AI Rate Professor

Chemistry

Bob Altermatt

CHEM20 · CHEM1B · B · CHEM1A · 138 lifetime ratings

AI rating
80/100
RMP rating
4.5/5
Take again
85%
Difficulty
3.2

The decision

if you want a supportive chemistry professor and can , and some disorganization.

Best fit · Hardcore LearnerDeeply CaringGenerous GraderLong LecturesTest HeavyDisorganized But Supportive
  • Students widely praise Altermatt as caring, generous, and unusually available for review sessions and help.
  • Chemistry remains demanding, test-heavy, and .
  • many love his long, example-heavy approach, while and inefficient.

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

FairEffort

62/100

Grades can be generous, but an A usually requires serious studying, review sessions, practice problems, and stamina for long exams.

Online reviews sound fair and supportive, while and heavy time demands.

Is the course easy?

Challenging

34/100

General chemistry content is conceptually hard, and students repeatedly say success requires study and active problem practice.

Both formats show challenging chemistry content, but and disorganization.

Is attendance flexible?

Mandatory

22/100

Reviews indicate class participation and class is mandatory.

, while online evidence says skipping class hurts success but does not prove formal attendance rules.

Is this professor recommended?

MustTake

86/100

Most students recommend him because he cares deeply, gives extensive help, and grades fairly, despite long and uneven class structure.

Online recommendations are very consistent, while but more polarized.

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Generous

82/100

Many students call him fair or generous, though low-stakes quizzes and .

Format shift

Both formats support fair grading, while and a few harsh grading complaints.

Workload

Heavy

28/100

Workload and more from long lectures, long exams, labs, quizzes, and heavy studying.

Format shift

Online workload is moderate to heavy through tests and practice, while because classes and exams can run very long.

Teaching experience

Good

78/100

He is highly caring and knowledgeable, but recurring complaints about rambling, lateness, and disorganization lower the teaching score.

Format shift

Online teaching reviews are very positive, while in-person reviews are more split between excellent support and inefficient lectures.

Assessment method

FocusOnExams

88/100

Grades are driven mainly by quizzes, exams, labs, and .

Format shift

Both formats emphasize quizzes and of long high-stakes exams.

Luni fit check

Weigh these signals against your actual schedule.

Get help balancing workload, grading, and timing when no option is an obvious fit.

Course format

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Classroom format

In person

40 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Effort For Reward

but more polarized, with praise for support and grading balanced by complaints about long lectures and disorganization.

Main concern

Classes and , and some students find the lectures rambling or disorganized.

What students said

“Class is mandatory, you will stay the ENTIRE scheduled time.”
CHEM1B
“His lectures are long, and he may be disorganized at times, but he caters to the students and what their needs are.”
CHEM1A
“ and impossible to pass”
CHEM1A

Remote format

Online

10 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Hardcore Learner

Online students are strongly positive, emphasizing , and engaging problem practice.

Main concern

Tests and quizzes can still be time-consuming and require real study.

What students said

“Although it was online, I was very engaged because his lectures are interesting and will ignite your interest.”
CHEM1B
“Test and quizzes can be time consuming but you have to be willing to put in the work.”
CHEM1A
“He does review sessions on the weekends, which he is the only professor I know that does this since we since weve moved online.”
CHEM1A

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

because many students call tests fair with strong preparation, while others describe extremely long or .

Long ExamsTest HeavyNo Time Limit MentionedReview SessionsFair But Demanding Tests

Assessment risk

Varies

48/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

In-person reviews repeatedly describe long, test-heavy exams, sometimes with extended time and late finishes.

Long ExamsTest HeavyExtended TimeQuizzes
“ limit in class.”
CHEM1B
“ and very detailed but if you study and follow his formulas you'll do just fine.”
CHEM20
“Grade depends on quizzes/exams/labs so STUDY.”
CHEM1A

Online

and quizzes but do not clearly prove webcam use, proctoring, Lockdown Browser, or open-book rules.

Time-Consuming TestsQuizzesPractice ProblemsNo Clear Proctoring Evidence
“Test and quizzes can be time consuming but you have to be willing to put in the work.”
CHEM1A
“ but he goes over similar problems in class so they aren't impossible.”
CHEM1B
“does tons of practice problems.”
CHEM1A

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice

“Bob genuinely wants you to succeed and offers numerous opportunites to ask questions and get extra help if needed.”

Voice snapshots generated from 50 reviews, highlighting key themes in , and . Credibility rating: High.

❤️ Student Support

78/100

“He hosts weekend review sessions before quizzes and tests and he answers any questions you have.”

🧪 Course Difficulty

34/100

“100% you have to put in the work.”

📝

48/100

“ and very detailed but if you study and follow his formulas you'll do just fine.”

Theme 1

❤️ About Support

  • He genuinely cares about his students.
  • He wants his students to do well and is always willing to help if you ask questions.
  • He gives out his phone number and day for the most part if you have questions.

Theme 2

🧪 About Learning Chemistry

  • He made me love chemistry again and has given me amazing advice.
  • Bob has an amazing teaching style.
  • Take Bob if you want to LEARN chem!

Theme 3

⚠️ About Structure And Exams

  • His lectures are long, and he may be disorganized at times
  • limit in class.
  • Very disorganized, goes on extremely long tangents about Russia and how he hates Phd's.

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

50

Recent reviews read by the AI

138

Lifetime ratings

95/100

Evidence confidence

Fifty detailed reviews across online and in-person sections show strong recurring patterns, including both praise and .

Inside 50 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 5115
4 out of 56
3 out of 55
2 out of 56
1 out of 57

Course coverage

CHEM1A31 reviews
CHEM1B17 reviews
B1 review
CHEM201 review

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

44 reported outcomes

A range

17

A+ 2 · A 15

B range

17

B+ 6 · B 11

C range

2

C+ 1 · C- 1

D range

0

No reported values

F

0

No reported values

No letter grade reported

8

Drop/Withdrawal 1 · Not sure yet 6 · Rather not say 1