@sjwon3789 On a practice test I did there was a question about average rate of change, so I used the formula. But other than that, Calculus is extremely rare in Bio, Bio is more towards Statistics (like Chi Square) rather than Calculus
@FutureDoctor2028 Seems like I phrased that incorrectly. I mean AP exams like AP Calculus AB/BC (not the AP Biology exam), there are FRQ that tends to repeat topics ie. Series, area under curve, revolving 3d volume, velocity/acceleration etc. I hear the AP Chemistry exam tends to have equilibrium every year. I’m asking whether the AP Biology FRQ does this as well, where the topics repeat every year.
The data set is too small, as there are only 2 years of examples since the redesign.
@skieurope Sorry since my knowledge in the AP Biology exam is limited but aren’t the previous years’ FRQ similar? Or did they change those dramatically as well?
Anyone know the MC % cutoff for a 5?
According to bozeman’s on youtube, you had to get at least a 79% on the multiple choice for a five. Not sure about free response though
@LockeLamora do you know where I could find those online questions?
Could you explain the time we get for each section? Like, are the grid in and the MC taken together (90 minutes for those)? And then 90 minutes on the 6 short, 2 long essays after the 10 minute read through?
@sjwon3789 yes grid in and MC are taken together and you get 90 minutes. then for FR you have a 10 minute reading/planning period that is mandatory, and then you get 80 minutes to answer them
@KbbGrizzly
The test I was talking about can be bought here:
http://store.rea.com/0738682896.html
There is also another test by REA, but I don’t know how realistic it is (same brand, but put out a bit earlier).
http://store.rea.com/0738684562.html
In my previous post, I meant that if you have the REA book, then the test is free. The practice exam is definitely worth the money, though!
@LockeLamora ohh ok. Thanks! I’ll look into it.
@trfox7 although I’m not so sure about the FR cutoff, according to bozeman (the ap bio youtuber) the cutoff for a 5 on the mc was 79%. I cant say forsure tho.
does anyone know when the sat bio scores come out?
@trfox7
Hey there!
College Board has a weird/long algorithm for calculating your total score. As an example, it might be:
[MC Correct]* = MC Weighted Score
[Score of Question 1] * 1.5000 = ____
[Score of Question 2] * 1.5000 = ____
[Score of Question 3] * 1.4285 = ____
[Score of Question 4] * 1.4285 = ____
[Score of Question 5] * 1.4285 = ____
[Score of Question 6] * 1.4285 = ____
[Score of Question 7] * 1.4285 = ____
[Score of Question 8] * 1.4285 = ____
Then, you add up the weighted scores of the FRQs and add it to the raw/weighted MC score:
[Weighted FRQ] + [Weighted MC] = [Total Score]
As for the Total Score cutoff for a 5, I’m not sure exactly. According to my teacher, it is around 90/120 
*Remember, you aren’t negatively impacted by wrong answers! They just don’t count towards your score.
Does anyone know if we can use the formula sheet during the AP test?
@DyrannosaurusRex Yeah, you can. Just remember how to use all of them though.
How was the SAT subject test? what material did they test you guys on? I will be taking that next year! I heard you need to know lots of detail biology material not like AP BIO.
AP Biology emphasizes on using analysis and figuring things out, rather than directly answering what is what. The SAT is basically the un-modified version of AP Biology, where it’s all facts. I didn’t taken it because I’m more confident in chemistry and physics.
@sjwon3789 There is a “mandatory” 10 minute reading section, but last year my teacher told me to ignore it and just start. My entire bio class started early, the proctors saw us and did nothing. According to their instructions, they can’t do anything to you except warn you to not write. However, be careful with this, because the rules may have changed/some proctors may be more willing to take severe action. Many didn’t finish the FRQ’s in my testing block. The 10 minutes was a big help.
On another note, out of the 110+ freshmen at my school who took the exam last year, 11 of us got a 5. Only 1 failed the exam (with a 2). It’s difficult, yes, but not that difficult.
The multiple choice was a breeze, very similar to the ACT science section (which is like reading passages + answering questions about the passage). I recommend you start with the grid in questions, that way if you do run out of time, you can just guess on the other MC. Perhaps due to the wordy questions/passages, many people didn’t finish the MC. Just go as quickly as you can, read the questions first and then the passages.
The new exam is very conceptual, not focused on definitions as much. Be able to apply concepts across laboratory experiments. Last year’s test was very heavy on heredity and body systems.
I highly recommend watching the Crash Course Biology series on YouTube. I pretty much spent the weekend before the exam watching every video on 2x speech and taking notes over things I didn’t remember very much. Also, I used 5 Steps to a 5. I had a Barron’s book, but it was super wordy (I didn’t finish it) and had SO much extraneous information. Your time is so much better spent on Crash Course or 5 Steps. I never read the textbook, just Crash Course and 5 Steps got me a 5.
Good luck!
Hello! I took the exam last year, got a 5.
First of all, don’t be so nervous! Out of the 110+ freshmen at my school who took the exam last year, 11 of us got a 5. Only 1 failed the exam (with a 2). It’s difficult, yes, but not that difficult.
The multiple choice was a breeze, very similar to the ACT science section (which is like reading passages + answering questions about the passage). I recommend you start with the grid in questions, that way if you do run out of time, you can just guess on the other MC. Perhaps due to the wordy questions/passages, many people didn’t finish the MC. Just go as quickly as you can, read the questions first and then the passages.
The new exam is very conceptual, not focused on definitions as much. Be able to apply concepts across laboratory experiments. Last year’s test was very heavy on heredity and body systems. There wasn’t any taxonomy or animal cell development/embryology.
I highly recommend watching the Crash Course Biology series on YouTube. I pretty much spent the weekend before the exam watching every video on 2x speech and taking notes over things I didn’t remember very much. Also, I used 5 Steps to a 5. I had a Barron’s book, but it was super wordy (I didn’t finish it) and had SO much extraneous information. Your time is so much better spent on Crash Course or 5 Steps. I never read the textbook, just Crash Course and 5 Steps got me a 5.
Good luck! Let me know if you have other questions please!