WHAT IS AP BIOLOGY



AP Biology Mrs. Brenda Perry

perryb@

AP Biology will be a fast paced, challenging, and fun year long biology course designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory course. Success in this course will depend on your study skills, reading and writing abilities, motivation and maturity. AP Biology differs significantly from the usual first high school course in biology with respect to the kind of textbook used, range and depth of topics covered, laboratory work done by students, and time and effort required of the students. The labs done by AP students must be the equivalent of those done by college students.

Prerequisites:

Grade 11 or 12 – no exceptions

Biology (I recommend a B or higher)

Chemistry

College Credit:

Depending on your score on the AP Exam, certain universities may give you credit for an introductory biology course. Each university is different and different scores are treated differently by different schools. Also, some degree programs DO NOT accept AP Credit for introductory courses. Some colleges require you to submit your AP Lab manual to receive credit for the lab portion.

HHS AP Biology Score Report = ~ 70% passing

National Average for AP Biology = ~ 63% passing

Homework:

The primary homework is reading the AP biology text, completing online lab simulations, and watching online podcasts. Students are expected to be studying the power point notes every night. This class moves fast and each unit exam covers multiple topics. Over the years, I have decreased the amount of homework I assign so students can have more time to study.

Students should expect to complete approximately 3-5 hours of work OUTSIDE of class each week. Students taking multiple AP courses should be aware of the time commitment required by each.

This is not a class where cramming the day before a test will work!

What to Expect:

• Heavy homework load ( this will help students learn effective time management skills and study strategies

• Challenging Tests ( student performance on tests will be indicative of future success on the AP exam

• Writing ( These writing assignments will help students learn to cite evidence and explain concepts covered in class.

Extracurricular Activities:

Please note that there can be very challenging time restraints for those of you in extracurricular activities that will cause you to miss class. There is no exception for these absences. All the rules still apply. So, be very attentive to your schedule and understand this high cost of not making up your test on time.

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