Teaching myself grade 11 and 12 Chemistry

**jamessmith** · 02-02-2011, 05:36 AM

So basically I graduated high school a little less than a year ago and unfortunetely I didn't pay attention or do any work in my classes. I obtained the easy credits like academic english, but I didn't get any good sciences (passed grade 12 Biology, but biology is hardly a science).

I took grade 11 Chemistry in my final year because I hadn't taken it in grade 11, so I have an idea of what is in the course, but I did absolutely no work in the class and hardly payed attention, so I just dropped the course near the end of year. I am now starting to wish I hadn't because I am wanting to take sciences in university and I think that university chemistry, even just 1st year, would be pretty damn difficult if I didn't understand grade 11 and 12 chemistry concepts. From what was in the grade 11 class and because of the fact that I did pick a lot of the concepts up while sitting in it I think that I indeed could teach myself all the concepts of the course myself by using the textbook; my question is do you think I would be more wise to try to take some summer school courses on grade 12 chemistry or just simply obtain the textbook and teach the concepts to myself. (I have a brother who who took grade 11 and 12 Chemistry and than majored in biology in university so I know he would likely be able to me; it's not like I going to only use the textbook)

From what I have read and heard of grade 12 Chemistry, it isn't really any more difficulte that grade 11; it's just different material.

**Jinxu** · 02-02-2011, 05:50 AM

For me, college Chemistry I was a repeat of high school chemistry. Chemistry I just require basic math and balancing reactions. Easy stuff. Chemistry II is a little harder b/c it require a bit more advance math at the algebra level.

**jamessmith** · 02-02-2011, 05:52 AM

	Originally Posted by Jinxu To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	For me, college Chemistry I was a repeat of high school chemistry. Chemistry I just require basic math and balancing reactions. Easy stuff. Chemistry II is a little harder b/c it require a bit more advance math at the algebra level.

So if I can get into sciences in university with my current high school diploma, taking summer school would be a complete waste of time? That is what I thought; just wanted to make sure.

**Warrior** · 02-02-2011, 06:32 AM

	Originally Posted by Jinxu To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	For me, college Chemistry I was a repeat of high school chemistry.

Yeah, same here. I never found cheistry all that exciting, so I was glad I didn't have to take a lot in college, but what I did take was pretty much a repeat of high school.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to familiarize yourself more with the subject more if you feel like you didn't come out of high school prepared enough. As to whether you should get the book or sign up for a summer class, that probably depends more on which method aligns better with your learning style. I'd prefer the course, since I find chemistry books dreadfully boring and the course may introduce some elements to make the subject more interesting.

**Asocialkat** · 02-02-2011, 02:32 PM

High school chemistry isn't hard. I taught it to myself when I was in 9th grade, and I'm nothing special. If I can do that at 14, then you shouldn't have a problem.

Also, college chemistry goes over the same material.

**discontinuous** · 02-02-2011, 03:01 PM

Ye... if you want to learn high school + some higher level chemistry just buy a "General Chemistry" textbook.

At university level I still find my CEGEP General Chem book to be a worthwhile reference.

With a decent book (which you can find uberdirt-cheap at
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
, and your bro + the internet you should have no problem.

02-02-2011, 05:36 AM	#1
jamessmith Banned MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 43	So basically I graduated high school a little less than a year ago and unfortunetely I didn't pay attention or do any work in my classes. I obtained the easy credits like academic english, but I didn't get any good sciences (passed grade 12 Biology, but biology is hardly a science). I took grade 11 Chemistry in my final year because I hadn't taken it in grade 11, so I have an idea of what is in the course, but I did absolutely no work in the class and hardly payed attention, so I just dropped the course near the end of year. I am now starting to wish I hadn't because I am wanting to take sciences in university and I think that university chemistry, even just 1st year, would be pretty damn difficult if I didn't understand grade 11 and 12 chemistry concepts. From what was in the grade 11 class and because of the fact that I did pick a lot of the concepts up while sitting in it I think that I indeed could teach myself all the concepts of the course myself by using the textbook; my question is do you think I would be more wise to try to take some summer school courses on grade 12 chemistry or just simply obtain the textbook and teach the concepts to myself. (I have a brother who who took grade 11 and 12 Chemistry and than majored in biology in university so I know he would likely be able to me; it's not like I going to only use the textbook) From what I have read and heard of grade 12 Chemistry, it isn't really any more difficulte that grade 11; it's just different material.
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02-02-2011, 05:50 AM	#2
Jinxu Member [47%] MBTI: InTj Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,888	For me, college Chemistry I was a repeat of high school chemistry. Chemistry I just require basic math and balancing reactions. Easy stuff. Chemistry II is a little harder b/c it require a bit more advance math at the algebra level.
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02-02-2011, 02:32 PM	#5
Asocialkat Member [16%] MBTI: INTx Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 647	High school chemistry isn't hard. I taught it to myself when I was in 9th grade, and I'm nothing special. If I can do that at 14, then you shouldn't have a problem. Also, college chemistry goes over the same material.
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02-02-2011, 03:01 PM	#6
discontinuous Member [39%] MBTI: INTx Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,572	Ye... if you want to learn high school + some higher level chemistry just buy a "General Chemistry" textbook. At university level I still find my CEGEP General Chem book to be a worthwhile reference. With a decent book (which you can find uberdirt-cheap at To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , and your bro + the internet you should have no problem.
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