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The AP Biology Exam is 3 hours long and is divided into two sections: Section I (multiple-choice questions) and Section II (free-response questions).

The AP biology exam assesses content from each of four big ideas for the course:

1. Evolution
2. Energetics
3. Information Storage and Transmission
4. Systems Interactions

The details of the AP biology exam, including exam weighting and timing, can be found below:

Section

Question Type

Number of Questions

Exam Weighting

Timing

II

Free-response questions

Question 1: Interpreting and Evaluating
Experimental Results (8-10 pts)
Question 2: Interpreting and Evaluating
Experimental Results with Graphing (8-10 pts)
Question 3: Scientific Investigation (4 pts)
Question 4: Conceptual Analysis (4 pts)
Question 5: Analyze Model or Visual
Representation (4 pts)
Question 6: Analyze Data (4 pts)

6

50%

90 minutes

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The AP Biology Exam is 3 hours long and is divided into two sections: Section I (multiple-choice questions) and Section II (free-response questions). The AP biology exam assesses content from each of four big ideas for the course: 1. Evolution 2. Energetics 3. Information Storage and Transmission 4.

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In the multiple choice section of the AP Biology test, you will have 90 minutes to answer 60 multiple choice questions and 6 grid-in items. The multiple choice questions are composed of two types of questions, stand alone and data questions. Below we provide practice questions for each type and strategies to find the correct answer in the alloted time.

Stand alone questions on the AP Biology test are your average multiple choice question and make up a little over half of the questions in the section.

[ RELATED: AP Biology Stand Alone Question Stratgies ]

Data questions on the AP Biology test are a series of questions about a single data set, which are commonly represented in graphs, charts, or as an experiment summary.

[ RELATED: AP Biology Data Question Strategies ]

During photosynthesis

A. light reactions produce sugar, while the Calvin cycle produces O 2 .

B. light reactions produce NADPH and ATP, while the Calvin cycle produces sugar.

C. light reactions photophosphorylate ADP, while the Calvin cycle produces ATP.

Answer

Light reactions, which convert solar energy into chemical energy (ATP, NADPH) in the thylakoid membranes, fuel the Calvin cycle's production of sugars in the stroma.

Organisms that reproduce sexually exhibit zygotic, gametic, or sporic meiosis. One way to determine the type of life cycle an organism has is by

A. observing embryonic development.

B. comparing the diploid and haploid forms of the organism.

C. determining when in the life cycle fertilization occurs.

D. determining if gametes are multicellular or unicellular.

Answer

Life cycles are characterized by the timing of meiosis and the characteristics of the diploid and haploid generations.

Embryonic development, (A), does not reveal either of these characteristics, nor does fertilization, (C). All gametes are unicellular, ruling out (D).

The cecum is a portion of the large intestine located near the junction of the small intestine and the large intestine. The following table lists the diets of several vertebrates, as well as the average length of the cecum as measured in 20 individuals of that species.

Based on the following information, which of the following conclusions is most plausible?

A. The cecum can become a vestigial structure in carnivores, since it is shorter in species B and C than in species A and D.
B. The cecum evolved to have an important role in the digestion of protein, since it is shorter in species B and C than in species A and D.
C. Species A is more closely related to species D than to species B, because A and D are both herbivores.
D. Species B and C have a common ancestor, since the cecum in species B and C is approximately the same length.

Answer

The data here suggest that the cecum is four to five times longer in species that consume plant matter for their diets (A and D) compared to those that consume at least some meat (B and C).

Of the statements listed, the only one that logically follows is (A): in carnivores, the cecum becomes unnecessary, and starts to shorten. (B) is the opposite of what we expect; it would be logical if it played a prominent role in digesting carbohydrates. (C) The data on cecum length and diet are insufficient to draw conclusions about the relatedness of species, so rule out (C) and (D).

The following diagram shows energy transformations within a cell. Each form of energy is represented by the symbols E I-E IV. Two cellular organelles are represented by the letters A and B. Answer the following questions about the various processes depicted in the diagram and about the cell in which they are occurring.

What form of energy is represented by E II?

A. Radiant energy in the form of photons
B. Chemical energy being stored in the bonds of glucose
C. Chemical energy in the form of ATP
D. Chemical energy released by glycolysis

Question 1 Answer

The correct choice is C
The reaction occurring in organelle A is photosynthesis, as indicated by the splitting of water and fixation of CO 2 . The first reaction in this organelle represents the light reactions, in which the sun's energy is converted to chemical energy in the form of ATP (E II).

If the transformation depicted in organelle B requires oxygen, what form of energy is represented by E IV?

A. Radiant energy in the form of photons
B. Chemical energy being stored as glycogen
C. Chemical energy in the form of ATP
D. Chemical energy released by glycolysis

Question 2 Answer

The reaction occurring in organelle B is cellular respiration, as indicated by the release of energy stored in the bonds of glucose. Because the question specifies that oxygen is required, the process depicted must show aerobic respiration rather than glycolysis. The form of energy released in aerobic respiration is chemical energy in the form of ATP (E IV).

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AP Biology Multiple Choice Practice Questions

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Find multiple choice practice questions and the strategies needed to answer data and stand-alone questions on the AP Biology exam from Kaplan.

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"lasseter's lab" "sarah lasseter" "lasseter science videos" "science videos" biology edtech "ap bio help" "ap help" "biology help" technology education "high...

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Life Science + Life Lessons: Welcome to Lasseter's Lab! Join me, Ms. Lasseter, for videos on tech tools, education, and other STEM topics. What do you need to learn today? Check out all my resources for help with Biology, AP Biology, Living Environment, Biotech, Anatomy & Physiology, & EdTech Tools!

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Find out EXACTLY what's on the AP Biology exam 2021: PRO Tips for studying the new AP Bio content

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How to make an AP Study Plan - AP Bio Study Schedule for 2 months, 1 month, or 1 week before exam!

