Differences between Barron's BIO 4th and 5th edition

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
1

I know that the 4th edition was released in 2013 and the 5th edition was released just ten days ago, but what are the differences? Would I be at a disadvantage if I get the older book?

2

Here’s what someone wrote when I asked about if I should buy Campbell’s Bio 9th edition or 10th edition. “Typically the variance in edition for STEM subject texts pertains more to problem sets and page numbers than actual content (the field of Biology hasn’t changed tremendously between copyright years) – so if you’re only going to be using the text as a reference and not for homework problems, it won’t matter.”

3

Any Barron’s SAT prep book for the last 10 years or so would work, as the SAT Biology test hasn’t changed much in that time. Whoever that someone is, I would give the opposite advice about Campbell and other textbooks – the reason that Campbell is into a 10th edition is the rapidly changing face and content of biology. The 9th is missing some of the “latest” discoveries and corrections. Revising biology texts is a continuous process, and the editors are already planning for content revisions for the 11th edition that won’t be published for a few years. Any of the thick majors’ textbooks is overkill for SAT sciences.

4

Thanks @BigIs . I have four months now to study SAT BIO. Do you think that Barron’s covers everything (and more)? The only issue I am having now is which book to choose: Barron’s, PR, or Kaplan?

5

@Bigls I already bought the 9th edition and to be honest, I agree with what you have said. But in terms of AP, I don’t think the curriculum is going to change drastically in order to meet up with today’s research. However, if this was for Biology 101 or a college level Biology, then I think it is recommended to use the latest edition (unless if advised to use previous editions).

6

@BeCambridge I recommend using Barron’s but PR is also a great alternative (if that is for reading and note taking). They both have their own pros and cons but most of my Sat II Bio after-school prep preferred to use Barron’s because they thought that PR had really easy questions. One of my classmates used Kaplan and she returned it because some of the information that we were learning weren’t in the book at all.