<p>So I'm taking the SAT Biology E/M on June 2011 & I've only taken regular biology in high school (last year) and I just bought the Kaplan book yesterday. I looked through it and it was almost all gibberish to me :/. For the people who've already taken the test, is it challenging? Tips would be much appreciated :)</p>
<p>Kaplan can be overwhelming. Some say it’s perfect, but most will tell you it over-prepares you. CliffsAP is good if you have a lot of time. It contains a lot of good facts, but you need to take a couple of months studying it, along with time afterwards to review troubling sections. If you only need a 700, then PR and Barrons will be enough. Sparknotes has free online tests, and the College Board has released free tests.</p>
<p>Correction: College Board has released Real* tests.</p>
<p>Most people say you need an AP Biology course for that subject test but honestly you dont, i’m currently in AP Bio, and all of the stuff that was on that test (took it this may) was just regular biology, but i agree with djumper186, get a cliffs.</p>
<p>For those wanting to take the Biology Olympiad next year: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sciences/1144884-official-usabo-2012-discussion.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sciences/1144884-official-usabo-2012-discussion.html</a></p>
<p>Cliffs AP can be read in a weekend. I LOVED the book. My mom bought me the PR book for the SAT II E/M and I don’t particularly like the setup. It may be a bit more focused than Cliffs AP and I’ll probably use both. I had thought the Cliffs diagrams were oversimplified, but then I saw some of the ones in this PR book.</p>
<p>It would probably be wise to do a section each day, whatever book you decide to use. Just keep calm and don’t worry, even if it may seem like gibberish. A lot of bio can be memorized (especially M) and therefore, you can teach yourself what you don’t remember.</p>
<p>So does Cliff’s AP Bio cover pretty much everything you need for Bio SATII to get a near-perfect score?</p>
<p>I would think so. I would flip through a PR or Barrons SAT II book one weekend to make sure, but it should be fine (if your library has one or you can borrow from a friend). Cliffs AP is extremely helpful and informative. The only thing I know for a fact it doesn’t have that PR has, is a skeletal system section. This is a page and a half in PR and is basic information that I knew after basic middle school biology.</p>
<p>Okay thanks, I was just wondering. I’m not even sure if I’m going to be taking any SAT II’s, but if I did, bio would be one of them (It’s my top favorite subject and I got a 5 on the AP exam using Cliff’s last year). I wonder if my Campbell’s book has anything on the skeletal system…</p>
<p>@Diagnostician… why are you spamming the wrong boards promoting your USABO thread? Go spend your time reading Campbell.</p>
<p>do any of you know how sparknotes compares to barrons compares to the real thing. because i got 670 700 680 730 750 on sparknotes but 540 and 620 on barrons. how hard is the actual test?</p>
<p>^*sorry by barrons i meant kaplan</p>