If you or your teen is taking AP Chemistry in 2024-25, the class might feel a little different from what older students took. The chemistry ideas are mostly the same, but the unit names, topic order, and even the tools you use on the exam are getting an update.
These changes are not meant to make the class harder. They are meant to make the content clearer, help lessons flow better, and prepare students for a more modern test format. When you know what changed now, you can plan study time better, avoid surprises on test day, and feel more in control all year.
Let’s walk through what is new, what stayed the same, and how to adjust your study plan without starting over.
What Is Changing in AP Chemistry for 2024-25?
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
For the 2024-25 school year, the College Board updated the AP Chemistry Course and Exam Description (CED). You can see the official overview of changes on the AP Course and Exam Changes page.
Here is the key idea: the course still has nine units, and students still learn the same core chemistry topics, like stoichiometry, thermodynamics, equilibrium, and acids and bases. What changed are the labels, the order of some ideas, and a few smaller content details.
Some of the biggest updates:
- Unit and topic names are clearer and more in line with how teachers and students already talk.
- A few topics moved to different units, like pH and solubility now sitting with acids and bases.
- Chromatography is no longer required content.
- The AP equation sheet has been refreshed.
- AP Chemistry is moving toward digital exams in 2025.
You can find the full updated framework in the official AP Chemistry Course and Exam Description (effective fall 2024).
Quick overview of AP Chemistry 2024-25 at a glance
Here are the headline changes in simple form:
- Same nine units, but with smoother topic order inside some units
- Renamed units and topics, such as clearer names for bonding and mixture properties
- pH and solubility topic moved from Unit 7 (Equilibrium) to Unit 8 (Acids and Bases)
- Chromatography removed from the required course content
- Updated AP Chemistry equation sheet, matched to the new framework
- Digital exam rollout starting in 2025, where schools offer digital testing
There are no big new units. If a student started studying using older materials, they are still on track. They just need to match their notes to the new names and topic order.
Why did the College Board update AP Chemistry?
The goal is not to trick students. The changes focus on three main ideas:
- Clearer names
Some older topic titles confused students. New names match the way teachers already explain ideas in class. This helps when searching online videos or practice questions too. - Better learning flow
Certain ideas, like pH, fit more naturally in an acids and bases unit. Moving them helps the course feel more like a story instead of a list of random topics. - Modern exams
AP is shifting many subjects to digital testing. That means AP Chemistry also needs materials, like the equation sheet and practice questions, that work well in both paper and digital formats.
These updates help teachers plan lessons more clearly and help students focus on high-value skills instead of outdated or confusing labels.
AP Chemistry Course Content Updates for 2024-25
The new framework keeps the same “big ideas” of chemistry, but the structure is cleaner. Here is how that plays out in class.
Renamed units and topics that make concepts clearer
Several unit and topic names were updated in the new CED. For example:
- Unit 3 is now called “Properties of Substances and Mixtures” instead of “Intermolecular Forces and Properties.”
- The topic on VSEPR and hybridization is now labeled “VSEPR and Hybridization.”
- “Steady State Approximation” is now called “Pre-equilibrium.”
These names match how many students already talk:
- “We are learning about properties of mixtures” feels clearer than “intermolecular forces and properties.”
- “Pre-equilibrium” hints that something happens before equilibrium is reached.
When the labels are clearer, it is easier to search for help, organize notes, and remember what each unit is really about.
Moved topics: where pH and solubility fit now
In the 2019 version of AP Chemistry, a topic on pH and solubility sat near the end of the equilibrium unit. In the 2024-25 framework, that pH and solubility content moves into Unit 8: Acids and Bases.
This makes more sense for most students. You already connect pH with acids and bases in regular chemistry, so now the AP course lines up with that idea.
A teacher might now:
- Teach solubility rules and equilibrium basics earlier.
- Then, in Unit 8, link those ideas to pH by asking, “How does the acidity of the solution change solubility?”
Students get to see pH, Ka, Kb, and solubility interacting in one place instead of jumping between distant units.
Removed content: chromatography and separation changes
Chromatography used to be part of the required separation content in AP Chemistry. In the 2024-25 update, chromatography is no longer required.
The unit now focuses more broadly on separation of solutions and mixtures, without the expectation that students memorize chromatography details.
What this means in practice:
- You might still see chromatography in lab, since it is a common school experiment.
- However, you do not need to worry about detailed chromatography theory on the AP exam.
This shift frees up class time. Teachers can spend more time on topics that show up often on past free-response questions, such as equilibrium, kinetics, and electrochemistry.
Nine units remain, but topic order is smoother
The course still has nine units, so the big structure has not changed. Some topics inside those units, though, appear in a different order to match a more natural learning path.
To stay synced with the new flow:
- Check the latest CED or the AP Chemistry course page.
