The old test was composed of two sections: a multiple-choice section consisting of 75 questions with five answer choices each, and a free-response section consisting of six essay prompts that required the authoring of chemical equations, solution of problems, and development of thoughtful essays in response to hypothetical scenarios.
* Section I, the multiple-choice portion, did allow the use of a calculator in 2023 exams, with additional reference material, other than a periodic table. Each question contained five answer choices or four. 90 minutes were allotted for the completion of Section I. Section I covered the breadth of the curriculum.
* Section II, the free response section, was divided into two sections: Part A, requiring the completion of three problems, and Part B, also containing three problems.  Part A, lasting 55 minutes, allowed the use of calculators, Part B, lasting 40 minutes, also allowed for calculators. The first problem in Part A concerned equilibrium related to solubility, acids and bases, or pressure/concentration.  The first question of Part B was a chemical equation question in which 3 scenarios were presented and the student was required to work all 3 scenarios, authoring a balanced net ionic chemical equation for each scenario and answering questions about the equations and scenarios. If time permitted, students may have edited their responses from Part A during the time allotted for responding to Part B, though without the use of a calculator. The student needed to have completed all six questions.
While the use of calculators was prohibited during Section I and Section II Part B, a periodic table, a list of selected standard reduction potentials, and two pages of equations and conventions are available for use during the entirety of Section II.