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

<p>Wait so the Cliffs review guide that I just bought is all wrong?!</p>

<p>It is garbage, even after the update really.</p>

<p>The actual content in the book is still exactly the same as the previous AP Bio, they don’t even include the 4 Big Ideas. The only good thing is that the two mock exams have the same format as the new AP Bio exam, but the MCQ don’t seem to follow what the new APBio MCQs should be, and are almost identical to the previous.</p>

<p>And yes, the Cliffs book is pretty much useless since you don’t know what to get from it. It was great for last year.</p>

<p>thx you for posting !!</p>

<p>our teacher gave us a whole packet of ap bio material we need to know for the ap exam. it’s mandatory hw and every week she checks it. so in a way, it preps us :)</p>

<p>Hi, I’m enrolled in my school’s AP Bio course, and my teacher’s been going off the collegeboard book chapter sheet for Campbell 8th edition, which specifies which sections and chapters we need to know for the exam. So basically, we didn’t cover what’s not written on the sheet. Do you guys think that it’s safe to follow the guideline made by collegeboard, or should I try to play catch up and learn all the other supposedly “unnecessary” material?</p>

<p>Stick with what is on the list. Knowing that material well will serve you far better than taking time to learn material that will not be tested.
The new test involves more skills that knowledge. You should practice interpretations of data and application of concepts rather than memorizing facts. If that is what your teacher is doing, s/he is on the right track.</p>

<p>Thanks BigIs. I looked at the sample questions on the official Collegeboard AP bio course revision packet, and they are much different from the ones my teacher has. (Her multiple choice questions are generally straightforward and short). Do you have any suggestions on how to prepare for the upcoming exam?</p>

<p>Hi! I am self-studying AP Bio this year (I was taking the class but dropped out after the first week because I needed a free period for a short while…)</p>

<p>I am currently using Cliffs. Is that OK to use? And do you know of any other good resources?</p>

<p>Also, can anyone tell me what the main differences are in this new test?</p>

<p>The new test questions will provide information that you have to manipulate in some way. For example, you may be given a graph of pH vs. Activity for a specific enzyme. You don’t have to know anything about the specific enzyme, you just need to interpret the graph. In many cases, the reason there is more reading is that the question provides all the content information needed to answer the skill called for in the question, such as being able to ask a question, select the best conclusion, etc.</p>

<p>So, there will be many cases where after reading the question you may say “I never learned anything a beta-lactam dehydrogenase!” If you read the question, you will find you really don’t have to know anything about beta-lactam dehydrogenase beyond what is described in the question.</p>

<p>The CB questions are the best examples of the new questions. Keep a lookout for as many of these kinds of questions as possible in recently released review books.</p>

<p>Basically, the rules are still the same:

  1. Know the stuff (as defined in the new Curriculum Framework)
  2. Practice skills – using equations, creating hypothesis, interpreting data.
  3. Don’t panic! If you don’t understand the question upon first reading it, neither do the other 191,000 students taking the exam. The ones who stay calm, re-read the question and answer the best they can will come out with better performance.</p>

<p>How to learn Bio:

  1. Read.
  2. Visualize what is happening.
  3. Understand why it is happening (why does this occur in nature?).
  4. Commit to memory.</p>

<p>Step 4 is usually the hardest part imo. But steps 1-3 make that step 4 a whole heck of a lot easier (like, to the point where I only need to reread once or twice, not 20 times).</p>

<p>I got the prep book for campbell’s prep book from pearson education. Is that any good? Any reviews, etc?</p>

<p>Our class is using the 6th edition of Campbell and Reece for the course. However, after having thoroughly gone through chapters 3-26 (microbiology to evolution), we’re basically jumping over much of the sections on the kingdoms of life. So far, we’ve skipped 28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35, and 37. These include evolution and diversity along with specific structures and functions in plants. Do I need to read these on my own or is that actually in accordance with the new cirricuulum?</p>

<p>We’re doing genetics right now, and I want to kill myself. I HATE GENETICS, it’s so weird!</p>

<p>Ok I know its early but is there any new review books that you guys would recommend? … my class is on the evoultion unit studying protist …
this class is by far the hardest ive ever taken … My B+ in the class is by luck :(</p>

<p>I’m having a hard time in this class too, I managed to pull an 82 last semester, but this semester is killing me, I’ve failed the ch 12 and 13 (mitosis and meiosis) tests and my teacher plans on combining ch 14-17 (genetics) tests. I fail the multiple choice, but always manage on the essays. My class is using 8th edition Campbell & Reece.</p>

<p>I already know I’m getting a B in this class and might barely scrape a 2-3 on the AP exam</p>

<p>Hi everyone. I’ve ordered the cliffnotes AP biology book for the 2013 test. The delivery estimate is March 27th-April 4th 2013. So I’ve started using the old cliffnotes book till the new one arrives. How different will the new test be? Should I prep from this books and prep from the new book when it arrives or just wait till April? I mean, shouldn’t the content be almost the same?
Sorry for the noob-ness. I’m from Pakistan and don’t attend a school that offers AP’s so I’m self studying.</p>

<p>Does anyone still have the old FRQ pdf or link? I can’t find any of those since college board reset their released exam column… It would be great preparation for AP exam in May.</p>

<p>Did anyone get Barron’s yet? I heard it’s a lot better than Princeton’s.</p>

<p>Just for reference, what chapter are your classes currently on? I feel like my class is going really slowly because we just started chapter 24…</p>

<p>We’re on Evolution in our book. We’re not using an AP book like you guys. It’s an honors book lol</p>