Exam Overview and Advice
Overview
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The AP Exam consists of two sections:
– Multiple choice (63)
– Free Response
Both sections include questions that assess students’ understanding of the big
ideas, enduring understandings, and essential knowledge and the ways in which
this understanding can be applied through the science practices. These may
include questions on the following:
– the use of modeling to explain biological principles
– the use of mathematical processes to explain concepts
– the making of predictions and the justification of phenomena
– the implementation of experimental design
– the manipulation and interpretation of data.
The exam is 3 hours long and includes both a 90-minute multiple- choice section
and a 90-minute free-response section that begins with a mandatory 10-minute
reading period. The multiple-choice section accounts for half of the student’s exam
grade, and the free-response section accounts for the other half.
Overview cont.
• Section I, Part A, consists of 63 multiple-choice
questions that represent the knowledge and
science practices outlined in the AP Biology
Curriculum Framework that students should
understand and be able to apply.
• Part B includes 6 grid-in questions that require
the integration of science and mathematical
skills.
– For the grid-in responses, students will need to
calculate the correct answer for each question and
enter it in a grid in the grid-in section on their answer
sheet
Overview cont.
• In Section II, students should use the
mandatory reading period (10 minutes) to
read and review the questions and begin
planning their responses.
• This section contains two types of freeresponse questions (short and long), and you
will have a total of 80 minutes to complete all
of the questions.
Tips
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Due to the increased emphasis on quantitative skills and application of
mathematical methods in the questions on both sections, students will be allowed
to use simple four-function calculators (with square root) on the entire exam.
Students will also be supplied with a formula list as part of their testing materials.
Beginning with the May 2013 administration of the AP Biology Exam, multiplechoice questions will contain four answer options, rather than five. This change
will save students valuable time without altering the rigor of the exam in any way.
Student’s total score on the multiple-choice section is based on the number of
questions answered correctly. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers or
unanswered questions (SO GUESS!!!).
Each sample multiple-choice and free-response question is followed by a box that
shows the question’s alignment with the essential knowledge statements (so you
should know these to help you answer the questions – it makes guessing the
correct multiple choice answer easier)
When answering your essay questions, please be sure to ANSWER EACH PART OF
THE QUESTION!
Helpful website: https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-biology
Practice Essay Question
• Matter continuously cycles
through an ecosystem. A
simplified carbon cycle is
depicted on the left.
– A. Identify the key metabolic
process for step I and the key
metabolic process for step II,
and briefly explain how each
process promotes movement
of carbon through the cycle.
For each process, your
explanation should focus on
the role of energy in the
movement of carbon.
– B. Identify an organism that
carries out both processes.
Answer:
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A. Identify the key metabolic process for step I and the
key metabolic process for step II and briefly explain how
each process promotes movement of carbon through the
cycle. For each process, your explanation should focus
on the role of energy in the movement of carbon.
Identification : 1 point maximum
I = photosynthesis / Calvin cycle
AND
II = (cellular) respiration / citric acid cycle / Krebs cycle
Explanation: 1 point each row; 2 points maximum –
See chart
B. Identify an organism that carries out both processes.
(1 point maximum)
•Plant
•Algae
•Photosynthetic protist (e.g., Euglena)
•Cyanobacterium
•CO2 fixing bacterium
•Lichen (not fungus)
Process Carbon
Input
Role of
energy in
the
movement
of Carbon
Carbon
Output
Photosyn
CO2 is
fixed
Uses (light)
energy OR ATP
from light
reactions
Organic
molecules
(Cellular)
Resp.
Organic
molecules
are
hydrolyzed
/broken
down
Uses energy
for cellular
processes
such as
growth and/or
ATP
production
CO2