- Compare the unit titles and topic list with your textbook or older class notes.
- Adjust your study sequence so practice questions follow the new order.
This way, your practice lines up with how questions are likely grouped on the exam.
AP Chemistry Exam Changes for 2024-25 and 2025
Now to the part most students care about: the exam.
What stays the same in the AP Chemistry exam format
The overall test structure is still familiar:
- A multiple-choice section with calculation and concept questions
- A free-response section with long and short problems
- A time limit for each section
- A single composite score from 1 to 5
The core skills also stay the same. Students still need to explain reasoning, show work, use units, and connect graphs or data tables to real chemistry.
You can see examples of how questions look in the AP Chemistry past exam questions and in the latest 2024 free-response set.
Updated AP Chemistry equation sheet: how to use it to your advantage
The AP Chemistry equation sheet has been updated so it matches the 2024-25 framework and current expectations for constants and notation. The newest version is available as a PDF on the College Board site, such as the AP Chemistry Equations Sheet.
Smart ways to use it:
- Print a copy and keep it with your binder.
- Highlight formulas you use all the time, like gas laws or pH equations.
- Work practice problems with the sheet next to you, the same way you will on test day.
- Do not waste time trying to memorize every constant on the page.
Knowing where each formula sits on that sheet lowers stress during the exam. Your brain can focus on the chemistry instead of hunting for symbols.
From paper to digital: what the 2025 AP Chemistry exam will look like
Starting with the 2025 exam, more schools will give AP Chemistry in a digital format. That means many students will:
- Read questions on a computer screen.
- Scroll through data tables, graphs, and multi-part prompts.
- Type some responses and still show math work on scratch paper.
College Board will give clear directions about scratch paper, calculators, and how to submit work. The key is that the content and scoring stay the same. Only the way you view and enter answers changes.
If your school offers digital practice, treat it like a dress rehearsal. The more normal the screen format feels, the easier it is to focus on the chemistry on test day.
How Students Should Adjust AP Chemistry Study Plans for 2024-25
The updates sound like a lot, but your study plan only needs a few tweaks.
Study with the new unit names and topic list in mind
Start by lining up your materials with the current CED:
- Take your notebook or binder and write the new unit titles at the top of each section.
- In the margins, add notes like “pH and solubility now in Unit 8.”
- If you use older review books, keep a short cheat sheet that matches old labels to new ones.
This quick relabeling step keeps classwork, tutoring, and online videos on the same page as the 2024-25 course.
Use updated AP Chemistry practice resources and teacher materials
Ask your teacher which resources match the new framework. Many schools use the latest College Board unit guides, progress checks, and sample questions from the official AP Chemistry course page.
Tips for choosing practice:
- Prefer materials that say “aligned to the 2024-25 CED” or “effective fall 2024.”
- Do not stress over older questions that mention chromatography, but do not spend time memorizing that content either.
- Mix multiple-choice and free-response practice, since both sections still matter.
Build digital test skills before exam day
You do not need fancy software to get comfortable with digital testing. Simple habits help:
- Do some timed practice sets on a laptop or Chromebook instead of on paper.
- Practice reading a long question on screen while working on scrap paper.
- Get used to clearly labeling your work, since graders must follow your reasoning.
Ask your school if they expect you to test digitally and if they have sample digital questions from College Board that you can try in advance.
Tips for Teachers and Parents Supporting AP Chemistry Students
AP Chemistry is a team effort. When teachers and parents understand the updates, students feel more supported.
How teachers can align lessons with the 2024-25 AP Chemistry framework
Teachers can:
- Base unit plans on the newest CED and equation sheet.
- Update syllabi so unit titles match the official list.
- Teach pH and solubility in Unit 8 with acids and bases to match the new flow.
- Give students regular practice that uses the updated equation sheet.
- Include some digital-style questions, such as on-screen prompts with typed responses.
Staying close to the official framework also helps with AP Course Audit and keeps practice focused on what students will actually see.
Simple ways parents can help students handle these AP Chemistry changes
Parents do not need a chemistry degree to be helpful. You can:
- Ask your student to explain the new unit titles in their own words.
- Check that they have the latest equation sheet printed and in their binder.
- Offer a quiet space for regular computer-based practice.
- Help them plan weekly study blocks, instead of waiting for last-minute cramming.
Even small check-ins show your student that they are not facing AP Chemistry alone.
Conclusion
AP Chemistry for 2024-25 looks a little different on paper, but the heart of the course is still the same. The content is organized more clearly, some topics moved to better spots, and tools like the equation sheet and digital exam format are catching up with how students work today.
If you follow the new unit list, practice with the updated equation sheet, and do a bit of digital-style practice, you can walk into the 2025 exam with confidence. These updates are there to help you show what you know, not to hold you back. Use them as a guide, stay steady with your work, and let your understanding of chemistry shine on test day.
