The lecture isn't mandatory but I suggest attending it because you will fall behind. Every lecture missed is about 2-4 topics that will not be reviewed again. She moves extremely fast. Tests are uncurved and she is the one teacher that has no curve for grades at the end of the quarter. This class is a lot of independent work so beware of that.

The lecture is clear. The test is a bit more difficult than the class content but it is acceptable. The exam in general is not too hard.

Lectures are really great and straightforward. Exams are easy if you do the practice exams.

Took Joseph Anyika n Sylvester for genchem. Retook chem1C w/sylvester. I feel like ppl r gatekeeping her because her tests compared to joseph's and anyika's are SO much easier. U still have to study but not anywhere near as brutal as the other 2 profs (her book probs r easier tbh). she only puts EXACTLY what she goes over in class on tests!!

I took Sylvester, Sepunaru, and Anyika for the general chemistry series. I enjoyed Sylvester the most as she is clear on the topics we need to learn and seemed to be the most streamlined out of the three. One of the exams was dropped and each was multiple choice.

Had Sylvester for first 2/3 of 1B then got switched with Anyika. Sylvester was straightforward and posted lecture videos that covered exactly what was on exams. Had very fair exams with Sylvester but after switching with Anyika, the final was much more difficult. Not as good as Price, but much more straightforward than Joseph.

i took this class online. do all the book problems and then redo them, but even that might not prepare you for the final exam :(

Sylvester is terrible at explaining key concepts. If you ask questions, she's really no help at all. I often felt more confused after she explained things than if I learned things just out of the book and ALEKS. I strongly recommend taking a different professor for the gen chem series.

Chem is just hard, and while Sylvester’s lecturers aren’t amazing (they don’t really explain concepts so much as just list off facts) her practice exams are the tests, plus some book problems. If you know how to do the practice tests, you should be good to pass.

really be prepared to focus in her class. do the aleks and dedicate your time to self-learning and reviewing the content because it's hard to follow along through the way she teaches

That final was so out of pocket nothing could have prepared me for it. Previous exams were nothing like it. The examples in lecture are so different from what you are tested on. The final though was just unbelievable.

You may think you know what you are getting yourself into by taking Chem 1B with Bryanna Sylvester. You do not. The class average on the final was a 50 percent. 50% !!! All the practice and teaching she gives you could never reflect the difficulty of her exams. Would not recommend to a friend.

Fine up until the final. It did not relate whatsoever to any lecture, book problem, midterm or practice test. I honestly think she pulled the problems out of thin air. She also did not teach a single in person lecture, but still wrote the final.

She's really good at lecturing and basically an easy formula to do good in the class. JUST DO THE BOOK PROBLEMS and you'll be fine!

DO HER PRACTICE EXAMS! Don't waste time on textbook q's. ALEKS also helps. lowest exam & ALEKS is dropped- but exams are tough. 17 q's in 45 mins so practice managing time on exams. CLAS for extra worksheets (great for practice) or in-person groups if you want to attend groups. Watch the lecture vids for review or if missing class (same content)

Sylvester isnt very deliberate in explaining concepts and why she does certain calculations, but otherwise shes pretty straightforward about everything. If you are good at thinking systematically about problems, Sylvester is for you, but if you need the steps laid out, probably not.

I really am a nice person. But Im here crying because she cant be bothered to explain things thoroughly. This is the first review Ive literally ever done. She wasnt even in class all semester because she had COVID and never explains her examples well so the exams are impossible. This is my 2nd quarter with her so Ik Im not being harsh.

I got lost a couple weeks in bc she seems to underexplain things. Final was nothing like the practice final. ALEKS was okay difficulty wise, but it took soooo long to do hw. Reading the textbook can help supplement the lectures and she did put textbook problems in the tests. Overall gave a very unrealistic study plan imo

Sylvester doesn't give a dang about her students. I was OUT for a week with COVID and she didn't give a flying funk. I was battling all the demons. She made me take the midterm regardless. I got a 58. DUH. I wasn't about to pass with her terrible teaching and non-empathetic persona.

She teaches through examples but skips over steps which can be confusing for people learning the content for the first time. I personally don't get the sense that she actually cares about her students. When I was extremely sick during midterm season, I asked to take the exam just a few HOURS (not days) later and she said no.

Lectures are straightforward. There are a few times it would be nicer if she could go in depth but doesn't. Tests are fine if you study reasonably. There will be 2 tough questions that aren't really something that can be studied, you just really need to get the concepts and apply them. Otherwise just attend 3 50 min lectures, do the work, pass.

She was a decent lecturer; concise, good explanations, readily answered questions. However, the course material overall is very tough & fast-paced if you don't set up a good study sched, but luckily there's usually a generous class curve. DO BOOK PROBS/PRAC EXAMS, so important. Lectures are online if you have to miss but I'd recommend attending.

I thought Sylvester's class was alright, but I took AP Chem in high school so it felt like a review. The people I know who didn't really struggled in this class. She is direct and concise in her lectures, which I liked, but if you are learning the material for the first time this will not benefit you. Her grading curve is pretty generous.

Good lecturer but homework was arduous and useless in preparing for the test. Many test question were not taught in class.