Bertram’s exams are characterized as fair and relatively easy, whereas Trate’s tests are reported as difficult and requiring significant study. Reviewers note that Trate’s regular assignments, such as homework and discussions, can make the material easier to grasp.
“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Raw average: 4.38/5 from 21 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.
For this course: 4.3/5 raw quality · 3.4/5 difficulty · 20
reviews
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Timothy Bertram is praised for explaining concepts clearly and using demonstrations and Top Hat quizzes to engage students. Reviewers describe him as approachable and helpful, noting that his lectures are generally easy to follow and beneficial for learning.
Some students find his lectures confusing or dull, reporting that they had to rely on self-teaching or TA notes. These reviewers felt the lecture content was less useful than outside study materials, despite acknowledging the interesting demonstrations.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2022: 2.86 GPA, 36.8% A/AB (n=223 letter grades); Fall 2023: 2.91 GPA, 35.7% A/AB (n=241 letter grades); Fall 2024: 2.99 GPA, 40.1% A/AB (n=339 letter grades).
Raw average: 3.06/5 from 47 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.
For this course: 3.6/5 raw quality · 3.2/5 difficulty · 17
reviews
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Jaclyn Trate is knowledgeable and accessible, with students praising her helpfulness in office hours and willingness to assist. However, reviews disagree on her lecturing style, with some finding her explanations unclear or rushed, while others find her problem-solving approach clear and engaging.
Trate is described as kind, accommodating, and focused on student success, often going out of her way to ensure understanding. She is generally well-liked as a person and instructor, though some find her lectures unengaging or fast-paced.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2021: 3.01 GPA, 46.2% A/AB (n=197 letter grades); Fall 2025: 2.98 GPA, 41.8% A/AB (n=337 letter grades).
Jaclyn Trate has no direct reviews in this set. Historical reviews for Judith Burstyn praise her helpfulness, while Linda Zelewski is criticized as a poor lecturer. Current instructor Timothy Bertram also lacks direct reviews.
JACLYN TRATE is recorded teaching in Fall 2021, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
JANICE MARY HALL TOMASIK is recorded teaching in Spring 2008. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
JEREMIAH DUNCAN is recorded teaching in Spring 2008, Spring 2009. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
JUDITH BURSTYN is recorded teaching in Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2023, Spring 2024. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
KATERINA HILLEKE is recorded teaching in Spring 2019. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
KYOUNG-SHIN CHOI is recorded teaching in Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
LINDA ZELEWSKI is recorded teaching in Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2015, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
TIMOTHY BERTRAM is recorded teaching in Spring 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2018, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future
schedule.
Calendar & sections
Fall 2026
Schedule loads here as you scroll.
Section
Mode
Enrolled / capacity
Waitlist
LEC 001
Classroom Instruction
359 / 365
14
DIS 401
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
DIS 402
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
DIS 403
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
1
DIS 404
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
2
DIS 405
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
2
DIS 406
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
1
DIS 407
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
DIS 408
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
DIS 409
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
3
LAB 701
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
LAB 702
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 703
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
1
LAB 704
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
2
LAB 705
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
2
LAB 706
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
1
LAB 707
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
LAB 708
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 709
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
3
DIS 410
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
2
LAB 710
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
2
LEC 002
Classroom Instruction
359 / 365
9
DIS 421
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
DIS 422
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
2
DIS 423
Classroom Instruction
23 / 22
0
DIS 424
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
1
LAB 721
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
LAB 722
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
2
LAB 723
Classroom Instruction
23 / 22
0
LAB 724
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
1
DIS 425
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
DIS 426
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
DIS 427
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
2
DIS 428
Classroom Instruction
22 / 23
2
DIS 429
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
DIS 430
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 725
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 726
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
LAB 727
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
2
LAB 728
Classroom Instruction
22 / 23
2
LAB 729
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 730
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
DIS 411
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
1
LAB 711
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
1
DIS 412
Classroom Instruction
23 / 22
0
LAB 712
Classroom Instruction
23 / 22
0
DIS 431
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 731
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
DIS 432
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
2
LAB 732
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
2
DIS 433
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 733
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
DIS 434
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 734
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 735
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
DIS 435
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
DIS 413
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
DIS 414
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
1
LAB 713
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 714
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
1
DIS 415
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
0
LAB 715
Classroom Instruction
22 / 23
0
DIS 416
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
1
LAB 716
Classroom Instruction
22 / 22
1
DIS 436
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
LAB 736
Classroom Instruction
23 / 23
0
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.
Timothy Bertram is described by some reviewers as an engaging lecturer who uses demonstrations and Top Hat quizzes to make chemistry interesting. These students find his explanations clear and his lectures helpful for understanding the material.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 2.94 GPA, 38.7% A/AB (n=1414 letter grades); Fall 2025: 2.88 GPA, 35.5% A/AB (n=664 letter grades); Spring 2026: 2.97 GPA, 39.5% A/AB (n=1500 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
Bertram’s exams are characterized as fair and relatively easy, whereas Trate’s tests are reported as difficult and requiring significant study. Reviewers note that Trate’s regular assignments, such as homework and discussions, can make the material easier to grasp.
Jaclyn Trate is accessible and kind, but her lecture style is polarizing; some find her problem-solving approach helpful while others find her lectures unengaging or rushed. Students emphasize the importance of using the textbook and office hours.
Topics
Chemical equilibrium.
Coordination chemistry.
Oxidation-reduction and electrochemistry.
Kinetics.
Nuclear chemistry.
Introduction to organic chemistry.
Skills
Chemistry laboratory skills.
Grades
Historical instructor
Fall 2026 · Projected
Before grades are released
2.832.83–3.043.04average GPA
Approximate 80% prediction interval
0.04.0
About this estimate
The course’s semester-average GPA, not an individual student’s grade. The center uses 5 same-season terms, weighted toward recent results.
The range uses the finite-sample 80th-percentile rank of absolute errors from earlier same-season forecasts. Each forecast uses only records from earlier terms. At least four forecasts are required; bounds are rounded outward and limited to 0–4. This is an empirical estimate: changing instructors or grading policies can reduce its coverage.
8 earlier forecasts · 0.05 GPA average error.
Grades over time
Through Fall 2026
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Where this course fits relative to
Latest available grades · Spring 2026 · all course levels
2.972.97GPA
Higher than 44% of other courses
in this group.
Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range
1,5001,500letter grades
More recorded grades than 100100% of other courses in this group.
Typical course in this group: 66.066.0 letter grades.
About this comparison
1283 courses over the same term, each with at least 30
recorded letter grades. Cross-listed courses count once. GPA is not a measure
of difficulty or teaching quality. The typical course is the median by recorded
grade count; tied values are not counted as lower. Grade counts describe course scale, not unique students or typical section size.
Descriptions compare GPA with this group’s average: at least 0.20 higher or lower; otherwise close to average. Section size uses median recorded enrollment: small up to 30, mid-sized 31–99, large 100+. Lectures and discussion/lab sections are described separately.
Sources & history
UW–Madison
Catalog & offerings
Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.
Catalog observation history
Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.