*** Official AP Biology Thread 2012-2013 ***

Test Preparation AP Sciences
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<p>Great! Glad you guys want to give it a try, so as of right now, the people interested in the study group are you two plus someone in another thread plus me of course. That’s only four people, so I think I will wait a little longer before I initiate the start of the study group :)</p>

<p>Also, this is my first experience with biology besides 7th grade life science like xariel! Pretty much all the material is new to me which is a part of why I’m so keen to get a study group going haha also, I’m taking Honors Bio at school and then self-studying the Campbell textbook so that I can take the AP exam in May. Is anyone else doing something like this? I wish I could actually take the AP Bio class at school, but my school happens to not offer it (or AP Chem).</p>

222

<p>Is anyone else covering all the way up to Plant and Animal Physiology before the end of 1st semester? It looks like we’re only going to have 3 units left going into 2nd semester. Just curious if any of you guys are also going this fast-thanks!</p>

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<p>Yuck, I cannot express my deep and passionate hate for cell communication. Bombed the Campbell test on it, brought my low A down to an 88.8%, and AP Bio is my first B ever.</p>

224

<p>@LillaBella: I’m self studying and covered about 2 units in 4 nights (granted, the shortest two)…don’t know if that’s helpful in giving you perspective? I know my school’s AP Bio class (that I’m not in) moves super slow and basically covers sophomore honors bio; they’re only 17 chapters through.</p>

225

<p>If anyone else would like to take up my offer of a study group, I would really appreciate it. :)</p>

226

<p>Just read this:</p>

<p><a href=“http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/2012advances/AP-Biology_CED_Fall2012.pdf[/url]”>http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/2012advances/AP-Biology_CED_Fall2012.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
Memorization of the names of the phases of mitosis is beyond the
scope of the course and the AP Exam.</p>

<p>LOL! This test is gonna be a piece of cake</p>

227

<p>@MITobsession: So what format shall the study group take? Chat room, separate CC thread, quiz bowl-style app, Skype bowl?</p>

228

<p>@shinexalive: I’m thinking that a chat room format would work out best, but I am completely open to new opinions and ideas! I am still working out some details with other people, so I will PM you ASAP when I can form the group :slight_smile: thanks again for your interest in the group.</p>

229

<p>@MITobsession: Ok, thanks, keep me posted ^_^</p>

230

<p>@ MITobsession add me!</p>

<p>OK so for the sample questions in the AP Bio Fall Course description, there was a question about the effects of nitrates on a growth curve. Apparently, phosphate creaes a new carrying capacity above the original carrying capacity, but nitrate doesn’t. Can someone explain this?
I am pretty scared about this test because it has a lot of random information. Best to use cliffs and barron’s and go overboard…</p>

231

<p>The carrying capacity is usually determined by a single limiting factor. In this case, the amount of available phosphate is that limiting factor. Add more phosphate, the carrying capacity goes up. Adding more nitrate will have no effect, as this isn’t the limiting factor for this population. Adding more anything other than more phosphate would not affect the carrying capacity in this population.</p>

232

<p>OK thanks and for the chi squared test in the sample grid-in, do you just add (o-e)^2/2 for all of the purple flowers and all the yellow flowers??</p>

233

<p>It’s (o-e)^2/e. Add the value for the purple and the value for the yellow</p>

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<p>What I mean is that are they willing to accept examples that are not outlined in the scoring rubric?
For example, look at question 3, part c (the one about transcription and translation) <a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board;
there are many different ways to go about answering this question. Aside from those outlined in the rubric, I can also argue that translation involves the help of another organelle, namely ribosome, while transcription does not. And I think that’s perfectly acceptable. Biology is a very vast subject, not to mention that students attending different schools may get taught different concepts depending on the teacher. CB can’t expect us all to think the same and to write what they want us to write on the exam.
But do the scorers understand this? Will they not reward points for answers that do not show up on the rubric?</p>

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<p>^I’m pretty sure (I hope) that any answer that’s valid will be accepted :)</p>

236

<p>prolly going to be as easy as environmental science now that they took away 40% of the curriculum</p>

237

<p>So the best prep book is still Cliff Notes? Heard the Princeton Review for the 2013 AP Biology exam is garbage.</p>

238

<p>My teachers said that the new exam for 2013 includes a lot of scientific reasoning and ACT-style experimental questions. Does anyone have more detailed information about these changes?</p>

<p>Also, for the grid-ins, does your answer start from the right or left and what is the margin of error on your answer. Like if the answer is “2.5” is “2.50” or “2.50000” acceptable?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>Where did you hear the 2013 PR book is garbage? I purchased it since it’s the only one out for the new exam and don’t think it’s bad. The reviews on Amazon are misleading - it is in face updated for the new exam, with both the review and practice exams revised.</p>

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<p>When does everyone start studying for APs? I usually start in march but I’m pretty bad at Bio so when should I start?</p>