<p>K, so I asked this in yahoo answers...and no one answered so I thought I should as it here:</p>
<p>I am going to take the SAT II Biology E/M test in about a month. I decided to take it this year since I'm taking AP Bio (test is tomorrow,so nervous!) I would like to know which prep book to get and sort of how to organize my study schedule. Could you guys please tell me which biology subject test you you took (E or M), the score you got, the prep book you used (and if you like/dislike it and why), what was your study schedule (how long you studied each day and for how many days), and how much exposure you had of biology before you took the test (as in were you in/did you just get done with AP Biology when you took the test). Also, does anyone know what Brown considers an acceptable score to get on the subject test (reference if you have one please)? Thanks.
And if you have any tips on how to get a better score, any unique and effective study techniques please feel free to include those, thank you!</p>
<p>It’s the most thorough and accurate SAT II Biology test prep book out there imo. :)</p>
<p>The practice questions in them really help! and everything is condensed enough where it doesn’t have a lot of extraneous information… but all the information you need to know is still there in an easily comprehensible way. </p>
<p>I read it in about two days, and it definitely helped a ton! =]
I highly recommend this book for studying for the SAT II Biology test.</p>
<p>I took Biology E after deciding the day before to take Biology M. In fact, halfway in to the Biology M section, I changed my mind and started doing the Biology E portion, buuut I still had around 10 minutes to spare even after I finished the Biology E section… and half the Bio M lol.</p>
<p>Scores for May haven’t come out yet, but I’m pretty confident I got around 750- ish. Right, I studied about 3-4 hrs. per day for two days and I finished PR. I suggest starting a couple of weeks before the actual SAT testing date. I’m just a procrastinator who only studies vigorously under immense pressure. I’m taking AP Bio this year, and we had a good teacher, but we hadn’t gotten to plants/ecology/organ systems/animal stuff yet… and Brown? hmm idk I’d say a 750+ is pretty safe for Brown/any top- tier school. </p>
<p>oh, and tip: unless you’re absolutely positive you’re better at one section than the other (Molecular or Ecology), then I suggest not just jumping right into a particular section. Ex: I decided the day before to take M because our teacher focused more on M and I focused more on digesting molecular biology. But when I got to the M section on the test, I was like “…” so then I jumped back to the Bio E section and what do you know? It was EASYY. I’m talking common sense and basic ecology knowledge easy… and, mind you, I basically skimmed the Ecology section the night before the test… so that’s how easy it was.</p>
<p>So basically, unless you’re absolutely 100% sure you’re going to be doing E or M on June 5th, then I would suggest not totally ruling out a particular section, just in case the other section turns out to be pretty easy. =)</p>
<p>OMG thank you so much! because i was goiong to take Biology M but now I’m reconsidering. Princeton review is what I used for AP Euro and it was pretty good so i believe you. But does anyoe know anything about Barron’s? I hear it is really good?</p>
<p>I did the SAT II Bio M earlier this month. </p>
<p>If it’s any consolation, I found it incredibly easy - I’ve been studying for AP bio out of the CliffsAP (it’s tomorrow, aiya, and I don’t feel ready at all) and I looked over the Princeton Review book for SAT II bio a couple days before the SAT II. The PR book contained way more information than the actual test, and was absolutely nothing compared to the depth of info in AP bio. I’d say if you’ve got a decent bio course at school, just glance over the PR book a week before and you’ll be set. It’s always better to overstudy than understudy, but really - don’t worry too much about it.</p>
<p>k, thanks. Yeah our AP Bio course is very good (we got done over 2 weeks before the test and took a mock test) but I really want an 800. And the AP test was easier than expected…the curve is goiong to be REALLY low this year. Thanks!</p>
<p>@Bioboy12 you’ll get a five @JalliDalli PR doesn’t seem like it covers everything- there are some random questions which aren’t covered in Princeton Review, but having taken an AP course PR is really good review so just stick with that.</p>
<p>Awh, really? You think it’ll be a low curve? Blazes. I definitely missed a couple of MC, and I bs’ed on two out of the four FRQs because I spent all my time studying molecular processes - cell resp, photosynth, etc. Shoot. July seems so far away, this is driving me up the wall. And Chem+Psych tomorrow, aiya.</p>
<p>@Ralec114- which one is the best though? @breaker746-k, thank you @FuzzieLogic- i’m sorry but most ppl are saying it was easy too, so I’m pretty sure</p>
<p>So the general consensus is Princeton Rview? I’m real surprised no one said anything about Barron’s, I had heard really good things about it?</p>
<p>I used Barron’s for AP and SATII Biology,and I was satisfied.</p>
<p>If you have time on your hands and you like reading texts go with Barron’s (Princeton has a lot graphs, explanations, and whatnot). Barron’s has all that with a crap load of text (some of it is unnecessary). If you are a bit crushed for time, though, go with Princeton.</p>
<p>Additionally, Barron’s doesn’t really have accurate tests. The Barron’s tests are usually a bit harder than the real thing. Princeton, as other people said, does have accurate tests, and it does leave out some stuff (but missing one question is not a big deal in the SATIIs).</p>
<p>Both books are really good, but I prefer Barron’s.</p>
<p>ok, thank you so much. I think I’ll use Barron’s since we don’t really do anything anymore because my 2 APs are over. I still have world lit, algebra 2 and spanish 3 but those are really easy classes. Thanks for all the help guys. I’ll fill you in on my score once I get it
Anyone else?</p>
<p>Hey is CliffsAP good for SAT 2? I mean it’s for AP right? And I’ve heard that the AP and SAT2 are radically different from each other. So will it do me any good to buy Cliffs AP for SAT 2?</p>
<p>I studied for two weeks (not intense at all) with Barrons, official Collegeboard SAT II test book, and my AP Bio book. It wasn’t that hard. Solve a lot of questions and read over notes in parts that you’re not comfortable with. </p>
<p>I have the Kaplan book for bio sat2 subject test and am going to take the exam in October.
Do you think I should use PR or Barron’s, given the 2-3 months time I have at hand.
P.S: I haven’t done AP Bio.</p>
<p>@AkPenn First off, Kaplan is the worst book you could get. Second, why are you taking it in October when you can wait and take it when you feel more ready towards the end of the school year? From what everyone is saying, I would recommend you get PR for SAT II Biology. I’m planning on taking the SAT II for Biology at the end of this year after taking just honors biology, and I’m going to get PR’s SAT II Bio guide. By the way, I may also go for the AP Bio exam test if I decide to get an AP Bio study guide and feel comfortable enough.</p>
<p>@TheAutodidact I’m wondering, if I’m in 9th grade and I’m currently taking a regular bio class in school and I want to take the test either by June or the beginning of 10th grade, what book should I get? Is an AP or SAT II book more suitable, as I mostly like will take AP bio in the future? I have a Kaplan book, but as you said that it’s not that good. My teacher has recommended Barron’s but I’m not sure. </p>
