2.7

Alexander Wang

Chemistry - University of British Columbia

2.7
Quality
3.3
Difficulty
33%
Would Retake
95
Reviews
2.7
Quality
3.3
Difficulty
2.8
Helpful
2.6
Clarity

33%

Would Retake

95

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

15

4

20

3

14

2

29

1

17

What Students Say

Spends more energy making vague analogies that helping students

CHEM205 - 1.0 rating

His lecture notes are vague and his classes are boring

CHEM205 - 1.0 rating
Class Info

Attendance Mandatory

23%

Textbook Required

54%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 15 grades
Most common grades:
A- (3)
A (3)
A+ (3)
Grade Distribution
A(6)B(2)C(2)D(0)F(1)A-/B+(4)
Based on 16 reported grades
A-: 3
A: 3
A+: 3
B: 1
Common Tags
Lecture heavy (6)
Test heavy (6)
Graded by few things (5)
Skip class? You won't pass. (3)
Hilarious (3)
TEST HEAVY (2)
Get ready to read (2)
Clear grading criteria (2)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.41 avg change
May
Mar
Dec
Dec
Jan
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

312

5.0

(1)

CHEM111

5.0

(1)

CHEM401

4.2

(5)

CHEM205

3.0

(25)

CHEM123

3.0

(24)
+3 more courses
Difficulty by Course

CHEM312

4.3

CHEM205

3.1

CHEM154

3.0

CHEM153

3.0

CHEM123

2.9

Reviews (95)
3.0
2.0
CHEM401
Jun 9, 2003

The cutest, shortest guy ever -- tries his hardest to make quantum understandable, and is funny without trying to be. (Just watch him erase the board; it's hilarious.)

5.0
1.0
CHEM401
Jul 24, 2003

Absolutely! Despite a shaky first year teaching, has done a great job since! Really nice too!

5.0
3.0
CHEM401
Sep 24, 2003

what can u say, quantum is a ****ed up subject

5.0
1.0
CHEM401
Oct 15, 2003

what a hottie. makes me want to go to class

2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Nov 18, 2003

Unhelpful and demoralizing. Not everyone learned triple integrals in high school.

2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Nov 27, 2003

No Comments

2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Dec 2, 2003

Run...

1.0
5.0
CHEM312
Dec 2, 2003

No Comments

4.0
4.0
CHEM312
Dec 3, 2003

The course itself is hard, think about it, I really can't see how more clearer this subject can be. Dr. Wang has tried his best to teach the class, his comments are not demoralizing, rather, they are the principles of life and what he was saying is true.

2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Dec 9, 2003

A very difficult course, I think Dr. Wang has trouble explaining some of the concepts clearly, making the course very text-dependent. Unfortunately the textbook isn't very good...

2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Dec 9, 2003

STAY AWAY IF YOU CAN

2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Dec 11, 2003

23 pages of questions on the exam!!! each question worth 2 marks!no part marks given (he tests us more on the math than anything else). but even though everyone had a bad time, he still managed to only have a 15% failure rate. with very weird marking

1.0
5.0
CHEM312
Jun 12, 2004

No Comments

5.0
1.0
CHEM111
Sep 17, 2004

No Comments

2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Nov 9, 2004

"You don't know what hard work is really like because your parents pay for your education" was his response after the midterm. He is a bitter man that is just arogant. The previous prof (Dr. Garry) was great...why did they replace him with this purely mean-hearted person...

2.0
4.0
CHEM312
Dec 7, 2004

His lectures are very confusing. You have to be able to understand his notes at home. Midterm was ok, but the final was long and brutal. This course test you on calculus and algebra more than anything. He is not the worst prof, but definately below average.

4.0
1.0
CHEM312
Grade: B
Dec 8, 2004

The final was too easy.If you don't get over 90% in his final you shouldn't major in chemistry.

5.0
1.0
312
Dec 9, 2004

He's a very good prof, very inspiring and has a very good sense of humor. You will definitely learn in his class even though if you are interested in the material before taking it. By the way, to be successful in his class, you have to be good at math.

