How to completely Self-Study AP Biology?

<p>I'm a freshman in high school and I'm planning to self-study AP Biology this year. I have not started yet, and don't know what to do in order to get a 5. Three of my friends took it in 8th grade and received 5's, and one of them studied within 3 weeks. They all got top 25 scores in U.S. I plan on taking it too, and I don't even know the date of the test. What books should I use (textbooks or review guides, or other forms of studying)? Do I need textbooks or are review guides enough? How much time per day should I put in (I'm not too good of a memorizer, my vocabulary is poor)? I am not taking any AP classes as of now, and I am not planning to take any classes in order to study for AP Bio, just like my friends. I don't know what to do. :( Please help by telling me how I can self-study myself to a 5! Thanks for any help!</p>

<p>Why do you want to take the AP Biology test this year? If you plan on self-studying, why not get some more science courses under your belt. I’m not sure how your friends in 8th grade decided they have top 25 scores, because all they would receive is a 5. Last year 19.7 % of Biology test takers earned a 5, and that’s all the data they would get. I’m a little skeptical that all three of them got a 5 simply by studying a little bit.</p>

<p>look at the bio course description
buy a used textbook (cheap, usually under $20)
buy an ap prep book</p>

<p>pick out what info/concepts are relevant to the test and memorize them</p>