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AP Biology FRQ Tips [UPDATED 2021]: How to master the AP Bio Exam Free Response Section

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click below

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A guide on the types of questions on the exam and ways to study for the exam

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Reviewing for the AP Biology exam can seem daunting. There's so much material to cover, and much of it is highly complex. However, if you plan your time well and use appropriate study materials and strategies, you can expect a great score on the exam.

In this article, I'll give you an overview of what the AP Biology exam is like, what you need to know to ace it, and how you can use your study time effectively before the exam on Monday, May 18, 2020, at 2 pm ET!

2020 AP Test Changes Due to COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, AP tests will now be held remotely, and information about how that will work is still evolving. Stay up to date with the latest information on test dates, AP online review, and what this means for you with our AP COVID-19 FAQ article.

What's the Format of the AP Biology Exam?

The AP Biology exam is a long test- three hours long to be exact. Starting in 2020, the Bio test will be undergoing some key structural changes in terms of questions and format, so it's important that you know what to expect and exactly how the test is structured.

Like other AP tests, AP Biology has two parts: a multiple-choice section and a free-response section, each of which is worth 50% of your overall score. These sections are then divided further into different types of questions.

The multiple-choice section is the first section. It consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and is one hour and 30 minutes long. Each question contains four answer choices. (From 2013 to 2019, this section of the AP Bio test had 63 multiple-choice questions and six grid-in questions.)

Although you have a minute for each question, I would recommend keeping your pace at under a minute per question on your first pass through the section. This way you'll have some extra time at the end to go back and answer any tricky questions you skipped or guessed on.

There's no guessing penalty on the test, so you should answer every question, even if you have no idea which choice is correct (after you've tried to figure it out of course!).

The free-response section, which also lasts an hour and 30 minutes, is made up of six questions: four short-answer questions and two long questions. The short-answer questions are worth 4 points each, whereas the long questions are worth 8-10 points each. (From 2013 to 2019, this Bio section had two long questions and six short-answer questions.)

You'll need to pace yourself wisely on this section. Divided up evenly, this would mean you'd get 15 minutes per question. However, try to spend no more than 10 minutes on each short answer. I recommend doing the short answers first to get yourself warmed up.

Then, if you manage your time well, you should have at least 20-25 minutes for each long free-response questions.

Here's a chart showing the format of the 2020 AP Biology exam:

Multiple-Choice Section Free-Response Section

And just to make things clear, here's what the test used to look like from 2013 to 2019:

Multiple-Choice Section Free-Response Section
The AP Biology exam is a marathon, not a sprint. If it helps, during the test you can think about how lucky you are to be taking a test and not running an actual marathon.
What Do Questions Look Like on the AP Biology Exam?

You now know the general format of the AP Biology test, but what do questions actually look like on it? And what kinds of topics do they test? Let's take a look.

Multiple-Choice Questions

As a reminder, there are 60 multiple-choice questions on the AP Bio exam. These can be discrete (meaning they are stand-alone questions) or they can come in sets with other questions.

Here's an example of a multiple-choice question you might see on the exam:

You don't necessarily need lots of in-depth biology knowledge to answer this. The answer is A because the total volume of gas wouldn't change (and oxygen consumption would be immeasurable) unless the carbon dioxide produced by the organisms were removed from the environment.

You can see this from the information contained in the question. This question is part of a group of three questions that pertain to the experiment and data chart. You'll see many question clusters like this in the multiple-choice section.

Grid-In Questions

From 2013 to 2019, the multiple-choice section of the AP Biology exam included six math-based grid-in questions. Starting in 2020, however, the exam will no longer have any grid-ins. Yay!

Short-Answer Questions

On the second section of the AP Biology exam, you'll get four short-answer questions (in addition to two long questions). These questions focus on the following topics:

Scientific Investigation

Conceptual Analysis

Analysis of Model or Visual Representation

Analysis of Data

Here's an example of a short free-response question from the 2013 exam:

This question requires an understanding of how evolution shapes the formation of new species (one of the "Big Ideas" of AP biology, which I'll talk about in the next section).

To get the correct answer, you'll need to know the facts about evolution-but you'll also need to be able to apply that knowledge to make inferences about this specific scenario.

This is why a deeper understanding of the main topics in AP Biology is so critical: the difference between knowing the facts about something and comprehending how it works can be surprisingly large.

Long Questions
Here's an example of a long question:
In addition to the four short-answer questions you'll get on the second part of the AP Bio exam, you'll get two long questions. Both of these focus on "interpreting and evaluating experimental results," with one requiring graphing (per the College Board description).
Once again, an understanding of evolution and the ability to apply that knowledge to a specific scenario is critical.
This question is heavy on analysis and isn't just testing your straight-up biology knowledge. Here, you need to be able to read and understand the graphs and table so you can use them to inform your answer to the question.

What Topics Does the AP Biology Exam Cover? 4 Big Ideas

According to the College Board's Course Description, AP Bio has shifted its focus from the content-heavy, memorization-based curriculum that defined the course and exam in the past to become a more concept-driven test.

The goal is for students to gain a deeper conceptual understanding of topics in biology. Reasoning skills and knowledge of the process of scientific inquiry are more important on the current version of the AP Biology test than they have ever been before.

The College Board has tried to structure the exam so that content knowledge and reasoning skills are intertwined. This can be both good and bad. The good is that you won't necessarily have to memorize as many little tidbits of information; the bad is that it can be harder to study for a test like this that covers more abstract forms of knowledge. (More on how to manage this in the "How to Review" section!)

The AP Bio exam and curriculum as a whole will be centered around your understanding of what the College Board refers to as its four "Big Ideas," each of which covers several different topics.

Your success on the AP Bio exam ultimately rests on your being able to connect specific concepts with the overarching Big Ideas that define the course.

So what are these Big Ideas exactly?

Big Idea 1: Evolution
Topics Covered:
Main Point: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life
Charles Darwin married his first cousin. You'd think he would know better.

