4wildberrys Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Would Spectrum chemistry be enough to allow my son to take the chemistry CLEP? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Home'scool Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I don't know about the CLEP, but my daughter used the Spectrum Chemistry course, then went into AP Chemistry and was completely unprepared. The course was just too superficial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4wildberrys Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share Posted March 21, 2012 Oh no---that doesn't sound very promising! Anyone else?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbaloue Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Greg Landry is offering a high chem course using Spectrum Chemistry. My son will be taking it in the fall. You could check out the course description at www.Landryacademy.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4wildberrys Posted March 22, 2012 Author Share Posted March 22, 2012 WOW---Landry Academy is quite expensive :001_huh: I think I will use the DIVE Chem instead. It sounds like it will most definitely prepare for the CLEP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in MN Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 I will tag this thread with "Spectrum Chemistry" so you can search past threads easily. There have been lots of folks who felt well prepared with Spectrum, but usually as a first-level chem, with AP chem to follow if desired. For instance, this thread: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=354103 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Spectrum isn't necessarily a light chemistry, but it is a high school level chemistry. CLEP is testing to see if students should receive credit for the first semester of College Chemistry. I haven't used Spectrum, but I don't think anyone claims it is CLEP preparation, just first high school chemistry. For what it is worth, if you child has done a Physical Science or Integrated Science that had a good (semester long) dose of chemistry, they might be able to go straight to a College/AP/CLEP level Chemistry. If not, you might consider letting them take a standard high school level course first before taking the higher level class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in Richmond Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 I've used Spectrum Chemistry with two students. It's a wonderful choice for a solid high school chemistry course, especially the labs, but it would not work well for CLEP test prep. I took a look at the CLEP chemistry topics here, and found several (college-level) topics that Spectrum omits (most of the kinetics and equilibrium topics in particular). Spectrum was a good first year chem course for us. Both of our kids went on to do very well in AP chemistry in subsequent years. They are the math and science intuitive types who don't need lots of repetition; maybe that's the difference? Spectrum lays a great conceptual and lab foundation for such kids. And it's lots of fun! The short lessons and weekly interesting lab drew no complaints around here.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4wildberrys Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 Spectrum isn't necessarily a light chemistry, but it is a high school level chemistry. CLEP is testing to see if students should receive credit for the first semester of College Chemistry. I haven't used Spectrum, but I don't think anyone claims it is CLEP preparation, just first high school chemistry. For what it is worth, if you child has done a Physical Science or Integrated Science that had a good (semester long) dose of chemistry, they might be able to go straight to a College/AP/CLEP level Chemistry. If not, you might consider letting them take a standard high school level course first before taking the higher level class. Thank you! This is what I was figuring because ds is actually doing a quite strong ICP course this year and I was worried about 'regular' high school chem simply being a repeat of what he is doing this year. I still plan on him doing the DIVE chem with both Apologia books in 12th. I think we will hit the Apologia Physics next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4wildberrys Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 I've used Spectrum Chemistry with two students. It's a wonderful choice for a solid high school chemistry course, especially the labs, but it would not work well for CLEP test prep. I took a look at the CLEP chemistry topics here, and found several (college-level) topics that Spectrum omits (most of the kinetics and equilibrium topics in particular). Spectrum was a good first year chem course for us. Both of our kids went on to do very well in AP chemistry in subsequent years. They are the math and science intuitive types who don't need lots of repetition; maybe that's the difference? Spectrum lays a great conceptual and lab foundation for such kids. And it's lots of fun! The short lessons and weekly interesting lab drew no complaints around here.:) The labs were my biggest draw for this program, especially since we used the Rainbow. We loved it! He has decided to try and ClEP as many subjects as he can, so I am trying to line up courses to correspond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4wildberrys Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 I will tag this thread with "Spectrum Chemistry" so you can search past threads easily. There have been lots of folks who felt well prepared with Spectrum, but usually as a first-level chem, with AP chem to follow if desired. For instance, this thread: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=354103 Thanks! We only have 2 years left, so no time for 2 chem courses :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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