Preparing for USABO

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>After looking at AP Biology practice questions (and even SAT II Bio questions), I'm starting to realize how watered-down my "Honors Biology" class was. As a pre-pre-med hoping to be accepted into Ivy League schools or equivalent, I decided that I should prepare myself for the AP Biology exam. In doing so, I've realized how much I enjoy the subject, so I've decided to participate in the 2014 USABO.</p>

<p>I've already decided to order the giant Campbell and Reece Biology (8th Edition), and I'm considering Raven's Biology of Plants. I've been told that Raven's doesn't help much on the open exam, but, if I qualify for the semifinal exam, there won't be much time to get the book. Do you think I should purchase Raven's Biology of Plants, and are there any other resources I should consider?</p>

<p>Now, I plan to read Campbell's over the summer and take a respectable amount of notes, but I won't be able to devote the whole summer to biology because I'm going to PROMYS from June 30 - August 10. That gives me approx. a chapter/day for reading Campbell's. Fortunately, I have strong memorization skills, and I've been told the open exam focuses on a lot of obscure details.</p>

<p>If I intend to qualify via the open exam and would like a good chance of being Top 20 from semifinals, how much should I intend to study during the school year? (Please don't tell me it's relative!) Also, is there anything else I should study (e.g. taxonomy, Raven's Plants, etc.), and are there any studying methods I should consider?</p>

<p>--------------------About Me--------------------
School Rigor: Home-schooled; taking several AP courses
Related Courses: Honors Biology, Honors chemistry (may supplement with AP preparation), Mathematics (through multi-variable calculus), Human Anatomy and Physiology (next year).</p>

<p>Fortunately, I'm the kind of person that, once dedicated to something like this, will study for hours on end and memorize 1000s of facts until I feel prepared for the competition. The reason is simple: I'm extremely competitive, and I love math and science!</p>

2

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>I plan for USABO stuff as well. </p>

<p>However, as a relative newcomer [your account was made in January], there are a few things that CC can help you with:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Check out the 2013, 2012 and 2011 USABO threads. Google for them or search the AP Science Prep forum. Several CC members are former USABO/IBO Finalists and they answer many questions from USABO hopefuls</p></li>
<li><p>Prep!!! To go from Honors Bio [BTW I’m in the same situation!] to USABO is a big step. I’m also doing ~1 chapter a day, but some people go for like 6 hours a day. I like to set a timer for 2-3 hours and then not allow myself to take breaks when I study. If I do take a break, I pause the timer, and then come back to work, restarting the timer [I learned the trick from a student at Harvard Med, highly recommend]</p></li>
<li><p>Get former tests. Some can be googled for, and there is a large black market for these tests [it is technically illegal to pass out tests, some of the questions are repeated annually]</p></li>
<li><p>Get your school to sponsor USABO!!! [You kind of need that to compete]</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Also here are the best books, in order of top to worst:</p>

<ol>
<li>Campbell and Reece [Any edition past the 6th will do]</li>
<li>Ravens Biology [Many like it compared to Campbell, they cover the same things, but the questions will reference many Campbell charts]</li>
<li>Raven’s Biology of Plants [Really useful after the Opens, i.e Semi’s + Camp]</li>
<li>Albert’s Biology [A lot of stuff on cells, kinda useful, but mostly after Opens]</li>
<li>Voet’s Biology [Not worth it in my experience, unless you can get it below $20]</li>
</ol>

<p>Good Luck
-Apollo11 and another USABO 2014 hopeful</p>

3

<p>Oh, you asked about study techniques:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>A former IBO’er used notecards. I use that method too, but it is hard to copy down charts. Otherwise, it is very effective</p></li>
<li><p>A CC’er named NightShadeQueen, a.k.a Shulin Ye, 7th place at IBO, posted her notes on the USABO 2012 thread. She did them in the Cornell-Notes style</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Also, most USABO people study 1+ hours a day and may or may not have taken at least Honors Bio [Many IBO’ers have taken AP Bio]</p>

4

<p>Thanks for all the tips, Apollo11! I’m going to start studying when school ends (3 more days)! :D</p>

5

<p>^Lol, you’re so lucky, my school ends in June</p>

6

<p>Out of curiosity, how much time are you spending on each chapter?</p>

7

<p>It’s taking me about 1.5 hours per chapter, with heavy use of notecards and ginger ale, in C+R, 7th edition.</p>

<p>Also, my mom has a PhD in Biology from Cambridge, so she quizzes me and helps me sometimes.</p>

<p>BTW, I take Bio the class, and I get like A-'s in that class</p>

8

<p>Thanks again for all the tips! I think I’ll go through the book rather slowly the first time (during the summer) and reread it during the school year. Do you think I should also try to read Raven’s Plant book?</p>