4.0
5.0
CHEM312
Dec 13, 2004

go over material rather quickly in class, very helpful outside of class, need to do the assigned problems to do well on exams

2.0
4.0
CHEM312
Jan 6, 2005

yes, quantum is a difficult subject; but dr.gerry makes it not as hard as wang does. i understood everything wang "taught" in 2weeks when re-taught by gerry (chem 320). smart guy, but no teaching skills.

2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Feb 12, 2005

tough course with a not so helpful prof

2.0
4.0
CHEM312
Mar 10, 2005

He's a really nice guy. Initially I couldn't understand a world he was saying. However, after 3 months it became second nature. His midterm was fair and easy. However, his final was extremely hard. Especially considering it was the on the 1st day of finals.

3.0
1.0
CHEM123
Mar 11, 2005

his only flaw is his strong accent i guess..but after a while u get used to it...overall very helpful prof! always gives us tips about common mistakes on the exams and has VERY NEAT and ORGANIZED notes (never seen a male prof write so neat b4 =P) highly recommended!!

3.0
2.0
CHEM123
Apr 6, 2005

he was difficult to understand but you get used to it. he's very smart but has a nit of trouble explaining somethings, uses lots of odd examples... He's definatly willing to help if you go see him

2.0
5.0
CHEM123
Apr 17, 2005

really bad prof, his notes are good, really good, although you cannot understand him explaining what the notes actually mean because of his hardcore asian accent.he does have a good sense of humour and loves analogies, but overall, take a different prof,wang is smart but not a teacher!!

4.0
1.0
CHEM123
Apr 21, 2005

he is a good prof but has an accent, but igot used to it after a while so it wasnt too bad, easy midterm and notes are pretty good he has a weird sense of humor which can be funny in a fobbish way

3.0
5.0
CHEM401
Apr 24, 2005

Obviously, this is not a good course for Quantum Chemistry, at most a computational Guassian software guide.

5.0
1.0
CHEM312
Dec 23, 2005

Best prof I've ever had. He inspires the students and dedicates the first 5 min talking bout books/movies just for inspiration. He is also the ultimate prof to ask questions in class. Most profs say that they encourage questions but don't mean it. Ask Dr. Wang a question in class, and no matter how stupid, he will patiently take the time to ans

4.0
3.0
CHEM123
Jan 19, 2006

Can anyone actually understand what he's saying? I can make out maybe 15 words per class. However, his notes are usually so clear that it almost doesn't matter that his accent is next to impossible to understand.

4.0
1.0
CHEM123
Feb 4, 2006

At first i was doubious, but he's actually pretty good. Notes are clear and detailed and he seems to actually care about the students. He speaks with an accent, but after a while it becomes second nature. I like him

4.0
2.0
CHEM123
Feb 20, 2006

Great notes and he's not that hard to understand. Easy course material (for first half anyway), with a combination of effective teaching makes this class a breeze.

4.0
2.0
CHEM123
Mar 25, 2006

Awesome prof. love the accent (once you get used to it, its just amusing). keeps me awake in class, good discussions, BEST notes [very clear and concise]...highly recommended. good with questions, as long as you ask it clearly ;)

4.0
3.0
CHEM123
Jul 6, 2006

He is abit hard to understand at times because of his accent, but you will get used to it. He tries to be very funny (one time he called the blade of a skate the "skating knife"). He is abit slow and so we rushed at the end. His notes are ok.

4.0
2.0
CHEM123
Jul 24, 2006

he taught the first part of chem 123 and i have to say hes an awesome prof! his notes are FABULOUS, u dont even have to read the confusing textbook. his midterm was easy, hes funny and easy to talk to after class

5.0
2.0
CHEM312
Dec 7, 2006

gave alot of hints for exams. funny guy too. material is challenging though.

5.0
2.0
CHEM312
Mar 4, 2007

yes his final was hard, but he is an excellent prof. Alex teaches on multiple levels, allows the less academically inclined students to scrape by, and the more academically inclined students to do well. Keep in mind that QM is hard, and you wouldn't be so proud of taking QM if it wasn't an accomplishment. WANG IS THE MANG!

