AI Rate Professor

Chemistry

Kevin Petka

CHEM105 · CHEM100 · CHEM108 · CHEM100L · CHEM104 · 45 lifetime ratings

AI rating
86/100
RMP rating
4.2/5
Take again
82.22%
Difficulty
3.7

The decision

if you want rigorous chem prep and strong lectures, and you can handle a no-coddling, high-personality style.

Best fit · Effort For RewardHilarious LecturesTest HeavyTough But FairCareer-Focused ChemPolarizing Personality
  • Most students call him one of Palomar's best chemistry instructors for .
  • Course is genuinely hard and exam-weighted; effort and review days are required for strong grades.
  • A vocal minority criticizes political tangents, off-topic rants, and occasional rude or inappropriate remarks.

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

HardWork

42/100

As are common with steady worksheet and review work, but chemistry content and .

Both formats require real study; in-person students stress review days more clearly.

Is the course easy?

Challenging

32/100

CHEM104/organic-biochem material is repeatedly called hard and dense regardless of instructor.

Online and ; teaching quality differs more than content difficulty.

Is attendance flexible?

Mandatory

22/100

, and skip-class tags warn you will not pass without lecture and review days.

; in-person strongly expects presence for reviews and exams.

Is this professor recommended?

WorthIt

82/100

About four in and many call him best chem professor despite a sharp negative minority.

; online reviews are more split.

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Fair

48/100

Students report tough standards and , but also cheat sheets, reviews, and .

Format shift

; online comments focus less on leniency.

Workload

Moderate

48/100

Worksheets, chapter reviews, and exams matter most; many praise limited busywork if you stay prepared.

Format shift

Both formats emphasize meaningful practice over filler, with exams carrying most weight.

Teaching experience

Excellent

86/100

Dominant theme is clear, funny, high-energy lectures that make hard chem understandable and career-relevant.

Format shift

In-person lectures are his strength; some online students find recordings weak.

Assessment method

FocusOnExams

78/100

Multiple comments say tests are most of the grade, supported by worksheets and review sessions rather than busywork.

Format shift

; online labs and homework still matter but .

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

, humor, and real-world healthcare framing despite hard exams.

Main concern

Tangents, political comments, and blunt delivery alienate some students.

What students said

“Organic/Biochem is such a hard class but Dr. Pekta is the .”
CHEM104
“ if you apply it.”
CHEM104
“Goes on tangents unrelated to the material quite often.”
CHEM104

Remote format

Online

5 reviews

Medium confidence · Best fit for Self Taught Pro

some praise Zoom help and packets, others call recorded lectures weak and .

Main concern

Recorded lectures and limited live contact amplify confusion for weaker students.

What students said

“Recorded lectures are terrible and he reads from the powerpoint”
CHEM100
“Lectures are long but super easy to follow with the packets!!!”
CHEM100
“from the 2 interactions I had with him, he was very rude.”
CHEM104

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

Exams are hard and high-stakes but supported by review days, worksheets, and occasional cheat sheets.

Test HeavyExam ReviewsCheat SheetsIn-Person Exams

Assessment risk

Standard

55/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

; strong review sessions and practice sheets are the main path to success.

Exam ReviewsTest HeavyCheat SheetsWorksheets
“tests are 75% of your grade.”
CHEM104
“ if you apply it.”
CHEM104
“no busy ”
CHEM104

Online

Online comments mention rough tests and ; .

Hard TestsHomework-Test Mismatch
“ but if u ask questions & show interests he helps out & rounds up”
CHEM100
“The in lecture.”
CHEM100

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice

“Don't be a slacker and you'll do great! You'll learn so much material! 10/10”

Voice snapshots generated from 45 reviews, balancing majority praise with minority concerns. Credibility rating: High.

🎯 Teaching Quality

86/100

“Dr. P was one of the . His lectures are engaging”

🧪 Course Rigor

32/100

“Chem 104 is intense but Dr. P is funny/makes lectures easier to wrap your mind around.”

⚠️ Polarizing Style

40/100

“Used a MAJORITY of lecture time to go on political rants.”

👍 Recommendation

82/100

“I 100% recommend taking his class.”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

  • Amazing lectures
  • Hilarious
  • real-life examples

Theme 2

📈 About Difficulty & Grades

  • Test heavy
  • you have to put in the work
  • tests are 75% of your grade

Theme 3

💬 About Personality

  • inspirational
  • wants his students to succeed
  • goes on tangents
  • inappropriate comments

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

45

Recent reviews read by the AI

45

Lifetime ratings

88/100

Evidence confidence

Forty-five detailed reviews over several years show a about tangents and tone.

Inside 45 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 532
4 out of 55
3 out of 50
2 out of 53
1 out of 55

Course coverage

CHEM10434 reviews
CHEM1006 reviews
CHEM100L2 reviews
CHEM1082 reviews
CHEM1051 review

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

42 reported outcomes

A range

22

A+ 3 · A 17 · A- 2

B range

14

B+ 4 · B 10

C range

0

No reported values

D range

0

No reported values

F

1

F 1

No letter grade reported

5

Drop/Withdrawal 1 · Not sure yet 4