Hello I am a student who is freakishly getting nervous as day and day goes by getting closer to the AP exams. Unlike AP World, I have been struggling in AP Bio. My grades for first semester were decent and not concerning, but I really don’t understand any Biology in depth. My goal is to get a 4 on the exam and the average from students last year who took it in my school were 2’s according to my teacher. I really am willing to do anything to prepare myself and I need advice and tools on how to prepare. I need to know good strategies I could use on the test. Also, my teacher has this deal that whoever gets a 3 or higher will get an A for the semester so I really am willing to push limits and redeem that. As of now, I understand the basics of Biology but anything past the basics is where you’ll find me struggling in. Thank you!
I am planning on taking AP Bio next year, however I have prepared myself enough to take the SAT II Bio (which I’m doing soon). I hope my advice might be of some assist to you. 
1.) Dedicated study schedule. Study for an hour each day. Making outlines for a few weeks always helps me. I try to outline which topics I need to focus on each day, then I repeat. (This also works for the SAT and ACT too btw).
2.) Invest in a few prep books. I can recommend to you the ones I used for the SAT II prep, but I don’t know how much help they would be for AP Bio.
3.) Go to tutoring with specific questions. Show the initiative to your teacher. Prove to them that you want that A terribly and that you are willing to spend time and get extra help.
4.) Take a few practice tests and google “AP Bio Prep”. There are a few websites that have online quizzes and tests you can practice.
I hope this advice helps. If you stay determined, go to tutoring, and focus, then you should be fine. It’s all about commitment and dedication. Best of luck to you!
Oh my goodness you have been great! Thank you so much and good luck with your SAT II Biology exam! I am taking my SAT II World History exam this year so were kinda on the same page! I’ll keep you posted about my AP Bio as the days go by! Thanks!
I am taking the SAT II US History this year along with Bio and Math 2! Btw, I think Barron’s might make a good AP Bio book! Thanks so much glad I could help! Best of luck to you to as well! Let me know how it goes! I’m really excited to take it next year!
Hi I actually took the bio yesterday and I found both hard and easy. The essays were easy while the multiple choice was hard. The time limit is really what killed me I managed to finish but a lot of guessing took place. I actually started preparing a couple months ago like mentioned before and really that did not helped me at all. I also crammed studied the day before and it seemed to help me so much with the test. I totally recommend that you buy Cliffnotes fourth edition for bio cuz it helps you understand the basics but the Barron’s is also fast and simple. I crammed the last day by reading my Barrons Flash cards and that was the most helpful when it came to memory! P.S. I’m taking the S.A.T. Subject for world history this summer :). oh and my teacher offered writing workshop and that helped a bunch!
Oops, I just realized I posted about SAT II Tests and not the AP Bio exam haha. I’m glad you think you did okay! I think I decided to take different AP science next year but I’m taking College Bio over the summer. Congrats best of luck for a 5 to you!!!
Great idea I personally don’t recommend Bio I thought it was a super duper hard class that never made any sense lol
Yeah, I decided to do either AP Chem or another DC science class like anatomy.