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About the AP Biology Exam

May 12, 2014 at 8AM

The exam is approximately three hours long and has two parts — multiple choice and grid-in, and free response. Each section is worth 50% of the final exam grade. Questions will assess your understanding of the big ideas, enduring understandings, and essential knowledge and your application of these through the science practices.

Section I: Multiple Choice

1 hour and 30 minutes

• Part A — 53 Multiple Choice Questions

TIPS:

• Write on the test - circle key words, eliminate clearly wrong answers, circle questions you want to go back to, draw Punnett squares, etc…

• For matching - read all the questions before reading the answers (don’t worry if there’s a term you don’t know… do the ones you know first… you may not need that term).

• For wordy answers - work from answer E and go up…

• For data analysis - read the graph and figure out what they’re trying to “prove.” They won’t give you data that is “wrong,” usually they’ll use idealized data.

• Answer every question! The multiple-choice section score is based on the number of questions answered correctly. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers and no points are awarded for unanswered questions.

• Part B — 6 Grid-In Questions

TIPS:

• Bring a primary calculator (make sure it has a square root key).

• Calculate the correct answer for each question and enter it in the grid on that section of the answer sheet.

Section II: Free Response

1 hour and 20 minutes plus a mandatory 10 minute reading period

|Question Number |Question Style |Point Value |Approximate Weight |Time to Complete |

|1 |Long |10 |25% |22 |

|2 |Long |10 |25% |22 |

|3 |Short |4 |10% |6 |

|4 |Short |4 |10% |6 |

|5 |Short |4 |10% |6 |

|6 |Short |3 |7% |6 |

|7 |Short |3 |7% |6 |

|8 |Short |3 |7% |6 |

TIPS:

• Stay calm – you may see something unfamiliar. Try to reason through it and provide the best answer possible.

• Write in black ball point pen. (You will not erase – cross out incorrect answers with 2 lines.)

• Write neatly.

• Do not worry about spelling. It does not count. Just do your best!

• Points are added, not subtracted when grading this section. Focus on what you know. Make sure you…

o Answer the parts (a, b, c…) in order.

o Include exactly what they ask for – not more / not less. If they ask for 2 examples give 2 not 3!

o Do not contradict yourself – they will not give you points for contradictory information

• Read the questions carefully – 2 to 3 times. Pay attention to what they are asking – look for key words!

• Pick 2 to focus your 10 minute reading period on. Use the unlined space to brainstorm, organize and outline BEFORE you are allowed to write on the lined area.

• When you are ready to start writing…

o Do not re-write the question in your answer. Do not write introductions or conclusion. Be succinct. Do not ramble. Just answer the question!

o Write in sentences. You may NOT outline your answer.

o Define terms as you go. If you do not remember the term just define it. Illustrate your terms (provide examples)

o If you include diagrams label them and place them appropriately (do not add them at the end)

o Work in order – a, b, c…

• Graphs

o Write title for graph and each axis – Remember IV on x and DV on y

o Mark axis, label with units

o Plot points and attempt a line

o If there is more than one line – distinguish between them and provide a key

• Experiments

o State the problem

o Write a hypothesis

o Identify your IV (include levels and a control) and DV (include units)

o Describe what you will actually do, how you will obtain your data and how you will measure it (if using an organism or apparatus explain it)

o Describe any analysis you will do

o State your conclusion

Preparing for the AP Biology Exam

You will receive information from George Moustakas (gmoustak@) from our guidance department about signing up for the exam in February. The deadline to sign up is mid-March.

Our class will end on April 3, 2014. The test is on May 12, 2014. There will be a minimum of 4 review sessions leading up to the exam. Possible review session dates include: 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, and 5/8. These sessions will be in room C107 after school. More information about the sessions will be given at the conclusion of the course.

It is highly recommended that you get an AP Biology Exam Study Guide. These can help you now, as you take the course, and also in preparing for the exam. Here are some of the best books:

• Five Steps to a Five: AP Biology (2014-2015 edition) by Mark Anestis

• Barron’s How to Prepare for the AP Biology Exam by Deborah T Goldberg

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