Natural selection

Hardy-Weinberg

Biodiversity and categorization of organisms

Topics Covered:
Big Idea 2: Energetics
Photosynthesis is way more elegant than eating. Then again, flowers will never taste ice cream, so I kinda feel sorry for them.
Main Point: Biological systems use energy and molecular building blocks to grow, reproduce, and maintain dynamic homeostasis
Topics Covered:

Molecular biology

Biological systems and reactions

Photosynthesis

Cellular respiration

Cell structure

Cell membrane properties (diffusion and osmosis, proteins)

Thermodynamics/homeostasis

Immune response

Deoxyribonucleic acid: It's DNAmazing!™
Big Idea 3: Information Storage and Transmission
Topics Covered:
Main Point: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes
Fun digestive system fact: if you eat a watermelon seed, a watermelon will grow inside your stomach. The ideal climate for watermelon growth is 96 degrees and highly acidic.

Genes and gene mutations

DNA/RNA

Cell cycle (mitosis, meiosis) and cell communication

Mendel and laws of inheritance

Viruses

Endocrine system

Nervous system

Big Idea 4: Systems Interactions

Main Point: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions exhibit complex properties

Enzymes

Plant structure and systems

Circulatory system

Digestive system

Musculoskeletal system

Ecological principles

Microscopes show us that the world around us is far creepier and grosser than we ever imagined.
The Importance of Labs

Apart from background knowledge of all this content, it's important to understand your labs and the basic underlying principles that govern scientific experiments. If you know the ins and outs of experimental design, you'll earn a lot of points on the AP Bio exam.

Important lab topics include the following:

Artificial Selection

Modeling Evolution

Comparing DNA Sequences

Diffusion and Osmosis

Photosynthesis

Cellular Respiration

Mitosis and Meiosis

Bacterial Transformation

Restriction Enzyme Analysis of DNA

Energy Dynamics

Transpiration

Animal Behavior

Enzyme Catalysis

AP Biology Review Preview: 4 Key Tips to Keep in Mind

In this section, I'll give you some preliminary study tips that will help you get the most out of your AP Biology review time.

Tip 1: Plan Out Your Time

First of all, you should think about how much time you have left before the AP test. This will affect the structure of your study plan. If you're taking other AP classes or have a lot of personal commitments in general, you might want to start earlier depending on your confidence with the material.

Consider your schedule and the time you're willing to spend on AP Biology. Since there's so much content in this course, I think 20 hours of studying is a reasonable goal. However, if you find that you're already scoring at a high level (a high 4 or anywhere in the 5 range), you might aim for just 10 hours or so.

You should balance your time relatively evenly between studying the material and taking practice tests. In AP Bio, you might benefit from devoting a bit more time to practice testing.

Since the test is now more targeted toward assessing analytical skills, practicing real test questions might help you more than just memorizing content (although both are still important!). I'll give you more information about how to use practice tests and review materials effectively in a moment.

Tip 2: Use Appropriate Review Materials

The importance of using the right review materials can't be overstated, especially in the case of AP Biology. With the recent changes to the test, it's critical that you don't use old study materials and assume that they'll give you all the tools you need to succeed on the new format.

Unfortunately, because the newest version of the AP Biology exam has yet to be administered (it's scheduled to be taken by students for the first time in May 2020), there aren't that many review books available for it.

Still, because not much is actually changing terms of content between the 2013-2019 version of the test and the 2020 version, it's OK to use books that target the 2013-2019 AP Biology exam. Just remember that you don't need to do any grid-in questions and can skip over three multiple-choice questions. In addition, you should do only four of the six short-answer questions.

Some review books students have found the most useful include CliffsNotes' AP Biology, 5th Edition for content review and Sterling's AP Biology Practice Questions for practice questions that give you a good sense of what the test is like.

Pearson's Preparing for the Biology AP Exam also has a solid number of positive reviews and might be a decent source of practice free-response questions.

Avoid using practice questions that come from exams before the 2013 test, when some of the more drastic changes were implemented. You might still be able to use older questions to refresh your memory on certain topics, but they won't really prepare you for the more analytical framework of questions on the current AP Biology test.

Furthermore, the College Board now offers a great online resource called AP Classroom, through which students can interact with teachers, complete homework and get feedback on assignments, and receive access to review materials for the AP Bio test, including real practice questions.

Tip 3: Memorization Isn't Enough

Even though AP Biology still involves a fair amount of memorization, you can't focus exclusively on content knowledge and just assume you'll do great on the test.
Remember the lab where you melted down entire trees into a mysterious green serum? No? Well then, you better get studying!
AP Bio questions will test your critical-thinking skills and logical reasoning abilities, along with your general knowledge of biology. That's why it's so important that you spend a significant amount of time doing practice questions in addition to content review. Don't let the test surprise you!

Tip 4: Don't Forget About Labs

Revisiting old labs is not super fun (well, it wasn't for me), so you might be tempted to ignore them and just focus on studying content outside the lab context.

Try to avoid this temptation! Go through your labs, and make sure that you understand their methodologies and the reasoning behind the results. Understanding the scientific method and the components of a good experiment is key to acing the AP Bio exam.

The more lab review you do, the more comfortable you'll feel during the test.

How to Review for the AP Biology Exam: 5-Step Guide

As you study for the exam, follow the five steps below to ensure your AP Bio review is as thorough and effective as possible.

Step 1: Take a Diagnostic Test

The first step of your AP Biology review is to take a practice exam so you can see how much you'll need to study and which areas need the most work.

You should take your first complete practice test no later than the beginning of your second semester. You can use a practice exam from a review book or search online for a practice test. The review books I mentioned in the previous section have some useful materials.

When you take a practice test, make sure it's the newest 2020 version of the exam (or, if you can't find this, at least a version from 2013-2019). If you see practice tests that have 100 multiple-choice questions in the first section, you're looking at a very old version of the AP Bio exam! You won't be able to rely on your scores on this version to get a clear picture of where you fall on the new test.

