<p>I'm am really about the FRQ's. If you don't know something, do you think you should just write random stuff and hope at least you got a point. For example, if the question asks "compare and contrast deuterostomes and protostomes" and say you don't remember which one formed the anus or mouth first, should you still write "a difference is that one forms the anus first instead of the mouth, and vice versa."</p>
<p>Also, does anyone have any predictions as to what the topics will be?</p>
<p>YES, always write whatever comes to mind, whether it’s right or wrong. What’s the worst that could happen? If you don’t try, you definitely won’t get points, but you never know what they WILL accept out of whatever mumbo-jumbo you happen to write.</p>
<p>My teacher always tells us that if you aren’t sure, then you should try your best to convince them that you still know what you are talking about. In your case, your example was exactly what you should do. “A difference between protostomes and deuterostomes is that in one, the mouth forms from the blastopore of the gastrula while in the other, the anus forms from the blastopore.”</p>
<p>So yes, always write random stuff. I’ve heard that they give you points for just about anything that pertains to the question. 
The word “on the street” is that the FRQs are the easiest part of the exam. If such is true, then I’m feeling really confident.</p>
<p>ok great! basically you can get points for writing anything correctly? I mean the grading guidelines seem pretty straightforward, and I guess if you hit it, you get the point. </p>
<p>I really need the FRQ’s to save me since my MC sucks…alot.</p>
<p>What’s your MC raw score?</p>
<p>Right something, but do NOT contradict yourself. Then you will lose points for what you had said that was right.</p>
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<p>I second that. </p>
<p>I can’t tell you how many times whenever I do an in-class practice FRQ and I put something completely far-fetched and remotely relevant, but somehow I get points for that.</p>
<p>Another thing to note: the maximum you can get for an FRQ is 10 points. (Technically, the maximum for any question is usually greater than 10 points - sometimes 12 - 16 points depending on the question. but they only count 10 points.) What I’m trying to say is that there are a lot of “free” points you can get, so definitely write something.</p>
<p>Also for experiment based questions:
You get random points for mentioning generic things like:
<p>Yeah, what he’s saying is that although there are 10 max points for each question, there are usually about 1.5 times as many POSSIBLE ways to earn those ten points. It’s not like there are 10 specific things all of which you must mention in order to get full credit.</p>
<p>And thanks for those tips regarding the experiment-based question. Gotta remember those. :)</p>
<p>Just ONE thing to note: no fluff!</p>
<p>No fancy introductions. No fancy conclusions. You should organize though.</p>
<p>you know how the scoring guidelines are all bullet points? do you think if you wrote a very short paragraph but hit on all the points that you could get a max, you can still get 10 points or will they deduct you for not linking your thoughts together and really barebones but correct answer?</p>
<p>^ Here’s a question from Cliffs.</p>
<ol>
<li>Each of the following events requires the recognition of a molecule. Explain how each of the following recognition processes occurs.</li>
</ol>
<p>A. Target cells recognize hormones.
B. B cells recognize antigens.
C. Postsynaptic membranes recognize neurotransmitters.</p>
<p>Response:</p>
<p>P 1:
There are two ways in which target cells recognize hormones…blah blah blah…a particular cellular function. NEXT!
P 2:
B cells have special antigen receptors on their plasma membranes…blah blah blah…stimulate their production. NEXT!
P 3: When a neurotransmitter…blah blah blah…or an inhibitory postsynaptic potential, respectively. DONE!</p>
<p>See? No transition words. No comments. Just straight facts. What I mean is that, yes, there has to be a certain organization (i.e., no mixing and matching or plain braindumping). A scorer has to just read through your response and quickly give you a 10. Give the AP readers a break and don’t talk nonsense, basically.</p>
<p>yeah but would that actually get you the max amount of points on the actual ap exam? i mean i know they have the guideline but do they expect you to explain all that or are they expecting you to just say those phrases and it doesn’t matter if you have anything else at all.</p>
<p>Oh I hate FRQs so much…Those sample essays seems to be pretty long, and I don’t think I’m ever gonna write that much:(</p>
<p>@yearsofwisdom, >.< just define terms when necessary and answer each part of the FRQ in separate paragraphs. You should include biology vocabulary however. Obviously, you won’t get points for far-fetched information or wrong information. You don’t want to bother creating essays like you do in your English class(es) because you are given only 90 minutes for 4 questions. That’s 2-10 minutes of planning and 20-25 minutes for each essay.</p>
<p>They don’t take off for grammar, spelling, or organization right? “Yo man i don now much bout this topix but i herd that floem are be used four movin suga and zylem four movin wata”- can you write that and still get the points? That would be awesome.</p>
<p>@LaLune: Mine from last year weren’t long at all and I ended up with a 5. I wouldn’t stress about the length of your FRQs but the content.</p>
<p>@Santeria, you’re clearly heckling your reader and im sure they may “overlook” some of those answers you put…</p>
<p>It specifically says that words are taken account as long as they are phonetically correct</p>
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<p>Made my day! Anyone wanna try it? :p</p>