4.0
1.0
CHEM123
Apr 17, 2007

Very funny guy. Has an accent, but it's fine once you get used to it. by the way, his notes are the BEST!

4.0
3.0
CHEM123
Apr 23, 2007

he's got a heavy accent but his notes are amazing, even other sections went and printed them off to study for the midterm. used good analogies in class and really cares about students' success not only in the course but also in life

4.0
2.0
CHEM123
May 7, 2007

He's so cool. Although he has a chinese accent but he makes it work. His notes are just AWESOME... it's better than the textbook. It's like the reduced textbook version love that good for slackers =D. Mt was easy final was ok too if u studied. STUDY MECHANISMS for organic portion. unfortunately he didn't teach that part.

2.0
3.0
CHEM123
Mar 3, 2008

The vibe I got from him is that he thinks students are pretty much s****- all of the "real life" analogies he makes with chemistry concepts have to do with getting **** or getting high, and after his class averaged 57 on the midterm, he came to lecture and belittled us for not taking his course seriously enough. I recommend him to no one.

3.0
3.0
CHEM123
Mar 21, 2008

my god, his accent is unbearable and completely incomprehensible. i focused all of my attention just deciphering what he said in class and it was hard to learn the concepts at the same time. make sure you do the problem sets for inorganic chem because thats where you'll get the most help. his accent was the thickest chinese accent i've ever heard.

2.0
2.0
CHEM123
Apr 2, 2008

While he has the understanding of the material, and while he is a good professor, his accents are quite hard to interpret (unless you are used to chinese accents) and he is quite... 'discouraging'.

2.0
5.0
CHEM123
Oct 28, 2008

This guy was so full of it, "Work hard and you will get a big house, fancy cars and beautiful wife just like me la~" Whatever. Take his class but don't bother going, just study from his online notes. It'll save you the frustration of attempting to figure what the heck he's saying through that crazy accent of his.

1.0
5.0
CHEM123
Feb 26, 2009

Worst prof ever! His accent is so hard to understand. Do not bother going to his class. His notes are good enough to teach yourself by with reference to the text as well. You will not do good on the midterm if you do not give your self adequate time to study. Read the lecture notes each day, and do the questions and you will do okay.

3.0
4.0
CHEM123
Mar 2, 2009

Wang isn't as bad as everyone says although he does have a strong accent and makes it hard to understand. notes are great. just make sure you read them and understand it.always read his notes bfore class. you'll get ALOT more out of it. not too helpful during office hours, very impatient and makes you feel bad for asking questions.

2.0
2.0
CHEM123
May 4, 2009

Wang is a piece of art. As a professor, he knows his stuff, but he is not very efficient as an instructor: he has a difficult-to-understand accent, is very impersonal and disconnected from his students, and is extremely pompous. He tries to be funny, but ends up insulting everyone. He has good notes, but that's about it.

1.0
5.0
CHEM312
Nov 21, 2009

Wang has the easiest job in the world. he could stand there all day and feed us some bull he made and none of us would have fcking clue what he's talking about. wang's such a cute little midget's stool

3.0
5.0
CHEM312
Jan 5, 2010

Yeah, he lives in his own world of jokes and analogies. Totally abstract concepts. Class average is an awful 54%. Avoid this class if u can, because he's the only instructor.

2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Jan 7, 2010

Full of himself, believes that you'll spend hours upon hours on his course only and will do the 200+ questions he assigns in total throughout term. Don't be fooled by his rating here... CHEM123 students jack his ratings up since they scale 1st years by insanely crazy amounts... the real deal is Quantum. Do or be eaten alive by this guy.

2.0
4.0
CHEM154
Oct 4, 2010

I had no idea what he's saying... spend most my time teaching myself from the textbook and I've skipped almost all the lectures.

3.0
4.0
CHEM154
Oct 14, 2010

no comment..