Step 2: Calculate Your Score and Set a Goal

Once you've taken a diagnostic test, you can calculate your score on the 1-5 AP scale. According to the CliffsNotes review book mentioned above, you can estimate your score using the following method:

Multiply the number of questions you answered correctly in Section 1 by 0.725

Multiply the number of points you earned in Section 2 by 1.25

Add those two numbers together to get your raw score

Then, convert the raw score to an AP score using the following chart:

Raw Composite Score

AP Score

60-100

5

50-59

4

41-49

3

33-40

2

0-32

1

Confidence is key. If you need to wear a business suit to the test to make yourself feel in control, go for it (I am not responsible for the relentless mocking you will endure from your peers).
For example, if you got 42 questions correct on the multiple-choice section and earned 25 points on the free-response section, your raw score would be (42 * .725) + (25 * 1.25) = 61.7 = just barely made it into the 5 category!

This is without taking the curve into account, which is different every year, but it should give you a rough idea of where you stand. Unless you're scoring a really high 5 (90+), you should still put in a bit of study time to make sure you're fully prepared.

If you score low (1 or 2), you might make it your goal to raise your score to 3. Just keep in mind that some schools don't accept 3s for college credit, so you might want to aim higher after you make it to this first milestone.

Most colleges consider 4 to be the standard cutoff for AP credit, so you should try for at least a 4 if you're hoping to get a head start in college. Once you're consistently scoring in the 3 range on this exam, you can set 4 or 5 as your goal.

Even if you're already at the 4 or 5 level on AP Biology, you probably still have some room to improve. It's nice to get in some extra practice so that you feel very comfortable on the real test.

Depending on how much you need to improve and on how long you want to spread out your prep, you might come up with different plans. To improve by 1 AP score point, you can get away with studying only two months or so in advance. On the other hand, if you're hoping to improve by 2 or more points, try to start midway through the school year to avoid cramming.

Step 3: Analyze Your Mistakes

This is the most critical part of the review process, and it's particularly important for AP Biology. There's a lot of material to learn, and you don't want to waste any time going over concepts you already have down.

Comb through your mistakes on the diagnostic test to see where the most errors happened and why. Did your mistakes center more around lack of knowledge of background information or difficulty analyzing the scenarios presented on the test (in other words, you knew the information but couldn't answer the question because it confused you)?

You'll most likely have a little of each type of mistake, but if one is more prevalent than the other, take that into account for your studying strategy. For example, it wouldn't be a good idea to keep drilling basic content knowledge if most of your mistakes were due to your misinterpreting complex questions or reading diagrams incorrectly. You'd want to devote less of your time to reviewing biological terms and more to doing realistic practice questions.

Even in those cases, you'll probably still have at least a few issues with content knowledge. As you go through your mistakes, keep a running list of the ideas you need to revisit in your notes or review book. If you're caught off guard by your unfamiliarity with a certain topic, you should pay special attention to that topic in your prep.

You might also notice mistakes due to carelessness or time pressure that aren't directly related to your knowledge of the material or understanding of the question. In this case, you'll need to think about revising your basic test-taking strategies. I'll go into more detail on this next.

Do some practice test detective work! I think this is a detective. Either that or a random guy smoking a pipe and trying to figure out how bad the pimple on his nose looks.
Practice makes perfect. Maybe you can compose an AP Biology song to help you remember stuff. "Now enzymes ... BREAK IT DOWN!"
Step 4: Fix Your Mistakes

There are a few things you can do to revise your strategies for taking the exam and effectively review concepts you didn't understand.

The obvious first step is to go back into your textbook, your notes, or a reliable AP Bio review book (or even all three!) and brush up on the information you forgot. Sometimes for biology, this can be a little overwhelming due to the complexity of the material.
Continue the process until you achieve your score goals or run out of study time!
If you're trying to understand systems or processes, I recommend testing yourself by drawing diagrams of how they work. This will allow you to make connections between dry facts presented in the text and the biological reality of what's happening in the system. It will help you not only in your content knowledge but also in your ability to analyze related scenarios on the test. You can use this strategy for many concepts in AP Biology, and it will make them much simpler to understand.

To correct your other mistakes that have more to do with question comprehension, you'll need to focus on doing similar practice questions. I suggest getting Sterling's AP Biology Practice Questions for some questions that are organized logically by topic area and well aligned with the new exam format.

More practice is also a good remedy for careless errors and time-management problems. You can learn how to better identify the key parts of each question and avoid distractions that might throw you off.

Underlining the most important parts of the question can be a good strategy if you're prone to careless errors. If time management is a problem, put some thought into why you might've run out of time. Did you linger for too long on difficult questions? Remember that it's a smart idea to skip questions that are giving you a lot of trouble (meaning, they're not answerable within a minute) and come back to them later once you've gotten through the whole section.

Step 5: Take Another Test and Repeat Previous Steps

Now that you've analyzed and fixed your mistakes on the diagnostic test and done more targeted studying, it's time to take another practice test.

Score this new test and then repeat steps 3 and 4. You should notice improvements as you continue to repeat this process and gain familiarity with the format and content of the AP Biology exam.

If you don't notice positive changes from one test to the next, it might be time to reevaluate your review techniques. Depending on how early you start studying for the AP Bio test and how much you want to improve, you might go through these steps once, twice, or seven times.

Conclusion: AP Biology Review Guide

The AP Biology test is a long exam, and it covers a wide range of material.

Recently, the test was updated to focus less on information recall and more on analytical thinking, which can be good and bad. On the one hand, you won't have to rely on memorization as much. On the other, your AP score will be highly dependent on your ability to think through complicated scenarios presented on the test.

In addition, the test will be undergoing some structural changes starting in 2020. These key changes include going from 69 questions on the multiple-choice section to just 60 questions and reducing the number of short-answer questions from six to four. There will also no longer be any grid-in questions.

In your own AP Biology review, you should go over all the information you learned in the course. However, you should also devote a significant amount of your time to practice testing so that you can learn to think in the way the test wants you to think.

If you plan your study time wisely and learn how to solve the types of questions that are most difficult for you, you'll be on your way to a great AP Bio score!

