<p>Hey guys, I know AP's just finished (thank God, right?) but I figured it is never too early to start a thread for next year.</p>
<p>Current AP Biology students, please (if you do not mind), it would be extremely helpful if you could post advice to succeed in the class on for the AP exam.</p>
<p>The only part of the test where memorization helps you are the FRQs. The rest of the test is like the ACT science section. You have to skim through paragraphs and interpret graphs. The only exception is the set of 6 grid-ins. They are fairly simple math calculations.</p>
<p>What sort of math is involved in AP Biology? I know there is some statistics like chi-square tests but I’m not certain as to the extent.</p>
<p>Chi-squared test (goodness of fit, if you’ve taken stats) is the only statistical test you need to know. Other math stuff includes slope between two points on a graph, reading a food web or biomass diagram or nutrient cycle (just ecology stuff like that), and genetics (obviously). The grid-ins are probably the easiest part.</p>
<p>Would I be okay taking AP Biology and Precalculus concurrently?</p>
<p>Be a good reader.</p>
<p>They changed the test ALOT this year. Focus ALOT ON EVOLUTION. When you learn something like the color of plants (haha), cycles, or animal diversity think about the evolutionary mechanisms that explain it. Ex: why did plants evolve to be green? I would recommend watching bozeman biology and crashcourse on youtube for content review. The test is no longer about breath; they wont ask you specific biology questions its more like the ACT where you interpret graphs and info they give. You’re not gonna have to remember specifics just know general concepts and how it connects to evolution. Oh and remember the scientific method haha :). Good luck!</p>
<p>Hey guys, I have an urgent question that I must ask. It might be a little off-topic, so forgive me :S
So I bought the cliffs 3rd edition for AP Bio, however, since the AP Bio course format has been changed, would it mean that I would need the newest cliffs edition (4th) or am I fine with the one that I have? Does it really make a difference?
I really hope not :/</p>
<p>Sorry, you need the newest edition. In fact, I’d wait until the next edition came out.</p>
<p>Aww I have a brand new copy of the 3rd edition cliffsnotes too and I guess it’s useless now :’(
Any other good prep books you can recommend? PR? Barron’s?
One more question, is AP Bio heavy on biochem? Is it possible to do well without having taken a chemstry class before?</p>
<p>You should be fine. They teach you most, if not all, of what you need to know from biochem in Biology anyway. Chemistry is only needed to have some experience with it so you don’t start off Biology learning something completely new.</p>
<p>Did the test get harder this year? In all of the other threads I’ve read they all claimed that Bio is the easiest of all other AP sciences because it’s mostly memorization. Is that no longer the case? Is it still possible to self-study for it and aim to get a 4 or 5?</p>
<p>I was upset at first about the changes made to AP Biology. But after taking the test, I can say that I’m actually glad they changed it. The new test is far more conceptual and reading-based. You really have to know what’s going on to do well on the multiple choice section. As for free response, memorization comes in handy more than on MC. There are 2 long free response and 6 short ones. The long ones can have graphs and stuff (the released practice test we took did) and I can bet you that coming up with an experimental design will show up on every test. There’s also more math on this test - Hardy-Weinberg, chi-square, and the like.</p>
<p>Basically, if you work to really learn the concepts and not simply memorize the facts (e.g. according to the new course description, you don’t need to know exactly what happens in each step of mitosis, the Calvin and Krebs cycles) and know how to perform a chi-square test and use the Hardy-Weinberg equations, you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Good luck to all of you, and may the odds be ever in your favour!</p>
<p>OH and one more thing: the key to this course now is making connections. You have to be able to relate all the separate topics in a certain way to big ideas such as evolution and homeostasis. That’s what they want students to be able to accomplish, and that’s why they redid the curriculum in the first place.</p>
<p>Well that sounds quite challenging. I prefer that they kept the old version as opposed to this new one. I am more of a straightforward person when it comes to tests, but I suppose that most of the AP classes are not so “straightforward.” And I guess this is where we all upcoming AP Bio students need to use our brain more, and think more as well. Though, I accept this challenge :|</p>
<p>Agreed, this new AP Bio requires more critical thinking. But I guess I liked it because biology is my favorite class :D</p>
<p>Would I be okay with the Cliffsnotes AP Bio 4th edition or should I wait for the 5th edition and when is the fifth edition coming out?</p>
<p>When is the new edition of CliffsNotes and Barrons of AP Biology coming out? I thought they were released early this year.</p>
<p>crystal19 what did you get on the AP Biology exam and what would you suggest I do to study</p>
<p>any good online resources/ prep books?
i am currently equipped with a campbell 7th edition, barrons 2013 ap bio, princeton 2013 ap bio, cliffsnotes ap bio.
starting late</p>