2.0
3.0
CHEM153
Oct 30, 2010

I dont think he actually speaks english, he takes his notes strait out of the text book, i never go to this class because it is so ridiculous

5.0
1.0
CHEM154
Nov 23, 2010

This guy is soooo funny, if you don't like him, GO COMPLAIN TO THE DEAN. He is a good teacher too, with a great sense of humor. He is also extremely attractive in every way possible

1.0
4.0
CHEM154
Nov 27, 2010

Wang is one of the worst Proffs. I'v ever had. His Chinese accent makes him incomprehensible, he's rude, and arrogant to anyone who asks a question. He doesn't explain the concepts well at all, paying him for nothing really. I went to his office hours to ask a question, he told me to go think about it more! And he calls himself a Proff.Wang=disaste

1.0
5.0
CHEM154
Dec 8, 2010

Horrible prof. super full of himself, decides to destroy everybody in the final on a course you must pass. Worst Prof ever to get for a first year course.

1.0
4.0
CHEM312
Dec 22, 2010

Very thick accent, hard to understand. Tries to be funny and relate to students but comes across as condescending and rude to students who ask questions in lecture.

2.0
3.0
CHEM154
Dec 23, 2010

Arrogant, unfunny and a terrible teacher. I realized his lectures were useless after the midterm, stopped showing up after that and just read the lecture slides/textbook.

3.0
3.0
CHEM154
Jan 5, 2011

this guy is hilarious.

3.0
1.0
CHEM154
Jan 13, 2011

Has really easy tests and is decent at explaining you the material(really boring though). You just have to make sure u do at least some of the hundreds of questions he assigns and readtextbook&you befine. Ignore that fact that most people said he's unreasonable, its probably to they did nothing almost all year because he doesn't collect anything.

3.0
4.0
CHEM154
Jan 15, 2011

His lectures have very low attendance rate, simply because people choose to walk out of his class. If you want to do well, attend to class, do your homework, go to office hours if you have questions, and review the material.Just because a teacher has an accent when speaking does not condemn him to be a bad teacher; instead, reconsider the attitude.

2.0
1.0
CHEM154
Aug 5, 2011

He has amazing lecture slides, but his teaching style is boring enough to put me to sleep. This is a very fast paced course and the final exam is worth 75% of your final grade. I attend his class for his awesome jokes.

5.0
1.0
CHEM205
Jan 13, 2012

he is awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4.0
2.0
CHEM205
Apr 5, 2012

He's really funny in class and does explain the concepts well (compared to some of the other profs). you just have to get use to his accent. and he has good review sessions for mt and final.

4.0
4.0
CHEM205
Apr 28, 2012

Professor Wang is helpful and interested in helping students succeed...if you work hard, you will not be disappointed. He also enjoys what he teaches and this is apparent in lectures.

2.0
1.0
CHEM205
May 24, 2012

Aside from his accent, he was a great lecturer. However, he was not a good professor. He had a hostile attitude during his office hour and showed no interest in clarifying concepts. There is a huge discrepancy on my final mark but he refuses to allow me to see my final exam and mark breakdown.

5.0
1.0
CHEM205
Jan 10, 2013

This guy is fantastic! He goes through the concepts slowly, making hilarious analogies all the while. His accent is sometimes difficult to understand, but he will go so far as to write the word down if we can't understand him. I highly recommend attending his lectures, they are really entertaining.

3.0
2.0
CHEM205
Apr 27, 2013

Great Lecturer, he has a slight accent it wont even affect ur learning so dont worry about it. He isnt very helpful outside of class but his lectures are amazing! He really wants his class to do good and his lecture slides are really helpful. For Chem 205 this is ur guy for sure.

4.0
3.0
CHEM205
Apr 1, 2014

Good lecturer overall. Jokes were funny. Lecture slides were very organized and contained most of the important content. Has an accent. Not very patient when addressing student's misunderstandings. Go for his lectures and slides; don't go to him for personal help.

4.0
1.0
CHEM205
Grade: A-
May 1, 2014

Great prof that supplements the material if you attend the lectures. However attendance is not mandatory as the content is very easy and can be taught by yourself. Got an A- even though I didn't show up to 70% of the classes. Also accent is a little thick, may be difficult to hear.