What's Next?

Ready to jump into reviewing biology concepts? We have guides to help you review cell theory, enzymes, and homologous and analogous structures, as well as quick looks at parts of the cell ( cell membrane and endoplasmic reticulum) and the photosynthesis equation.

Wondering exactly how much time you have before your AP tests? Here are the AP test dates and times for 2020.

If you're in AP Biology, you should consider taking the Biology SAT Subject Test as well. Find out the difference between AP tests and SAT Subject Tests and learn which are more important for college.

Considering an AP Calculus course? Read this article for some guidance on deciding whether you should take AP Calculus AB or BC.

One of the single most important parts of your college application is what classes you choose to take in high school (in conjunction with how well you do in those classes). Our team of PrepScholar admissions experts have compiled their knowledge into this single guide to planning out your high school course schedule. We'll advise you on how to balance your schedule between regular and honors/AP/IB courses, how to choose your extracurriculars, and what classes you can't afford not to take.

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The Complete AP Biology Review Guide for 2020

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Reviewing for the AP Biology exam can seem daunting. There's so much material to cover, and much of it is highly complex. However, if you plan your time well and use appropriate study materials and strategies, you can expect a great score on the exam.

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This includes tips for the test, and tips for studying for the test (it is slightly outdated, but much of the info should still be useful)

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Are you shooting for a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Biology exam? If you're taking the class, you're probably nodding your head right now or shouting "yes!" After all, who doesn't want free college credit, the experience and challenge of taking a college-level biology course, and a great looking high school transcript? The first thing you need to know, however, is that the AP Bio exam will be a challenge for you, no matter what kind of experience you have.

It's helpful to look at past AP score distributions to show you the level of difficulty of the exam. On the 2014 AP Biology exam, only 6.5% of all test takers earned the coveted score of 5. (Fun fact: 3 students out of 214,000 got a perfect score!). That may sound intimidating, but it's not all bad since 22.2% earned a 4 and 35.1% earned a 3, meaning 63.8% of all test takers passed the 2014 exam. Only 36.2% did not receive a passing score, with 27.4% earning a 2, and 8.8% earning a score of 1. This means that more than half of students passed the exam, which should boost your confidence and show you that it's definitely doable. However, the test is by no means easy. In fact, it's one of the hardest AP exams out there. Sure, you need to memorize facts and concepts, but you also have to be able to think scientifically and analytically, which is much easier said than done.

Luckily, this list of AP Bio tips is here to give you the best chance of getting that 5. Whether you're taking this class in school or self-studying with an AP Biology review book, these tips will tell you everything you need to know, from how to study, what to study, what the exam consists of, and everything in between. Let's get started!

How to Study for AP Biology Tips

1. Familiarize yourself with the format of the exam. The first step in getting ready to study for the AP Biology exam is knowing what the exam will look like. The exam is 3 hours long and consists of two sections. The first 90-minute section has two parts: a multiple-choice part with 63 questions and a grid-in part with 6 questions. Section I makes up 50% of your overall exam score. Section II, also making up 50% of your exam score, consists of 8 free-response questions. You'll have 90 minutes to answer two long free-response questions, one of which will be lab or data-based, and six short free-response questions, which each require a paragraph-length argument or response.

2. Get your vocabulary down first! Vocabulary is extremely important in AP Bio, but understanding concepts and making connections is even more important. Why, then, do you have to focus on vocab first? It just makes sense. When you think about it, concepts are useless if you don't understand key terms. "This thing does this to that and this process works by doing that." It just doesn't work. Make and use flashcards regularly, learn the Greek and Latin prefixes, suffixes, and roots, and take great notes. When you know vocabulary terms inside and out, it is much easier to think analytically, apply terms to different situations, and make important connections.

3. Know what is NOT included on the exam. There are a number of concepts, facts, terms, and ideas that are beyond the scope of the AP Biology exam. You do NOT have to know:

Names, molecular structures, and specific effects of plant hormones

Details of fossil dating methods

Names and dates of extinction events

Steps in the Calvin cycle, the structure of the molecules and the names of enzymes (EXCEPT for ATP synthase)

Steps in glycolysis and the Krebs cycle

Names of the specific electron carriers in the ETC

Names of specific stages of embryonic development

Which codons correspond to which amino acids

Names and phases of mitosis

Epistasis and pleiotropy

Details of sexual reproduction cycles in plants and animals

Specific mechanisms of diseases and action of drugs

Details of communications and community behavioral systems

Types of nervous systems, development of the human nervous system, details of the various structures and features of the brain parts, and details of specific neurologic processes

Molecular structure of specific nucleotides, chlorophyll, amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrate polymers

Functions of smooth ER in specialized cells

Specific examples of how lysosomes carry out intracellular digestion

Specific symbiotic interactions

Source: CollegeBoard AP Biology Exam and Course Description
4. Make flashcards with diagrams. Diagrams are important in AP Bio. You'll have to interpret many of them on the exam. That's why it's really beneficial to draw your own diagrams on your flashcards. Use different colors, label the important parts, and list the steps. Whether it's the photosynthesis or the nitrogen cycle, find a way to make it stick in your brain.

5. Don't lose track of the big picture. As you're studying for the exam, you'll probably find yourself getting hung up on little details. AP Bio has a way of throwing a lot of facts, specific names, dates, and functions at you. It would be impossible to memorize everything! That's why it's essential to remember why you're reading a certain chapter, what that chapter contributes to the bigger picture, and how all these concepts you're reading about connect together. Don't overwhelm yourself with trying to know absolutely everything about everything.

6. Keep on top of the readings. Did you know that AP Bio is one of the most reading-intensive AP classes that the CollegeBoard offers? Your teacher will probably require you to read one or two chapters per night, which means you'll probably have to tackle 30 to 60 pages of AP Bio material each evening. That's why you absolutely must keep on top of it since even if you miss one night of reading, you'll fall behind very quickly. Don't just passively read the information, either. You have to actively read and make sure you're actually absorbing the material as you go. Try reading the chapter summary first, highlight important info, take meaningful notes, and explain a concept to yourself out loud if you seem to be struggling with it.

