APExam
6May 2027afternoon
Total time3 hr 15 min
Format60 Multiple choice + 7 Free response
Scored 3+ worldwide · 202676%
University High School Scored 3+ · 2026100%161 exams

Summer three-week pre-study for grades 10–11. In-school support: high school science.

Formats

6 to 8 student seminars with homework, 32 weeks, no spring break, ending before the AP exam; also 1-on-1, online or in person.

How to start

Start with a placement assessment. We use it to set the level and class, then confirm the year plan with the family. For schedules, tuition, and bundle offers, request the 2026-27 program guide through the form below.

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How the exam is built

Sections drawn to their share of the score; the wider the block, the more practice it deserves.

SectionQuestionsTimeWeight
Multiple choice601 hr 30 min50%
Free response (3 long × 10 pts + 4 short × 4 pts)71 hr 45 min50%

Scientific or graphing calculator recommended for both sections

Units and exam weighting

Each ruler segment equals the unit’s midpoint exam weight. The yellow unit carries the most points and gets the most class time.

  1. 1Atomic Structure and Properties7–9%
  2. 2Compound Structure and Properties7–9%
  3. 3Properties of Substances and Mixtures18–22%
  4. 4Chemical Reactions7–9%
  5. 5Kinetics7–9%
  6. 6Thermochemistry7–9%
  7. 7Equilibrium7–9%
  8. 8Acids and Bases11–15%
  9. 9Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry7–9%

Global score distribution 2026

Out of every 100 test takers.

76% scored 3 or higher

At Irvine public high schools

Whether each school offers it, which grades can enroll, the gate, and last year’s results. Updates with the school guides.

Portola High School

Open to 11-12
Scored 3+ · 202693%115 exams

PrerequisitesPassing yearlong chemistry; teacher rec; passing/concurrent Physics in the Universe or AP Physics 1; recommended 3.0+ in Chem

Honors point; 3+ hr/wk; 16+ labs

Full school guide →

Woodbridge High School

Open to 11-12

PrerequisitesSame as AP Biology (Physics co-enrollment, teacher rec, A in LE & Chem or B+ in Honors)

Weighted; after-school labs approx. every other week; ~2-3 hrs/week study

Full school guide →

IUSD course-selection rules

Which grade can take this AP at each school, what the prerequisites are, and how weighted GPA is calculated. Confirm with the school's current course catalog before choosing.

  • Irvine High School: Grade 9 may take AP World History, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A. AP Precalculus and AP Art History open in grade 10. AP Physics 1 is taken in grade 11 and the remaining AP science courses in grade 12; AP Psychology and AP Macroeconomics require enrollment in grade 11 or 12.
    Only AP courses and the honors courses starred on the School Profile add 1 point, and only when the grade is C or higher. Weighted, an A counts 5 points, a B 4, a C 3, and a D still 1.
  • Northwood High School: No AP courses are offered in grade 9. Grade 10 is limited to four: AP Art History, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Music Theory, and AP Precalculus, assigned as seats allow. The remaining AP courses are concentrated in grades 11 and 12, and most require a current teacher's signed recommendation on the course request form.
    Only honors and AP courses whose names carry a plus sign (+) on the transcript add 1 point to the GPA (A counts 5, B 4, C 3, and D adds nothing). Embedded Honors courses in grades 9 and 10 do not add a point.
  • Portola High School: Grade 10 has a single AP option, AP Human Geography, which the school calls the "grade 10 choice." The large majority of AP courses are for grades 11 and 12. AP Precalculus, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A open from grade 10 subject to math prerequisites. Restricted to grade 12 are AP Physics C, AP English Language, AP United States Government together with Honors Political Economy, AP 3-D Design, and Honors Engineering Design and Development. Grade 9 students may not sit an AP exam at the school unless they have taken the course or the Irvine Unified School District GATE office approves it on the basis of existing preparation.
    Unweighted courses are scored A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1; the 28 AP courses and 11 weighted Honors courses are scored A=5, B=4, C=3, D=1. Weighted Honors courses are electives in grades 11 and 12; core courses in grades 9 and 10 are not weighted.
  • University High School: No AP courses are offered in grade 9. From grade 10, students may take AP Precalculus, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Statistics, and AP Cybersecurity. AP United States History is offered in grade 10 on the condition that the student earned Honors Distinction in both semesters of World History. Most AP courses are concentrated in grades 11 and 12.
    Only AP courses and fourth-year world languages (French 4, Latin 4, Spanish 4, American Sign Language IV) add 1 point to the GPA, and the grade must be C or higher.
  • Woodbridge High School: Grade 9 may take one AP course, AP Human Geography, the only AP course open to grade 9 at any of the five comprehensive high schools in the Irvine Unified School District. Grade 10 may take AP World History, AP English Language, AP Precalculus, and AP Computer Science Principles. From grade 11, AP United States History, AP Physics 1, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Calculus AB and BC, and AP Statistics open. AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP United States Government, and AP Macroeconomics are taken in grade 12.
    The GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale without +/- distinctions. Only Honors courses taken in grades 11 and 12 and all AP courses add 1 point, and only when the grade is C or higher. The added point depends on the grade level: the same Honors course adds nothing in grade 10 and adds a point in grade 11.

Sources: College Board course and exam descriptions (2027 exam calendar, 2026 score distributions); school course catalogs and School Profiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade should Irvine students take AP Chemistry?

AP Chemistry is open to grades 9 through 12, with most students entering after Honors Chemistry in grade 10 or 11. The course carries substantial calculation and lab data analysis, so a solid algebra base matters more than the grade level itself; grade eligibility at each school appears in the Irvine public high schools section above.

Can Irvine students take AP Chemistry without prior chemistry?

Usually not advisable. AP Chemistry matches first-year college general chemistry and assumes the periodic table, chemical formulas, and basic reaction types are already familiar. Students starting cold can take the three-week AP Chemistry summer pre-study for grades 10 and 11 first.

How is the exam structured?

The exam runs 3 hours 15 minutes. Multiple choice has 60 questions worth 50 percent; free response has 7 questions worth 50 percent, made up of 3 long questions at 10 points each and 4 short questions at 4 points each. A scientific or graphing calculator is recommended on both sections.

Which units carry the most weight?

Properties of substances and mixtures is the largest at 18 to 22 percent, followed by acids and bases at 11 to 15 percent. Both involve equilibrium calculation and graph interpretation and are common free response trouble spots. Class hours follow these published weights.

How hard is a 5 for Irvine public high school students?

In 2026, 76 percent scored 3 or higher but only 15 percent scored 5 worldwide. School-level pass rates in Irvine appear in the section above. Passing is common; a 5 is not, because free response requires complete reasoning, correct units, and explicit assumptions. For school chemistry grades, see high school science.