AP Biology
Exam Format
and Strategy
What do I need to know?
• AP Biology Curriculum (content topics)
• APPLICATION of knowledge through practice:
– Modeling to explain biological principles
– Use of MATH to explain concepts
– Making predictions (What will happen?)
– Justification of phenomena
(Why did it happen?)
– Experimental design
– Manipulating & interpreting data
Did somebody say…MATH?
• Use of a 4-function calculator
– No graphing or scientific
– No cell phones or iPods
• Use of AP bio formula sheet
• Mostly for Grid-in Questions
AP Exam Format
Section One
Section Two
• 63 Multiple Choice
– 4 Choices (A, B, C, D)
– No guessing penalty!
• 6 Grid-in (numeric ans.)
• 90 minutes to answer
• 2 “Long” Free Response
(Essay)
• 6 “Short” Free Response
(Short answer)
• 10 minute reading
period (planning only)
• 80 minutes to answer
Test Scoring
Section One = 50%
• 63 Multiple Choice (1 pt ea)
= approximately 45%
• 6 Grid-ins (1 point each)
= approximately 5%
Section Two = 50%
• 2 Long Free Response
(10 points each) = 25%
• 6 Short Free Response
(3-4 points each) = 25%
Mult Ch
Grid In
Long FR
Short FR
Unit Exam Format
Day Two
Day One
•
•
•
•
• 1 “Long” Free Response
(Essay), 10 points
• 3 “Short” Free
Response (Short
Answer), 2-4 points
each
• 45 minutes to answer
32 Multiple Choice
3 Grid-In
All items 1 point each
45 minutes to answer
SUGGESTED Timing for Section One
• TOTAL ALLOWED TIME = 90 minutes
• 80 minutes for Multiple Choice
– 63 multiple choice questions
– Approximately 1.5 minutes per question
• 10 minutes for Grid-in Questions
– 6 grid-in questions
– Approximately 2 minutes
per question
SUGGESTED Timing for Section Two
• TOTAL ALLOWED TIME = 90 minutes
• 10 minute Reading Period (mandatory)
• 40 minutes on Long Free Response
– 2 Long Free Response questions
– 20 minutes per question
• 40 minutes on Short Free Response
– 6 Short Free Response questions
– Approximately 6 minutes per question
Free Response ≠ English class Essay
• Do NOT write a
5-paragraph essay!
• Do NOT worry about
correct grammar,
spelling, or punctuation
• Do NOT simply draw a
diagram or chart
• Do NOT worry about
writing incorrect
information
• DO write legibly and in
complete sentences
• DO be sure to identify
what the question is
asking
• DO be specific
• DO be careful not to
contradict yourself
• DO be sure to answer
all parts of the question
Experimental Design Questions
• Design an experiment to answer a specific
question posed about a scenario
• Identify independent and dependent variables
(use only ONE independent variable)
• Describe both experimental and control
treatments, identify constant variables
• Discuss random sampling and testing in
replicate (at least 3 test subjects or groups)
• Describe and explain expected results
(include a graph if appropriate)
Example Grid-In Questions
340 to 360
60
Example Multiple-Choice
Questions
AP Bio Multiple Choice Tips
• Most questions will present you with some
sort of biological scenario or example (you
may or may not be previously familiar with it)
• You will have to apply concepts you know
from course content to analyze and answer
• Read the question carefully and determine
what it is asking you
• Eliminate obviously wrong answer choices
• BE CONFIDENT THAT YOU CAN FIGURE THESE
OUT! (It’s not simply memorizing facts!)
The correct answer is B.
• Amphipathic molecules
are found embedded in
membranes, where
hydrophilic portions of
the molecule interact
with an aqueous
environment (much like
the phosphate ends of
phospholipids) and
hydrophobic portions of
the molecule are
sandwiched inside the
membrane (along with
hydrophobic fatty acid
chains)
The correct answer is B.
• Incorrect answer choices can easily be
eliminated for this question:
– The shape of an RNA molecule doesn’t determine
the sequence of the protein it encodes.
– DNA is not a molecule that carries energy.
– Monosaccharide sequence doesn’t determine the
shape of a carbohydrate.
• Shape determines protein function (think
active site of enzymes)
The correct answer is C.
• The sulfhydryl
functional group (SH) of cysteine is vital
for disulfide bridging,
an important
component of protein
structure.
The correct answer is D.
• According to the graph, the enzymes have
optimal pH values as follows:
– Enzyme x = pH 2
– Enzyme y = pH 7.5
– Enzyme z = pH 9.6
• Therefore enzyme X would be active in the
acidic stomach, while enzymes Y and Z would
be active in the neutralized intestine.
Extra Credit Opportunities
Test Corrections
Web Wednesdays
• Multiple-Choice and Grid-In
section
• Reclaim up to ¼ point per
incorrect response
• Must be hand-written on
lined paper and stapled to
original answer sheet
• Write out full question, full
correct answer, and a brief
narrative explaining
rationale for correct answer
• Must be completed and
turned in before next exam
is administered
• Free Response section
• Links to respond to posted on
class website (Weds)
• 2-3 page typed response
(standard format)
• Description, relation to class,
importance to society, impact
in your own life
• Up to 5 points added to raw
score on free response
• Due Tuesday (11:59pm)
following the Wednesday post
(hand in or e-mail)
• Only one WW can be applied
to each exam