7. Know the 4 Big Ideas. The CollegeBoard divides the AP Biology curriculum into 4 Big Ideas. This means that all the key concepts and content you need to know for the exam are organized around four main principles:

Big Idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.

Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.

Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes.

Big Idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.

To find out more about the 4 Big Ideas and the information you need to know for each, check out the AP Biology Curriculum Framework.

8. Invest in a review book. AP Biology textbooks are heavy, thick, and full of details that are sometimes beyond the scope of the exam. How do you know, then, which information you actually need to know? Buy a review book! Many of them come with practice exams, chapter reviews, and helpful hints. It's important to only buy a review book that has been published in 2013 or later, since the exam was completely redesigned in 2013.

9. Watch the Crash Course Biology series on YouTube. Sometimes, reading textbooks and review books can get tiring. When you find yourself bored and unmotivated, try watching biology videos. The Biology Crash Course on YouTube has 40 videos dedicated to teaching you all the most important biology concepts. Injected with humor, fast-paced, and entertaining, these videos make it feel like you're not actually studying at all. Still, make sure to actively watch, take notes, pause if you don't understand something, or make a flashcard for a new term you hear about.

10. Participate in the "Dirty Dozen" labs. Odds are, you'll be able to participate in these 12 important labs in class. If not, you should research them for yourself.

AP Biology Multiple-Choice Review Tips

1. Know what the multiple-choice questions look like. The multiple-choice questions on the AP Bio exam are probably different from those on other AP exams you've taken. They involve a lot of reading and analyzing diagrams, data, and images. They aren't just simple "What do plants release during photosynthesis?" fact-recall type questions. You'll have to read a paragraph for each question, or interpret a graph or diagram, and use your knowledge of biological concepts to choose the best answer. Note that some questions may even have you read a paragraph and interpret a graph or diagram. Let's look at a few examples:
Example #1. By discharging electric sparks into a laboratory chamber atmosphere that consisted of water vapor, hydrogen gas, methane, and ammonia, Stanley Miller obtained data that showed that a number of organic molecules, including many amino acids, could be synthesized. Miller was attempting to model early Earth conditions as understood in the 1950's. The results of Miller's experiments best support which of the following hypotheses? A. The molecules essential to life today did not exist at the time Earth was first formed. B. The molecules essential to life today could not have been carried to the primordial Earth by a comet or meteorite. C. The molecules essential to life today could have formed under early Earth conditions. D. The molecules essential to life today were initially self- replicating proteins that were synthesized approximately four billion years ago. Answer: C. Example #2. When DNA replicates, each strand of the original DNA molecule is used as a template for the synthesis of a second, complementary strand. Which of the following figures most accurately illustrates enzyme-mediated synthesis of new DNA at a replication fork? Answer: D.
As you can see from these two example questions, there is more to think about than just simply recalling facts. Often, several questions will be based on the same data sets and diagrams. For more questions like these, check out Albert.io.

2. Find and read the question first. Lab-set questions and diagram questions can be tedious since you'll have to do so much reading and analyzing. Skip the diagram or any long paragraph at first, find the question they're asking you, and then go back to the data to find the answer to that question. It's a simple technique, but when you have 63 long multiple-choice questions to read, analyze, and answer in such a short time, pinpointing the actual question first can be helpful.

3. Use standard multiple-choice strategies. Using multiple-choice techniques, such as the process of elimination, making educated guesses, and budgeting your time are important for any multiple-choice test. Let's look at how these apply to the AP Bio exam. On the multiple-choice section, you will have four options, rather than five. This means that if you can eliminate two choices, you have a 50% chance of getting the answer correct. When it comes to budgeting your time, it's important to remember that you have about 45 seconds for each multiple-choice question. Try and stick to that time limit for each question, otherwise you may run out of time and have to leave some questions unanswered.

4. Practice! The only way to get better at answering complicated AP Bio multiple-choice questions is to practice as much as possible. Practicing gets you familiar with the format of the questions and gives you some much-needed confidence. You can find practice questions online, in review books, and in the CollegeBoard's AP Biology Course and Exam Description. Make sure you're practicing questions from 2013 and later because exams before that follow the old, fact-recalling multiple-choice format and won't help you for future AP Bio exams.

AP Biology Grid-In Response Tips
1. Know these quick tips:

Your answer can start in any column

Extra columns should be left blank

Units are not required

Fill in only one bubble per column

Use decimals and other symbols if necessary

The grid is machine-scored so fill in the bubbles correctly

Mixed numbers need to be gridded as a decimal or improper fraction

2. Pay attention to the instructions. The directions will specify how to round your answers and whether or not your fractions should be reduced. Pay close attention to these instructions because even if your answer is correct, you won't get any points if it's not in the proper form and not bubbled in correctly.

3. Don't memorize formulas. For the AP Bio exam, there is no need to memorize formulas since you will be given a formula list to use during the exam. Look over this list to see what kinds of formulas you need to be practicing. It's important to remember, though, that while you don't have to memorize formulas, you still need to be familiar with them.

4. Know how to apply mathematical formulas. The most important thing you need to know for the grid-in questions is how to apply a formula to reach the correct answer. You need to know how to work with Chi Squares, surface area and volume, water potential, Hardy-Weinberg, probability, and standard deviation. Remember that you are allowed to use a basic four-function calculator (with square root), but NOT a graphing calculator, on the exam.

AP Biology Free Response Tips

1. Know the FRQ format. At the start of the AP Bio free-response section of the exam, you will be given a 10-minute reading and planning period. After that, you'll have 80 minutes to answer 8 essay questions, broken down like this:

2. Use the entire 10-minute reading period. Don't underestimate the importance of the planning period! It's given to you for a reason. You should read through all 8 of the questions, re-read them, and use the "planning space" to start putting your thoughts on paper. Draw diagrams, underline keywords, make notes, outline your responses, or whatever else you need to do to start formulating your answers. Ten minutes will feel like a long time, but use the entire time. Make sure you really know what the question is asking you; take the time to fully digest the question.