4.0
1.0
CHEM205
Jun 17, 2014

Drops lots of hints about what to know for the exam. Makes funny jokes, and is quite entertaining. Only downside is he isn't very helpful with student questions... More often than not he'll give a bit of an insulting answer.

2.0
5.0
CHEM123
Jul 16, 2014

Incredibly uninteresting prof. He knows his material but he does not teach it well. Not to mention his thick accent doesn't help at all. Makes students feel bad for asking questions and tends to believe that most of the material he is teaching is 'common sense.' Would not recommend.

2.0
5.0
CHEM123
Jul 16, 2014

Unhelpful and ineffective. He knows his stuff but he does not teach it well. Makes students feel bad for asking questions on things not understood and tends to believe that most of the material he is teaching is 'common sense.' Would not recommend.

1.0
3.0
CHEM123
Aug 18, 2014

Very bad at explaining conceptual questions. He has a hostile attitude when you ask him "simple" questions.

3.0
4.0
CHEM123
Aug 29, 2014

He does try to make things interesting, but quite often his jokes fall flat. He believes everyone should understand material after explaining only once. Would not recommend, but he's not a bad person.

5.0
3.0
CHEM205
Apr 7, 2015

So helpful before the final. Did review classes and printed out finals for us.

2.0
5.0
CHEM205
Grade: A-
Mar 3, 2016

Hard to understand, doesn't answer questions (or insults the person asking), reads word-for-word from slides, won't help during office hours (directs you to a TA). He piles on homework, which is honestly the only way you'll learn. His lectures are completely useless, and you may find yourself attending the lectures of other teachers. Avoid.

1.0
5.0
CHEM205
Mar 4, 2016

His lecture notes are vague and his classes are boring. He cannot explain concepts clearly. Avoid if possible.

5.0
5.0
CHEM205
Grade: F
Oct 28, 2016
Would take again

Alexander Wang is a professor. He teaches chem. He is okay. I did not pass. I must stop and wonder why? Does he hate me? No. I just suck at chem.

Tough Grader
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
4.0
4.0
CHEM205
Apr 18, 2017
Would take again

His lecture slides are pretty difficult to understand and class is difficult, but he did good review at the end and what we needed to know was really clear.

Skip class? You won't pass.
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
3.0
CHEM205
Grade: B+
Sep 6, 2017
Wouldn't take again

He spends more time telling students that concepts are "naively simple" than he does explaining, which is also insulting when students need to go home and spend hours pouring over his difficult to read slides (which he just reads verbatim off of) to fully understand. Spends more energy making vague analogies that helping students. Hostile to Qs.

1.0
5.0
CHEM205
Grade: A
Mar 25, 2018
Wouldn't take again

He is more concerned about people at the "nude beach" than physical chem. Doesn't even teach.

Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
3.0
CHEM205
Grade: A+
Apr 5, 2018
Would take again

Dr. Wang has very engaging lecture with his jokes, and clarifies concepts that may seem unclear. He is perfectly sufficient in helping you succeed, not sure why he is getting such low ratings.

Get ready to read
Clear grading criteria
TEST HEAVY
1.0
4.0
CHEM205
Grade: Not sure yet
Feb 28, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Honestly, one of the worst profs I have ever had. The Chem 205 course avg (this class used to be a boost) dropped as soon as this guy took over. Can't explain stuff well and has an attitude when you speak with him 1 on 1 for help. Avoid this guy if you can.

