INTRODUCTION TO AP
BIOLOGY
2013-2014
What is AP Biology
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AP Biology is designed to be the equivalent of
a University Introductory Biology Course
It is recommended that students spend 1-1.5
hours on homework per class
This year’s date: Monday, May 12, 2014
The Big Ideas
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Big Idea 1:
 The
process of evolution drives the diversity and
unity of life
 Evolution
 Genetics
 Cells
 Taxonomy
The Big Ideas

Big Idea 2:
 Biological
systems utilize free energy and
molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce
and to maintain dynamic homeostasis
 Biochemistry
 Metabolic
Processes
 Ecology - Cycles
 Cells
 Homeostasis
The Big Ideas

Big Idea 3:
 Living
systems store, retrieve, transmit and
respond to information essential to life processes
 Genetics
 Cell
Communication
 Population Dynamics (Ecology)
 Homeostasis
The Big Ideas
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Big Idea 4:
 Biological
systems interact, and these systems
and their interactions possess complex properties
 Biochemistry
 Ecology
Science Practices
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Designed to ensure that AP Biology students
engage in the practice of science
Enable students to develop questions and
hypotheses, and then design experiments that
provide evidence and explanations
Science Practices
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#1 – The student can use representations and
models to communicate scientific phenomena
and solve scientific problems (ex. graphs,
diagrams, pictures, etc…)
#2 The student can use mathematics
appropriately
Science Practices
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#3 – The student can engage in scientific
questioning to extend thinking or to guide
investigations within the context of the AP
course
#4 – The student can plan and implement data
collection strategies appropriate to a particular
scientific question
Scientific Practices
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#5 – The student can perform data analysis
and evaluation of evidence
#6 – The student can work with scientific
explanations and theories
#7 – The student is able to connect and relate
knowledge across various scales, concepts
and representations in and across domains
(big ideas)
Scoring

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The exam is rated on a 1-5 scale with 4 or 5
usually needed for University credit
The exam has two parts:
 Multiple
Choice (50%)
 Essay (50%)
 80-90 minutes are allowed for each part
Multiple Choice

69 Questions:
 63
multiple choice
 6 grid-in questions
 90 minutes
 50% of exam
Short Answer

8 Free Response Questions (50%)
 10
min (reading) + 80 min (writing)
 2 multi-part questions
1
connects to a lab
 25%
6
single-part questions
 25%
Science is based on:
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Observations
Experiments
Deductive Reasoning
Scientific Method

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Outlines a series of steps for answering
questions
Obtains “evidence” through the use of
experiments
Scientific Methods Steps
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1. Identify the problem.
2. What is already known?
3. Formulate a hypothesis.
4. Conduct an experiment.
5. Collect data
6. Compare data to hypothesis
7. Conclusions and new hypothesis
Laboratory

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Inquiry-Based Labs
12 labs are suggested
 Recommended
2

to do at least 8
per big idea
Many error analysis questions
 How
can the graph/data set be improved?
 How can the experimental design be improved?
Summary
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We will see the “big ideas” at various times
throughout the course.
AP Biology students must be able to design an
experiment to test a hypothesis
Why Take AP Biology?
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To gain university credit
For the academic challenge
For advance preparation of what to expect in a
university course
For university admission reasons
Suggested Prerequisites
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Willing to spend the time for success
Self-motivated worker
1-2 years of high school Biology
Chemistry
Good communication skills