<p>Well, I'm taking my first AP class and I'm a junior right now. It's AP Biology. And all I can say I'm very stressed out because of this along with other classes and SAT prep. But the AP Bio is just overwhelming me.</p>
<p>What are things or tips that I can do to succeed in this class? I haven't had a test yet, but I have one next Wednesday. And I don't know if it's all the same, but for us, she gives us unit tests so Wednesday is going to be chapter 1-6.</p>
<p>When you get to be a junior, regardless of your choice of classes, it’s time to start managing your time differently than before. I noticed this even without having any APs or Honors. You’ll need to start planning your whole schedule at least a day in advance. </p>
<p>Long-term events should be planned as soon as you find out about them. You should have a planner of some sort, and you should be able to open it and see what you’ve got going on that week. This way you can maybe do a couple things ahead and space things out.</p>
<p>Now, as for your Bio. Just keep up on your notes and look them over every night. My personal observations with science classes in general is that the tests have nothing to do with what you did in class; it all comes from the book. If you have good notes and you have them nearly memorized, you’ll do just fine on the test. Sure that’s a lot of information, but like I said, look it over every night. You most likely have Bio homework every night anyway so it shouldn’t be any trouble.</p>
<p>Finally, all schoolwork should come before SAT prep. This is something you do in your spare time; it shouldn’t be a priority, especially as a junior.</p>
<p>You sound really frazzled, so I think it would really help if you could prioritize what you need to study for AP Bio. Make a list of concepts you understand well and ones you’re still unsure about. You should carefully go over the latter and write down any questions that you might have. Ask them during class or after school. </p>
<p>Also, one way that helped me study bio was to try to get an idea of the big picture. It’s much easier understanding the details of a process when you know what the role of the process is in the big scheme of things. So when you’re studying, just try to link the different concepts together.</p>
<p>For vocab and definitions, make flashcards if necessary. </p>
<p>And, of course, start studying now. Go for the harder chapters first so that you have time to formulate and ask questions. If you know the easy ones well, you can just glance over them before the test. To help yourself stick to studying, make a schedule. Plan when to study certain chapters. </p>
<p>If your teacher hands out study guides to go along with the textbook, use those (I know they have them for Campbell & Reece). If not, get an AP Bio prep book (I really recommend Cliffnotes), which will help you understand the highlights of each chapter.</p>
<p>Also, once you start studying, make a cheat sheet as you go along. Obviously, it’s not for cheating, but if you find that you have trouble with particular concepts/details/whatever, it helps to write it down. (Because it’s hard to mentally keep track of all the iffy concepts.)</p>
<p>Thanks so much. Those seem like exactly what I need.</p>
<p>take some time and just chill. it doesn’t have to be long. this is what i did whenever the world got too big and bad for me. sit in your chair, close your eyes, and half-fall asleep for about 20 minutes. Relax. Best medicine in the world.</p>
<p>This is the Cliffnotes one correct??
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0470097647/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-3560157-5985450?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0470097647/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-3560157-5985450?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance</a></p>
<p>This is the book I’m using now for my class btw:
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Biology-Neil-Campbell/dp/080537146X/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_1_2/103-3560157-5985450[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Biology-Neil-Campbell/dp/080537146X/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_1_2/103-3560157-5985450</a></p>
<p>Well basically what the others said was right on. I am currently also taking AP Bio and am using Cambell’s book, 8th ed. (the same one as you CamaroLover) The thing that is really nice about that book is the CD that comes with it (hopefully you received a CD with your book whether you personally bought it or whether your school let you borrow one). It really helps with the tests (at least for me) and they even have practice tests for each chapter, so I recommend using that to help study. Even if you don’t have time to go through every chapter on the CD, just try to go over the most difficult chapters using it. Hope that helps! Good luck with the rest of your year!</p>
<p>Wow, I have a test too Units 1-6, but on tuesday next week. We use 7th edition campbell.</p>
<p>By the way, just use the campbell website, it is the same as the CD.</p>
<p>Yeah, I use the CD. My teacher kept saying that we’re lucky to have the CD because it really is a BIG help…I just haven’t got it it to go throughly and look into it.</p>
<p>I do not know what it is like at other schools, but at my school if you ask AP teachers for extra credit they will usually give you something to do because they know how important junior year is.</p>
<p>We don’t have extra credit. We have to cover 55 chapters in the course of the year. It’s a double period class and the 1.5 hours is taking notes, discussing, and repeat. We don’t have any homework except some online quizzes that get sent to her when we get a score. So our homework is mostly just studying and reviewing.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m taking my first two ap classes (apush and lang/comp) and though it might not seem a lot to CC’ers, I’m uber stressed out too! So, don’t worry if you’re spending hours studying…others (including me!) are too! hah</p>
<p>hey…i’m a junior and ive taken us1ap and this year im in ap bio, ap english comp and us2ap. </p>
<p>bio is by far the “most difficult” in the sense that its all memorization, somewhat like history but you have no idea whats going on. like in history vocabulary isnt a problem, and you already have a pretty good backround. with bio i have no idea what the words are.</p>
<p>i have a feeling that the ap test will be easy though if you “get it”, while other tests are more subjective.</p>
<p>the first test i got a 70, the second 1 i got a 90, so i think it wont be that bad in the end.</p>
<p>1st ap class huh? in mys chool ib bio and ib math hl is the hardest classes</p>
<p>We don’t even have ib…whatever that is, lol.</p>
<p>First and only AP and you’re freaking out? As has been said before, it’s time to start managing your time a lot more efficiently. I’m currently a senior taking 8 AP classes + IB TOK (only class still available for me to take, taken all the other APs - school made an exception and let me take the class although it’s only for the IB Diploma kids). </p>
<p>What you have to do is start managing time a lot wiser - don’t waste any time, this means no procrastination. I know it’s hard, but make sure you use up every second you possibly have - don’t ever find yourself wandering off or sidetracking until you’ve completed all homework/study.</p>
<p>I also advise that you spend an extra hour daily on your AP subject to study for it after the homework is done. As has been suggested, flash cards really help - and it is IMPERATIVE that you take good notes. Read your chapters and outline them, it’s the only way you’ll actually learn. When there’s material the size of the AP curriculum you can’t just read the book, it won’t stick. You MUST TAKE NOTES AND OUTLINE YOUR CHAPTERS. It works really well, and having good notes by April-May will really help you review for the exam (even if you have the prep books, which I also HIGHLY recommend getting as soon as you have the chance to accompany your course).</p>
<p>Have fun in AP =)</p>
<p>Review your notes every day and use the CD or website. Especially if you have a good teacher you’ll be ready for the AP. My teacher never taught so I ended up just reading the whole book to prepare for the AP. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot. Have the test pushed to Thursday so I’m reviewing the chapters briefly today and I’ll go over the notes too everyday until Thursday.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies. =D</p>
<p>IB HL Biology pwns AP Bio!</p>
<p>Here’s an update.</p>
<p>Of 80% on the MC, I got a 34 SCALED…it was originally a 17.</p>
<p>On the essays which she didn’t grade yet, we had to do 2. One I did half assed and the other one I picked one in the wrong group.</p>
<p>So tops, I should be around 43-45.</p>