Hi. I’ll be taking AP Biology my Junior Year, and the SAT Subject Test at the end of the year. For all my AP classes, I buy both a Barron’s and Princeton review book (just for safe measures). Since I’m going to be taking the AP class and exam, would it be a waste to buy both a Barron’s and Princeton review book for the subject test? I assume that the content in the AP books will be identical to that of the SAT books, but the test format is going to be different. Also, should I buy the Barron’s or Princeton book for the SAT Subject Test? Thank you.
For the biology subject test specifically, the topics covered deviates from the AP curriculum (you have to know a lot more anatomy and more basic organismal biology which is not tested on the AP exam). Definitely buy a prep book for those new sections or if you prefer, just learn them online instead. CB’s website has a tab “Topics on the Test” for the Biology subject test that you can refer to while studying.
Best of luck!
I used the Barron’s SAT Subject book and felt that it prepared me for the subject test since I scored 780 easily. It’s also a lot easier than the AP bio test, but since there are some parts that aren’t covered, I would suggest getting a SAT subject book and doing a couple of practice tests. Good luck!
How accurate is the scoring on the Barron’s practice tests? I took a practice test today and did pretty bad on it, so I’m worried. Last week I took a practice test from the College Board book and scored much better.
I have taken both the AP bio test and the SAT bio subject test. I did not buy a book for the SAT test, however I would recommend doing it. The SAT content deviates more from the AP bio curriculum than expected. There is content about taxonomy and organismal biology. I sorta of just combined my AP test studying with the SAT II Biology studying. I regret doing this and if getting a high score on this is a priority I would get an SAT Biology book.
@FutureCadet
I did pretty badly on the first practice test I took, but after I studied the entire book (and without taking any more practice tests), I found the actual test to be quite easy. Some of the questions are pretty obviously taken from their material, so I don’t think it’ll be 100% accurate, but it did help me focus my studying on certain sections that I had difficulty with.
How thorough of an understanding of animal phyla do I need for the exam?
How did the test go for everyone? Personally, I found the majority to be quite easy, however there were some that I had absolutely no clue on.
I feel like I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped, necessarily, but agree that they were mostly pretty obvious answers. I think I was a bit unsure on about 10, and I didn’t answer three (yikes). Oh well! Just a bit frustrated with myself that basically all of what I studied the day before must have come up on the M section, because it certainly wasn’t on the E and I definitely did some inefficient review. Way to go for taking it, anyway, and I hope you get the score you’re looking for!
Hi guys! How did it end up going? I got a 770 and I think I’m satisfied with that. 
I thought the test was super easy with 4-5 hard problems and I got a 750 with the Barrons, Princeton, and Kaplan book. However I don’t take any Biology courses in school.