Graded by few things
Lecture heavy
1.0
3.0
CHEM205
Apr 25, 2019
Wouldn't take again

You don't need to show up to class in order to pass the course. Just make sure you stay on top of the lecture material. As for the prof, he's awful. Final exam was a joke.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
1.0
4.0
CHEM205
Grade: A+
May 5, 2019
Wouldn't take again

He was pretty awful. I self taught most of the material because his lectures were useless and confusing for no reason. As for the course itself, its hard one year and then easy the next because it all depends on the exams they make that year (the exams are worth so much - 65% final and 20% midterm). Overall If you take chem 205 avoid Dr. Wang.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
5.0
4.0
CHEM205
Grade: A-
May 8, 2019
Would take again

He's a really good prof who cares about your marks. He provides some post exam question during class and do it with you, which is pretty helpful. Hard working will pay off here.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Lecture heavy
2.0
5.0
CHEM205
Grade: A
May 12, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Prof has a veryyyy heavy accent. He tries his best to add a lot of humour to the lectures to make them more fun. One positive thing is he always stresses on common mistakes and did a lot of exam questions in class. My constant confusion of the answers made me memorize the answers unconsciously and a lot of them showed up on the final so yay

Get ready to read
Hilarious
Lecture heavy
1.0
3.0
CHEM205
Mar 4, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Like mentioned already, hostile when asking him questions 1 on 1, has a bad attitude when explaining things to you, just overall not an approachable professor.

2.0
3.0
CHEM205
Apr 27, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Course should be easy but somehow he messes it up. At first he seems entertaining until the jokes become insensitive (read multiple sexist jokes). Doesn't explain things, saying that we could learn it but that our minds haven't been trained enough, even when it's basic first year content people are asking for a reminder/clarification on.

Test heavy
3.0
2.0
CHEM205
Grade: A
May 5, 2020
Wouldn't take again

He's ok once you get used to the chinese accent. Can come off as a bit hostile when asking questions in office hours, don't take it personally.

4.0
4.0
CHEM312
Grade: C+
Mar 9, 2023
Would take again

His sense of humor isn't for everyone. That being said, it is for me. His class is fair, even though the material is quite hard. If you have the time to study and work through all the material he gives for learning, you could easily excel in this class, as he says in the beginning. He prioritizes actually teaching over reading off slides.

Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
CHEM312
Dec 21, 2023

I found the way he structured the course to be quite unfair. He completely reuses the practice midterm for the actual midterm, which comes at a disadvantage to students who do not have contacts with those who have done the course before. Very condescending and rude when asking questions, doesn't have office hours, and final is literally impossible.

Test heavy
1.0
5.0
CHEM312
Grade: B-
Dec 22, 2024

Kinda just bad. It felt impossible to do well. Final was brutal in comparison to all the other assignments he gave. I kinda wish he'd have prepared us for the difficulty level better.

Tough grader
Test heavy
Graded by few things
2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Grade: A+
Jan 21, 2025

The worst CHEM course I've taken. Alex is very unclear when he teaches and always makes irrelevant comments or jokes that disrupt the flow. He completely reuses midterms. The material felt so dense and convoluted in lecture. I found the content super interesting AFTER self studying the entire course. His slides are decade-old hand-written notes

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
Graded by few things
2.0
5.0
CHEM312
Grade: C
Dec 22, 2025
Would take again

Don't be fooled by the easy difficulty of the homework and midterm, the final is when you should really lock in. I found the tutorial recordings done by a past TA more helpful learning the content than his lectures. The times I did go to class though, he made it clear what he was expecting from the class and you could tell he wanted us to do well.

Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
Class Info

Attendance Mandatory

23%

Textbook Required

54%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 15 grades
Most common grades:
A- (3)
A (3)
A+ (3)
Grade Distribution
A(6)B(2)C(2)D(0)F(1)A-/B+(4)
Based on 16 reported grades
A-: 3
A: 3
A+: 3
B: 1
Common Tags
Lecture heavy (6)
Test heavy (6)
Graded by few things (5)
Skip class? You won't pass. (3)
Hilarious (3)
TEST HEAVY (2)
Get ready to read (2)
Clear grading criteria (2)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.41 avg change
May
Mar
Dec
Dec
Jan
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

312

5.0

(1)

CHEM111

5.0

(1)

CHEM401

4.2

(5)

CHEM205

3.0

(25)

CHEM123

3.0

(24)
+3 more courses
Difficulty by Course

CHEM312

4.3

CHEM205

3.1

CHEM154

3.0

CHEM153

3.0

CHEM123

2.9

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