Tips for getting 750+ Bio SAT II

<p>Hi, I'm a high school junior. I've taken the Bio SAT II twice. The first time I got a 680 (after freshman regular Bio), and the second time I got a 700 (junior year). I studied a lot for both of these times so I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I'm taking college Bio right now so that will help a lot. But does anyone have tips on how they got a 750+? Is it just memorizing Barron's? (I used Barron's and Kaplan the last two times.) Do I need to get PR? Should I memorize PR or Barron's?</p>

<p>I'm not a genius like tons of the people on here. But I felt like I studied well for the last two times, yet I'm not getting the score I want. I'm not looking at the Ivies but I am considering Stanford. I only have one more time I can take it.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>My first recommendation is to get Cliff’s guide to the Bio AP. The AP was harder than the SAT, and Cliff’s was the best, so the only risk you’d run with it is over-preparing. </p>

<p>I got a 790 after taking AP Bio - I don’t dream I could have gotten as high as a 680 after just freshman year. I think the college class is going to make all the difference in the world.</p>

<p>I took the Bio SAT II 9 months after finishing AP Bio. I tried going through Barron’s but found it extremely boring, so I just read through PR. I thought PR was well written, easy to understand, and fun to read. Sorta went through it once, took one or two practice tests night before test- got like high 600’s, low 700’s. Didn’t freak out too much, got a good nights rest, and reviewed the key points/ chapter summaries I had marked on the way to the test center. Ended up with 790 on Bio E. </p>

<p>As Avalanche Lily said, I believe college bio will help you out a lot. I would also suggest getting PR. Don’t try and memorize Barron’s but maybe thumb through it. Good luck! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.</p>

<p>umm im a junior right now and i took bio freshman year, which was well taught. do you think i can read a prep book (barron’s or PR) during a summer and score well on the sat ii bio test on october?</p>

<p>@Avalanche Lily and wonderfulworld:</p>

<p>Thanks for your comments. I am going back through Barron’s right now and my college class has helped me retain a lot more info. I’ve already been through the Barron’s book twice so now I’m just going through it once more and memorizing the material I still don’t know. I like the layout of the Barron’s with all the charts. I’m not going to get Cliffs AP because I don’t have time to overprepare, although it’s a great suggestion. Do you think I still need to get Princeton Review? What does it have that Barron’s doesn’t have?</p>

<p>@atotc17:</p>

<p>It’s definitely possible (people have done it before). It’s really all about memorization. If you’re good at memorizing and you’re willing to spend a lot of time doing it there is no doubt that you could get 700+ or even 750+. Good luck!</p>

<p>I’m just curious: how do Campbell’s tests compare with the SAT II?</p>

<p>@xxrunningonempty: From my experience with Campbell’s, I would say that the book is much more in-depth than the material tested on the Bio SAT II. I haven’t taken Campbell’s tests, but my current college Bio class uses Campbell’s. For the most part, the info has lined up nicely. I feel much more prepared for the SAT II after having memorized detailed info. But you also need to know the more general picture at the level the SAT II questions are. So that’s why people should use a SAT II review book.</p>