Ana Tontcheva

CHEM21 · CHEM1202 · CHEM20 · 21A · CHEM21A · 82 lifetime ratings

AI rating: 38/100
RMP rating: 3.3/5
Take again: 52%
Difficulty: 4.0

The decision

if you are comfortable self-teaching, using tutoring heavily, and preparing for a demanding test-focused chemistry course.

Best fit · Self Taught ProTest heavyFast pacedSelf-study requiredTough graderSI helps

Reviews are sharply split, but the dominant risk is that students often feel they must teach themselves chemistry.
The class is consistently test-heavy, fast-paced, and difficult, with , and heavy studying.
Students who succeed usually use SI, tutoring, worksheets, and office hours rather than relying only on lectures.

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

HardWork

34/100

An A is possible, but most successful students describe heavy studying, SI, tutoring, worksheets, and .

Online has a few Easy A claims, but both formats and .

Is the course easy?

Challenging

28/100

Chemistry , and especially hard for students without prior background.

Both online and , though online reviews vary more.

Is attendance flexible?

Depends

46/100

Students recommend her only for self-directed learners who will use outside support and .

Online and reviews especially negative.

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Strict

32/100

Grades are heavily tied to tests and quizzes, with and extra-credit options.

Format shift

, while online reviews show slightly more reports of and A outcomes.

Workload

Heavy

24/100

Students repeatedly cite lots of , and hours of studying.

Format shift

Both online and in-person reviews describe heavy workload, especially in compressed or hybrid terms.

Teaching experience

Poor

42/100

Some students praise her clarity and kindness, but many report rushed lectures, skipped steps, unhelpful videos, and reliance on tutors.

Format shift

Online reviews often criticize prerecorded lecture clarity, while and severe frustration.

Assessment method

FocusOnExams

86/100

Grades are repeatedly described as driven by exams, quizzes, finals, and .

Format shift

Both formats consistently describe a test-heavy structure.

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

38 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Hardcore Learner

In-person reviews also describe a difficult, test-heavy chemistry class with fast lectures, mixed teaching quality, and strong dependence on practice and tutoring.

Main concern

Students without chemistry background may struggle because lectures are fast and .

What students said

“Probably the most difficult class I have ever taken.”
CHEM20

“Grades , and over half the class dropped by the second one.”
CHEM20

“Prof. Tontcheva is one of the .”
CHEM20

Remote format

Online

12 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Self Taught Pro

Online reviews are mixed, with some students finding lectures and worksheets enough for an A while others call the , and self-taught.

Main concern

, and a need for SI or tutoring.

What students said

“If you are capable of learning material on your own you will be fine in this class.”
CHEM20

“Her lectures were not understandable. She skips over steps and expects her students to understand it.”
CHEM20

“A+ guaranteed. . SI offers ”
CHEM1202

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

Reviews repeatedly describe difficult, high-stakes exams and quizzes, while proven.

Test HeavyDifficult ExamsWeekly ExamsCumulative FinalScantron Tests

Assessment risk

Strict

28/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

In-person reviews , and finals, but do not clearly prove open-book, closed-book, webcam, or proctoring policy.

Scantron TestsDifficult ExamsCumulative FinalTest Heavy

“tests are by scantron but .”
CHEM20

“Grades , and over half the class dropped by the second one.”
CHEM20

“ so STUDY HARD and be ready to put HOURS into studying.”
CHEM20

Online

Online reviews mention frequent or weekly exams and , but do not clearly prove webcam, Lockdown Browser, open-book, or proctoring policy.

Weekly ExamsDifficult ExamsTest Heavy

“ but doable if studied, she gives 10 points for showing up to SI.”
CHEM20

“VERY fast paced. Exam every week including 1-2 labs.”
CHEM20

“ , but they arent enough to carry your grade if .”
CHEM1202

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice
“If you are capable of learning material on your own you will be fine in this class.”
Voice snapshots generated from 50 reviews, highlighting key themes in , and outside support. Credibility rating: High.

🎯 Teaching Quality

42/100

“She simply did not know how to teach, the reason why I passed this class was because of my SI coach.”

🧪

28/100

“Fail the .”

📚 Difficulty Level

28/100

“Probably the most difficult class I have ever taken.”

👍 Success Path

46/100

“But if you do the work sheets and attend office hours or SI tutoring you can succeed in this class.”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

Her lectures were not understandable. She skips over steps and expects her students to understand it.
but I do suggest copying those notes to help guide you.
Prof. Tontcheva is one of the .
She made a hard class easy to understand.

Theme 2

🧪 About Exams

This .
so STUDY HARD and be ready to put HOURS into studying.
There are 4 exams, 1 final, 7 quizzes and 2 points.
the , as one could expect taking Chem.

Theme 3

📈 About Grades

It was not an easy A but I learned a lot.
A+ guaranteed. . SI offers
Even though I got an A in this class, a lot of students got Cs and Ds.
Do not be mislead by her ; she adds and not your overall grade.

Theme 4

🧭 About Outside Help

.
You basically have to go to a tutor for extra help.
I would not have passed the class without attending every single SI session there was to offer.
!

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

Recent reviews read by the AI

Lifetime ratings

94/100

Evidence confidence

Fifty reviews across many years and both formats give rich, detailed, and recurring evidence despite polarized opinions.

Inside 50 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 529

4 out of 514

3 out of 513

2 out of 59

1 out of 517

Course coverage

CHEM2039 reviews

CHEM21A7 reviews

CHEM12022 reviews

21A1 review

CHEM211 review

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

43 reported outcomes

A range

A+ 2 · A 12

B range

B+ 3 · B 4 · B- 1

C range

C+ 1 · C 4

D range

D+ 1

F

F 1

No letter grade reported

Audit/No Grade 1 · Drop/Withdrawal 7 · Not sure yet 3 · Rather not say 3

Ana Tontcheva

x x x if you are comfortable self-teaching, using tutoring heavily, and preparing for a demanding test-focused chemistry course.

Four answers before you build your schedule.

HardWork

Challenging

Recommended

Depends

See how this professor fits your week.

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

In person

Online

See what students actually said.

🎯 Teaching Quality

🧪 x x

📚 Difficulty Level

👍 Success Path

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

🧪 About Exams

📈 About Grades

🧭 About Outside Help

See exactly what the AI read.

Quality ratings

Course coverage

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

A range

B range

C range

D range

F

No letter grade reported

if you are comfortable self-teaching, using tutoring heavily, and preparing for a demanding test-focused chemistry course.

🧪