The AP biology exam by The College Board is not the one to take light-heartedly. If you’re looking to ace this exam, you will need to be well prepared and for that, you need a guide. Here’s the Expert’s guide for the AP Biology examination.
What Are The AP Exams?
The AP or advanced placement exams are conducted by the College Board. They are for high school students who want to go above and beyond and take up college-level courses in a particular subject. This may be for easier college placements or for self-learning.
These tests are designed by College professors in association with the College Board especially for high school students and involve a semester of college-level studies.
What Is The AP Biology Exam?
The AP biology exam is an exam offered by the college board that is taken after the completion of AP biology course. This course teaches students the core principles, processes, and theories governing living organisms and biological systems.
The biology course explores both theoretical and practical concepts, especially the understanding of simple concepts related to life around us.
How Do I Perform Well In The AP Biology Exam?
The first and foremost step towards a good performance is to know what you are going to study, which means, knowing the syllabus.
1. Syllabus: The AP Biology course consists of:
Chemistry of Life: (8% to 11% of score)
- The structure and chemical properties of water
- The makeup and properties of macromolecules
- The structure of DNA and RNA
Cell Structure and function: (10% to 13% of score)
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- Cellular components and functions of those components
- Cell interaction with its environment
- The cell membrane structure and function
- Cell regulatory mechanisms like osmosis and selective permeability
- Cellular compartmentalization
Cellular Energetics: (12% to 16% of score)
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- The structure and function of enzymes
- The role of energy in living systems
- The processes of photosynthesis
- The processes of cellular respiration
- Molecular diversity and cellular response to environmental changes
Cell Communication and Cell Cycle: (10% to 15% of score)
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- The mechanisms of cell communication
- Signal transduction
- Cellular responses and feedback mechanisms
- The events in a cell cycle
Heredity: (8% to 11% of score)
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- The process and function of meiosis
- The concepts genetic diversity
- Mendel’s laws and probability
- Non-mendelian Inheritance
- Factors affecting inheritance and gene expression
Gene expression and Regulation: (12% to 16% of score)
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- The roles and functions of DNA and RNA
- The mechanisms of gene expression
- How genotype affects phenotype
- Mutations, genetic diversity, and natural selection
- Genetic engineering and biotechnology
Natural Selection: (13% to 20% of score)
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- Evidential support for evolution and common ancestry
- The mechanisms of natural selection and speciation
- Environmental and human-caused factors in the evolution
- Charting species ancestry through phylogenetic trees and cladograms
- Extinction
- Models of the origin of life on Earth
Ecology: (10% to 15% of score)
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- Communication and responses to environmental changes
- Energy flow within and across ecosystems
- Factors in the growth, density, and success of populations
- Factors in community and ecosystem dynamics
- Invasive species, human interaction, and environmental changes
Source: CollegeBoard
2. Study pattern: Once you have a good understanding of marks distribution, you should create a study pattern to cover all the topics so that you can score well and maximize your score. If you have sufficient time, make sure to prepare for topics you are weak in and revise the high-scoring topics.
A study chart helping you separate work and play and split your time wisely as well as remind you what topics to complete. Setting deadlines is another great way to achieve this.
Remember to solve a lot of practice test papers as well, as they prepare for what’s about to come.
3. Tutoring: Getting help from a tutor can help you understand complex concepts faster. Whether it be online or offline, having someone to guide you will only speed up the rate at which you complete your studies. This will also help you approach more complex problems and questions with ease.
These three points are what constitute the fundamentals of acing the examination. If you ensure that you follow these basic principles: analyzing the pattern, time management, and getting help where you need, you will definitely ace the AP Biology exam as well as any other obstacle in your life.
