NUS Singapore Pharmacy Offer: AP Chemistry 5 & IB Chemistry 7

English translation of a student’s KakaoTalk messages reporting AP Chemistry 5 and IB Chemistry 7, with identifying details concealed — English translation of the original Korean messages. Identifying details are concealed.

A former student recently shared some news: they are now studying pharmacy in Singapore.

I asked how university life and classes were going. They said things were going well. It is always rewarding to hear that a student who once studied chemistry with me is now pursuing their chosen field.

During our conversation, they sent this message:

“Thanks to you, I got a 5 in AP Chemistry and a 7 in IB Chemistry. I think that helped me get in, haha.”

A 5 in AP Chemistry and a 7 in IB Chemistry—the highest scores in both subjects.

JjangJi illustration celebrating an AP Chemistry score of 5 and an IB Chemistry grade of 7 — An illustration celebrating the chemistry results reported by the student.

That was kind of them to say. But the student did the studying and earned those results in the exam room. I helped along the way; the achievement belongs to them.

They also mentioned writing a short personal statement for their application. In their view, their chemistry results and final grades probably helped, especially because they were applying for pharmacy.

Good exam results are lovely news. Hearing that the work became part of a student’s next chapter is even better.

Illustrative chemistry study desk with revision notes, practice exercises and a molecular model — AI-generated illustration of chemistry study, rather than the student’s actual work.

Chemistry takes both understanding and practice.

An explanation can feel clear during a lesson, yet a student may still struggle to solve a question independently. Applying the concept, checking the answer and identifying where the reasoning went wrong are all part of learning.

AP and IB also have different exam formats. Understanding the chemistry needs to be followed by practice in calculating, explaining and writing answers for each exam.

It is lovely to hear where that learning has taken a former student.