AP Biology Help!

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hi, I am currently a junior in high school. I really want to be a doctor when I grow up and I find science really interesting. So, I took AP Biology. I didn't do so hot on the first test and I wanted to cry after seeing what I got on the second one yesterday. I studied, but maybe didnt study right? They were application questions, just like the New AP Bio test. Our teacher said we needed to have reasoning skills and I'm not exactly sure what he means by that. Is there a way I can change my study habits or improve these reasoning skills? Or was taking this class a mistake :(? Any advice would be appreciated.</p>

2

<p>gosh, i had the same problem. the tests at my school are SO hard. eventually, i learned how i have to outline, since it helps to connect ideas. you have to really know the material. and reading sections before you learn about them in class helps a lot, because then you know what you need help with. usually, it just takes time to get used to the tests. ask for practice tests. also, review books help a lot, not just with the ap test, but with the actual class. </p>

<p>do you use campbell biology?</p>

3

<p>yes, that is the textbook we have but we never use it.</p>

4

<p>but you read it, right…? lol </p>

<p>it’s actually really difficult to read sometimes</p>

5

<p>I actually did pretty well in AP bio-- surprisingly and I got an A. Here’s what I did: (This may not work for you (these methods took me awhile, but it’s key to try different things to see if it’s good for you))</p>

<p>1) MAKE CONCEPT MAPS!</p>

<p>I was a little skeptical on this method first; I’m a little passive aggressive, so this method took awhile to set in. Concept maps, well, it makes see the concept or the big picture. I understand, Campbell is big and little intimidating, but it explains things pretty well and the diagrams are really well done. I would suggest reading slash skim the assigned section once or twice and get out your handy-dandy blank piece of paper and then, *thoroughly * re-read the text and construct your concept map. On your concept map, start very broad or state the topic and work your way down providing necessary details. Personally for me, I used colors to distinguish ideas, and on exams I will remember the colors and the material will come quicker. These maps really help for the new AP bio exam and it forces you think more broad and it organizes your information.</p>

<p>2) PREACH</p>

<p>This methods makes sure you know the material and the details. Have fun a little, teach the material to your mom, dad, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or even your pet. They don’t even have to know the material, just force feed it to them. If you hesitate, stumble or have some doubts about concepts and/or details, go back to the book or your concept map. Speaking out loud and getting the information out is really helpful. I started this method in honors biology and aced every test, and it helped me tremendously in AP. It’s kind of fun once you get the hang of it, it’s like playing teacher lol.</p>

<p>I did horrible my first test too lol, actually, everyone in my class did horrible. The test was about evolution and it sucked. Just find your rhythm and you should be fine. Also, it’s fine if you’re not the best, the main purpose for AP is to explore you interest through rigorous coursework. Good Luck :)</p>

6

<p>Our first test of the year, our fairly smart class (def a few Ivy kids in there) got a collective average of:</p>

<p>-drumroll-</p>

<ol>
<li>Kid with the highest GPA in the school got a B+, the highest grade in the class. It sorta made me hate bio, but it took time to realize a fair bit of it was the teacher’s undoing for not really preparing us, not ours. I walked out with a B for four quarters. No damns given.</li>
</ol>

<p>Concept maps, talking/explaining friends stuff over fb, and/or presentations online are really good ways to teach yourself stuff, regardless of why you might not be able to get the scores you want. But talk your way through everything. That’s how you’ll learn things, retain things, and not “self-doubt” yourself on tough MC questions where each answer is only slightly different from the correct one.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

7

<p>i wouldn’t even categorize what my teacher did as “teaching.” i mean, she pretty much just had ppt slides of what was in the book, and she then would “teach” what we could have just read. but if you only listened to her, without reading, you’d fail. but then you could read, miss a week, and then do well. it’s more helpful if you have notes and questions, that way the teacher isn’t just talking at you.</p>

8

<p>I would be more realistic and drop to a lower level class and move up to AP later. Why the rush? There are plenty of doctors who didn’t take AP Bio in junior year.</p>

9

<p>READ THE BOOK. I use Campbell Biology too, and I read and got the highest grade in the class on my first test. It’s so long, but it helps, especially when your teacher teaches on uber-condensed powerpoint slides like mine does. There’s also broad but decent outlines at the end of chapters! I also made a study outline for the first test, though I think I wanna try that concept map someone mentioned above.</p>

10

<p>We had Campbells as well. What does your teacher assign for homework? All we had last year was chapter questions. You had to read the chapter and you’d have anywhere from 20-50 questions about details and topics. If you don’t have this, just read the book and take notes in your own words.</p>

<p>I’m also a future doc/dentist. Got a 5 on the test and B in the class… As on tests/quizzes just fell behind on HW a lot… </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I think he means that you need to understand the little details and put together how they add up to the big concepts. It takes more than just memorizing everything to get As and Bs. You have to be able to understand it and apply it.</p>

11

<p>We never get any homework maybe besides lab writeups (which is one person per group). He posts notes, videos, and lectures online and and i thinks that like a fair game for the test. Should i try to look over those notes and also read the book?</p>

12

<p>The the fupping book and your set.</p>

13

<p>

</p>

<p>not trying to be mean, but like OBVIOUSLY lol</p>

14

<p>I’d suggest reading through Campbell (only the required sections). Aim for a chapter a week for the next seven months and you should have a good chunk of it done. Campbell will be specific enough to allow you to do well on the FRQ, and it will give you enough insight to help you synthesize and understand the info.</p>

<p>For practice, I hear the new AP Bio book by Barron’s is good.</p>

15

<p>thanks for the advice guys!</p>

16

<p>I understand what you all are worried about! Ofcourse application questions are really hard. The best ways I would suggest are

  1. Read Campbell , then go through your class notes.
  2. Watch Bozeman videos on youtube - type your topic ( chi square test) in search and you’ll get it or visit Bozemanscience.com. Awesome explanations !
  3. Take lot of practice tests before your class test. Ofcourse you can find only concept related questions in practice tests but they’ll help you apply. Here are some free websites for practice.</p>

<p><a href=“http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072919345/sitemap.html?Qui[/url]”>http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072919345/sitemap.html?Qui&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.biosbcc.net/doohan/bio104/exams/2011/Potential%20Exam%201%20Questions.pdf[/url]”>http://www.biosbcc.net/doohan/bio104/exams/2011/Potential%20Exam%201%20Questions.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://ap.testfrenzy.com/[/url]”>http://ap.testfrenzy.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you google you can get a lot. </p>

<p>All the best,
Subbulakshmi - Bio tutor</p>