The AP biology exam is challenging, but you can do well with the right preparation. In this article, we will go over everything you need to know about how to study for the AP biology exam.
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How To Study For The Ap Biology Exam
The first thing you should do is create a study plan. Since you’re taking AP Biology and you’re probably still reading this article, we assume you’re an ambitious high school student with responsibilities outside of this exam.
You must schedule these duties at least one month before the exam date. We recommend dedicating at least one weekend day (Saturday or Sunday) to the AP bio exam.
You should also see when you have time during the week to study more. You should also plan which topics will be discussed on certain days.
For example, if genetics is your weakness, you might want to devote Saturday or Sunday to transcription and translation, as these are big topics.
You should supplement your genetics study throughout the week by practising Punnett Square or Hardy Weinberg problems. The more specific your plan is, the better.
After you design a careful study plan that fits your other responsibilities, you need to be proactive and constantly adjust it. Going back to the previous example of reviewing genetics: If you spend an entire day reviewing the transcription and translation, but some aspects of the translation don’t resonate with you, you need to make time during the week to go back to that material to absorb it. Adjusting and sticking to your study plan is critical to exam success.
Other suggestions include the following:
Be Sure You Know The Material
To be a successful AP biology student, you need to be sure that you know the material. To do this, take a practice test and review your answers. You can also use flashcards for memorizing key facts and concepts.
The exam format will look different from what was taught in class, so make sure you’re familiar with it.
Use Practice Questions To Test Yourself On Specific Questions Or Topics
Practice questions can help you test yourself on specific questions or topics.
Here are some ways you can use practice questions to study for the AP biology exam:
- Use an online course like Khan Academy or Mastering Biology. The videos provide examples of how to answer each question and explain why certain answers are correct, and others are wrong. These are great resources if you’re not confident in your ability to understand complex concepts yet!
- Buy a textbook from your local bookstore, or download it from Amazon. Most textbooks include chapter summaries that provide key points covered during class discussions.
Organize Your Notes And Notes From Friends
Make sure you have all your notes in one place. This is very important if you’re taking the test on a computer because then it will be easy to access anytime throughout the test.
Create a system for organizing your notes. You can use an app like Evernote or OneNote or simply create folders on your computer and organize them alphabetically.
You should also plan ahead so that your information is available and ready to go by the day of the exam.
Use Flashcards To Memorize Terms, Concepts, And Key Facts
Write down the terms, concepts, and facts on note cards or sticky notes on your cell phone and review them at least once every week.
Try to memorize the terms, concepts, and facts in less than 10 seconds. These will help propagate your retentive capability.
Write Down Your Answers To Practice Problems Before You Take The Exam
Writing down your answers to practice problems before you take the exam is a good idea.
This will ensure you have plenty of time to review and help prevent mistakes from creeping into your final answer sheet.
If possible, write down answers as they occur in the same order that they are asked on the test.
If multiple ways exist to solve a problem or the answer choice is unclear, write down both options.
This is done so that they can be compared and discussed more thoroughly with another student who might have an opinion different from yours.
Familiarize Yourself With The Format Of The Exam By Taking Sample Tests Online Or In Paper Form
Before you start studying for the AP Biology exam, it’s important to get familiar with the format of the test. You can do this by taking sample tests online or in paper form.
If you don’t understand a question on the exam, chances are that other students haven’t either.
If this is true for you, too, then use your results from one of these two sources as evidence and try again.
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Review Each Unit In Advance To Make Sure You Know All The Topics Covered In Each Unit
Review The Syllabus
This can be done by reading through it and taking note of what topics will be covered during your class time, as well as in the textbook and other resources.
If any additional supplements have been added, they should also be reviewed carefully because they may also contain new information.
Review Your Notes From Past Classes
This is an important step if you want to get a good grasp on how much content we covered last time around.
Sometimes teachers aren’t always accurate about how much material has been covered in their lectures or classes, so this allows us to check that on our own.
Assess Your Strengths And Weaknesses
To be successful on the AP Biology Exam, you must know your strengths and weaknesses.
You should also use resources available for teachers who want their students to succeed in this class. These include:
- Self-assessment tests
- Study materials (questions, answers)
FAQ
How Long Should I Study AP Biology?
Consider your schedule and the time you are willing to spend on AP Biology. Since this course has so much content, I think 20 hours of study is a reasonable goal. However, if you find yourself already scoring high, you can aim for as little as 10 hours or so.
Is AP Bio Just Memorization?
AP Bio is NOT memorization. If you try to remember terms and concepts, you’ll have a harder time keeping track of everything you need to know. Memorization as a strategy is not ideal for any AP exam because it is more difficult.
Is AP Bio The Hardest?
AP Biology is considered fairly difficult, with a graduate rating of 6.4/10 for overall difficulty. The passing rate is about average, with 68% graduating with a grade of 3 or higher.
Is It Hard To Self-Study AP Biology?
The consensus is that self-studying AP Biology without prior biology is not a good idea. However, it may be a good option if you have taken or are taking Honors Biology.
Why Is AP Biology So Hard?
The AP Biology exam is more challenging than other tests with its format. The response section has six questions (two long-answer and four short-answer) on the higher end of AP exams.
Which AP Is Easiest To Self-Study?
The 4 easiest AP exams to self-study are Psychology (3.4/10), Fundamentals of Computer Science (3.8/10), Microeconomics (3.9/10), and Environmental Science (3.9/10).
Is AP For Smart Students?
The Advanced Placement program was originally designed for academically advanced students at elite schools. Today, more than 80% of high schools in the United States offer AP courses, and students are using the opportunity.
Can I Self-Study An AP?
Whether you’re homeschooled, your high school doesn’t offer this class (or any AP classes), or you can study independently, you can self-study for the AP exam.
What Are The Top 5 Hardest AP Tests?
United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often cited as the hardest AP classes and tests.
Is AP Bio A Lot Of Math?
So the short answer is: yes, you will need some high school math skills to do well on the AP Science exams. Different AP courses in science cover different math concepts.
Conclusion
We hope these tips will help you prepare for your AP biology exam and do well on it. Do well to share this article with friends who might also be getting ready to sit for this exam.
Good Luck!
