Last test date for me. How are you all studying? I’m planning on reviewing Barron’s once more and skimming PR. Definitely gonna review plant structures this time :^)
I had a question.
Which group of organisms was the first to have internal fertilization?
a) fishes
b) amphibians
c) reptiles
b) birds
e) mammals
Initially I thought reptiles. But then sharks perform internal fertilization as well. The answer that the book gives, however, is reptiles. I don’t know why.
Well according to my Barrons book, there’s a chart that goes in this order
Fish: external fertilization
Amphibian: external
Reptiles: internal
Birds: internal
Mammals: internal
Sharks are fish not reptiles and I assume that they’re an exception to the rule just like how platypus are mammals even though they lay eggs.
Hey, how did the test go for everyone? I took E and I already know I got 2 wrong. 
but I didn’t skip any…
I omitted one and ran out of time so rushed through 7 or so questions
There were so many ecology questions in the general rip
Test was incredibly easy for me. I took Bio M though.
Ecology wasn’t so bad though!
@ambitiousgeek
Did you take E or M?
Now that I think about it, I’m kinda annoyed there weren’t any human system questions or hormones or any of that stuff. So much material wasn’t on this test, which I guess could be good for some. Also I feel like this curve could be potentially very harsh
@19szhang I took M haha
the M portion wasn’t so bad but I kept doubting myself for some answers
@19szhang IKR I’m actually extremely good at human systems and hormones in particular so it triggers me that there were NONE >:(
I even studied so much plants and there was literally a question about phloem and that was it -_-
@ambitiousgeek
I spent maybe half of my time studying plants. That phloem question was easy too… Wouldn’t have needed all that studying. Grrrr
Though there was a question about alternation of generations for me - maybe that was E?
Also the whole doubting yourself thing… I already know I got a question right originally in the core section then changed it at the last second. Hey you know the one about Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution? What did you put for that one?
@19szhang I think I put the inheritance of acquired characteristics for the Darwin one because that was a false theory by Lamark
Did y’all get the dihybrid cross? I think I got 3/16, but I don’t really remember
What was the one with the node and evolution stuff? I know it seperated phylums but the question was asked in a weird way and I didn’t know what to right specifically.
@lydthekid
Sorry I didn’t mean for that one, but I got the same answer for that question. I meant for the one about the island and the birds. I don’t remember the dihybrid cross one.
@thehairbender
I don’t know either, I just put phylums. And yeah I agree it waa worded weirdly.
I put phylum and I put the same for Darwin’s evolution. What about the chart for peacocks with colorful feathers and females that camouflaged? I put the disruptive one with two extrema
@ambitiousgeek I also put disruptive for that one!
Guys IDK what y’all consider a good score but I got a 770 last year. For those of you who want higher, take my advice and learn from my mistake. My mistake was getting a little lazy in my study and not studying this one really minor topic in the Barrons that SHOWED UP ON TEST DAY. If I had gotten those 2 questions right, I could have an 800. Other than that though, my plan was really solid. Also, for the overly ambitious, something I didn’t have time to do because I have a few weeks was to practice with the cracksat bio tests. If I had done that, I would have surely gotten an 800.
l but for those of you who want this score, feel free to listen to my tips. My main method to study was with Barrons. I memorized the book from top to bottom. It helped me. NOTHING IN THAT BOOK IS IRRELEVANT. A lot of my friends learned that the hard way. Memorize everything. I enjoy bio and I thought of the book like a story and just pretended to like it. Second, get the PR and use it to supplement your Barron studies. Some things I wasn’t solid on still and I used the Princeton Review to help me with that. It has really good easy to understand explanations but leaves lots of things out of the book. That is why I suggest it be only as a supplement.
Now with practice tests. Barrons are much harder than the actual thing for good reason. I suggest taking these tests first. Then when you miss stuff on it, go back and study the material on that topic hard. Barrons tests are harder but very comprehensive of the content. There are exactly 2 in the book. Then I suggest taking Princeton review tests (2) after you have gone through the Barrons and mastered them. These tests are about as accurate as any test prep company will get to the actual test. Then on the day before, take the official released test in the prep book (there is only one so use it carefully).
BOOKS PROs and CONs
- Barrons: review and content is robust and amazing. Nothing comes close. The practice tests are more to help you find where you need to go review AFTER you have studied the book from top to bottom. They aren't like the actual test.
- Princeton Review: review and content is good. Lots of key info missing here that is in the Barrons. It simplifies the content very well tho. Use as supplement. Practice tests are AMAZING. They are the most accurate practice tests by a third party.
- Kaplan: trash don't buy. Wastes time and money. The content is missing in some areas and overboard in others. The tests are absurdly horrible. Don't waste your time.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- your ap bio prep book IS NOT ENOUGH!
-you don’t need to go and waste your time with high school ap bio textbooks - just use the books mentioned and you’ll be fine.
MY SCORES
- first barons score: 680
- second barrons score: 710
- first PR score: 720 -second PR score: 740
- official book score: 760
- test score: 770
OMG everyone less than 2 days left until results are up! I’m getting increasingly nervoussssss omggggg. I’m definitely waking up at 5am (eastern) Thursday morning… Anyone else in the same boat?