3. Define your terms. Never write down a biological term without defining it. For example, you probably won't get the point if you just write osmosis, without mentioning "movement of water down a gradient across a semipermeable membrane." Always incorporate a definition of some shape or form to show the AP readers that you know what you're talking about. In other words, don't just inject fancy vocab words into your essays if you don't know what they mean; the AP readers will know.

4. Connect biological concepts to larger big ideas. Your main focus in studying for the AP Biology exam should be making connections. Knowing your vocabulary and labs is not useful if you can't connect them to larger big ideas. On the FRQs, you'll have to make claims and defend them, providing evidence to support your reasoning. How can you do this, while still making insightful connections across big ideas? The CollegeBoard has a few suggestions:

Connect technique/strategy with its stated purpose/function in an investigation Identify the control from a list of experimental treatments.

5. Be aware of the free-response booklet instructions. It's helpful to know the actual AP Bio FRQ exam instructions:

* Each answer should be written out in paragraph form; outline form is not acceptable.

* Do not restate questions or provide more than the number of examples called for.

* Diagrams alone will not receive credit, unless called for in the question.

* Write clearly and legibly.

* Begin each answer on a new page.

* Do not skip lines.

* Cross out any errors you make.

6. Know the types of questions. The table below outlines some of the most common free-response question types, how to answer them, and real example questions from past AP Bio exams.
*Click on the links included in the example questions to see sample responses.
Many times, a single free-response question on the AP Bio exam will include several of these key terms, while some only include one key term. Pay attention to exactly what the question is asking you to do and be sure to answer every part. An example of a question that asks you to do several things in one would look like this:
"Based on the data in the table below, draw a phylogenetic tree that reflects the evolutionary relationships of the organisms based on the differences in their cytochrome c amino-acid sequences and explain the relationships of the organisms. Based on the data, identify which organism is most closely related to the chicken and explain your choice."
7. Claim + Evidence + Reasoning. This model of scientific argumentation can be helpful to keep in mind when writing your FRQs. Essentially, you have to read and understand the question you're being asked, directly answer this question with a claim statement, back up your claim with detailed examples of evidence, then use reasoning to explain how this evidence justifies your claim. Just remember claim, evidence, reasoning when you're writing your essays.

8. Answer the parts of the question in the order called for. Try not to skip around too much when answering your FRQs. If you do, you might accidentally miss a part of a question. Instead, use the question's labels (a, b, c, d, etc.) to stay organized and clear. Make it as easy as possible for the AP readers to follow your answer.

9. Know how to answer "Design an Experiment" questions. Sometimes, you'll be asked to design an experiment as part of your FRQ. This is where your knowledge of the "Dirty Dozen" labs comes in. You need to be familiar with lab procedures and terms. In your response, make sure to include:

* Hypothesis (using the "if...then" structure)

* Independent and dependent variables

* Control, stating directly, "Controls are..."

* Explanation of the data you will collect and how you will measure it

* Materials list

* Procedure list (what you will actually do)

* Description of how the data will be graphed and analyzed

* Conclusion (what you expect to happen and why, compare your results to your hypothesis)

Remember that your experiment should be at least theoretically possible and that your conclusions should stay consistent with the way you set up your experiment.

10. Know how to answer "Draw a Graph" questions. If you're asked to draw a graph based on data, be sure to include the following in your response:

* Labeled x-axis (independent variable) and y-axis (dependent variable)

* Equal and proportional increments

* Name and units

* Smooth curve

* Appropriate title

* If more than one curve is plotted, label on each curve instead of using a legend

Hint: Most of the points for a graphing question come from proper setup!

11. Be specific and thorough. Avoid flowery and vague language in your essays. You don't want to say something like: "Many parts of a cell are important in cell respiration." This sentence is way too general and doesn't really say anything at all. Whenever you use a biology term in your essay, offer specific examples of that term. Remember that your goal is to convince an AP reader that you know what you're talking about.

12. Manage your time. It can be easy to get carried away when writing your FRQs. Just remember that you have to write 8 essays in only 80 minutes. You need to spend more time on the two long free-response questions than on the six short free-response questions. You should be spending 20 minutes on each long FRQ and only 6 minutes for each short FRQ. Use a watch and time yourself during the exam. You don't want to end up with no time to answer a question and miss out on 10 points.

Tips by AP Biology Teachers

1. Look for "real life" examples of what you're learning. Go to websites like Biology News, Science Daily, and The Chemical Heritage Foundation. Search for articles in the subject you're learning. The more ways you learn something the better!

2. Watch Bozeman Biology videos. Mr. Anderson, the teacher behind Bozeman Biologyhas a wide variety of videos for AP Bio. Watch them before you start a unit to get a general idea of what you'll be learning and before tests so you can review. Thanks to Ms. Lorie X. from Riverdale High for the tips!

3. Underline important terms in the question. Such as: "OR" and "CHOOSE TWO" and the power verbs such as: 'DESCRIBE,' 'IDENTIFY,' 'LABEL,' 'CONSTRUCT,' 'DESIGN,' or 'EXPLAIN.'

4. Find the core biology topic. Even if you don't understand the question or you draw a blank, find the 'core biology topic' being asked about and elaborate on it. Thanks to Mrs. S. from North High School for the tips!

5. Write! Write! Write! For the free-response questions, usually, the longer your answer to the question, the more points you will earn! That being said, don't just do a mind dump.

6. Apply the language of science. FRQs require that you show depth, elaboration, and give examples. You need to loop together your ideas and show how they connect. Don't just rely on factual regurgitation. Thanks to Mr. Jeremy M. from Blue Valley Northwest High School for the tips!

