive to initial conditions and external perturbations.
BIG IDEA
BIG IDEA
BIG IDEA
Chemical and physical properties of materials can be
explained by the structure and the arrangement of atoms,
ions, or molecules and the forces between them.
Rates of chemical reactions are determined by details of the
molecular collisions.
Revised Labs 2014
*16 Labs in total  at least 6 will be inquiry labs
What is an inquiry lab?
*Real-world connections for each lab.
*We need lab donations in the form of
money or supplies (ie. gloves)!
Revised Exam
Section Information:
Item Types & Weight
Multiple Choicerepresenting all Big ideas
(50% of exam weight)
Question Types and Distribution
Timing
60 multiple choice
90 min
Five Minutes Required Reading Time in Advance of the Free-Response Section
Free Response-representing
all Big Ideas (50% of exam
weight)
3 multipart questions
4 single-part questions
20-25 min per
question
3-10 min per
question
Types of questions to be distributed among the single and
multi-part questions:
• Lab 1: Experimental design
• Lab 2: Patterns/analysis/selection of authentic data/observations
• Representations 1: Translation between representations
• Representations 2: Atomic/molecular view to explain observation
• Quantitative: Following a logical/analytical pathway
90 min
1 hour
45 mins.
Other info about the new test:
Multiple Choice (50% of score)
• Less questions, less options,
• clustered questions, longer reading
• No penalty for wrong answer
• No calculator but yes on formula sheet
Free Response (50% of score)
• More questions 3 multi-concept/ 4 single-concept
• 5 Types lab/analysis/representations/atomic/quantitative
• Calculator and Formula Sheet