7. Know how to set up your essays. When you're planning your essays, follow this structure:

1. Introductory sentence

2. Several broad points

3. Examples to prove your points

4. Closing sentence to summarize

Fill in this general structure with details and specifics. Write in short, declarative sentences. Thanks to Mr. C. from Alliance Cindy & Bill Simon Technology Academy High School for the tip!

8. Answer the question as concisely as possible. Avoid writing down everything you know about a certain topic. If you do, you might contradict yourself or write down something which is wrong. You can be penalized for this. Thanks to Mr. F. from Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School for the tip!

9. Remember that the AP graders are looking for certain statements to award points. If an FRQ asks you describe mutualism, for example, you need to both define it and elaborate on it to receive full points. As a general rule, always support your definitions with at least one example. Thanks to Dr. L. from Framingham High School for the tip!

10. Answer something for every question. If you don't know how to answer a free-response question, don't panic. Begin with defining some terms related to the topic. Elaborate with an example or more detailed explanation of the things you can remember. Thanks to Ms. Kelly O. from Colleyville Heritage High School for the tip!

11. No detail is too small as long as it is to the point and on topic. For example, if a question asks about the structure of DNA, talk about the helix, the bases, the hydrogen bonds, introns, exons, etc. Do not waste time talking about RNA, expression, Mendelian genetics, etc. Thanks to Ms. Louise H. from Friedrich Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center for the tip!

Tips from Past AP Biology Students

1. Do lots of genetics practice problems. Practice working with Hardy-Weinberg formulas, Punnett Squares, and Chi-Square tests. Also, memorize the common crosses, like dihybrid monocross.

2. For test prep, use the released exams! Work through all the available FRQs on the CollegeBoard website and practice the multiple-choice questions your teacher provides you with. This can go a long way in helping you figure out the type of questions the exam asks, the common material on the exam, and how to manage your time. Also, check out the student answers to released FRQs, as well as the FRQ answer keys to get an idea of what kind and how much information are needed to get the points.

3. It helps to memorize things. AP Bio is less memorization than it used to be, but it still helps to memorize things. You should still be able to recall things at the drop of a hat, but you don't need to know all 12 of the reactions involved in glycolysis.

4. The human body is important. It's important to know your anatomy and human body systems. Focus on the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. Don't just memorize the parts, but understand the processes. For example, know how an antibody attacking postsynaptic receptors leads to certain responses.
5. When in doubt, focus on these topics:
* Evolution (as a whole)

* Genetics/genetic regulation (transcription, translation, etc.)

* Population ecology

* Animal function/physiology

* Muscular System

* Nervous System

* Endocrine System

* Immune System

6. Understand the concepts, functions, processes and relationships between subjects. The AP Bio test isn't simply just recalling facts anymore. You need to analyze information rather than just recall information from your studies.

7. Make sure you know all about DNA/RNA (transcription/translation), cellular respiration/photosynthesis, and evolution. Make sure you have a great detailed and conceptual understanding of these topics!

8. Know the "how" and "why" of a topic. If you can't explain how something works, knowing it is pointless. Stop and quiz yourself about something you just learned. How does that process work? If you can't explain it in your own words, you need a better understanding of it.

9. Know all about anatomy/physiology. This includes both humans and plants. Know the basics of plant transport systems and focus on the nervous and endocrine systems.

10. Make study sheets or chapter outlines. Making study sheets requires more active work than flashcards, which helps the information stick in your head. It also refreshes your memory on the definitions in context, which is important for AP Biology.
Are you a teacher or student? Do you have an awesome tip? Let us know!
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The Ultimate List of AP Biology Tips | Albert.io

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Are you shooting for a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Biology exam? If you're taking the class, you're probably nodding your head right now or shouting "yes!" After all, who doesn't want free college credit, the experience and challenge of taking a college-level biology course, and a great looking high school transcript?

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Important Updates

2021 Exam Information

Updated April 8 Students can now download the digital testing application and take digital practice to prepare them for the testing experience. See below for more information on digital practice and taking the digital exam.

AP Biology Exams will be offered on paper in early May and as a digital exam in late May and early June.

All versions of the exam will cover the full scope of course content, giving students the opportunity to qualify for college credit and placement. On the digital exam, students will answer free-response questions with a keyboard, rather than by hand. Students taking digital exams will not be asked to draw or graph as part of their response-rather, these skills will be assessed with questions about given graphs or other stimuli. The digital exam app will include any symbols students would need to type their responses. No handwritten or photographed work will be accepted.
There are differences between the paper and digital versions of some 2021 AP Exams, and those variations differ by course. The information below applies to AP Biology only. View a summary of all 2021 AP Exam formats. Learn more about 2021 testing.
AP Daily and AP Classroom
Short, searchable AP Daily videos can be assigned alongside topic questions to help you cover all course content, skills, and task models, and check student understanding. Unlock personal progress checks so students can demonstrate their knowledge and skills unit by unit and use the progress dashboard to highlight progress and additional areas for support. As the exam approaches, assign AP practice exams in the AP Classroom question bank and encourage students to take advantage of AP Daily: Live Review sessions April 19-29.
Sign In to AP Classroom

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Important Updates 2021 Exam Information Updated April 8 Students can now download the digital testing application and take digital practice to prepare them for the testing experience. See below for more information on digital practice and taking the digital exam.

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AP Biology Exam: Review Tips from a Former Student

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AP Biology Exam: Review Tips from a Former Student

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awesome and *free* help videos and articles!

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AP®︎ Biology | College Biology | Khan Academy

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Learn AP Biology using videos, articles, and AP-aligned multiple choice question practice. Review the fundamentals of biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, evolution, and ecology, and develop scientific thinking skills as you explore the study of life.

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AP Review of Unit 4: Population Genetics, Evolution, Biotech and Gene Expression

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Many good study tips and resources and former test questions

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You can use the free response questions and scoring guidelines below as you prepare for the AP Biology

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Bozeman Science

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Paul Andersen answers over 500 questions from 39 states and 20 countries. Good luck on the AP Biology exam.

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AP Biology Basics: 6 Themes You Should Know