AP Biology Class Information
Heidi Kamilar
Heidi.Kamilar@RISD.org 469 593 8950
Tutorials: Monday 8:20-8:50, Wednesday 4:15-4:45, Friday 4:15-4:45
All class documents and instruction are electronic and found on our Google Share drive link on edline
Additional access to this link is found on our class __________________________________________
Text book: Campbell’s 9th Edition link is found on the share drive as well as many additional resources
online.
Additional Resources helpful to this course: Barrons AP Biology Study Guide, Cliff Notes AP Biology
Study Guide, Smart phone note card App
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/2117.html
Exam Content
More information found on our share drive and on line at AP Central:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/219291.html
The AP CBiology Exam consists of three sections: multiple choice, griddable and free response. All the
sections include questions that assess students’ understanding of the Big Ideas, Enduring
Understandings, and Essential Knowledge and their application of these through the Science Practices.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/2117.html
Section I: Multiple Choice Section
Part A consists of 63 multiple choice questions that represent the knowledge and science pracites
outlined in the AP Biology Cirriculum Framework found on line and listed above. Students should be
able to illustrate the understanding and application of these concepts through these questions.
Part 2 includes 6 griddable questions that require the integration of science and mathematical skills. For
the griddable responses, students will need to calculate the correct answer for each question and enter
it in a grid on that section of the answer sheet. A simple four function calculator is permissible during
the test. Graphing calculators or calculators with memory are not permissible. All claculations required
on the test will not require a graphing calculator and a formula reference chart is provided. The class
however, will require the use of a graphing calculator and software in order to fully explore the content
we will be learning.
Section II: Free-Response Section
Students should use the mandatory 10 minute reading period to read and review the questions and
begin planning their responses. This section contains two types of free-response questions (6 short and
2 long), for which the students will have a total of 80 minutes to complete all of the questions. The
questions are listed in order of most points first and least points last.
Most of the exam is based on a conceptual approach. This approach covers all subject parts of biology
as a mesh of unifying themes. It is imperative to understand the interrelation of each of the Big Ideas
and correlations of the Essential Knowledge concepts and be able to represent this integration
throughout the exam. About 25% of the exam is based on the laboratory portion of the course. The
College Board has mandated 12 labs that must be performed during the year. The College Board
recommends that AP Biology classes have extra time build into the class schedule in order to fully
complete the labs. Lab setup and technique can be very complex and challenging for high school
students. In addition, living organisms and living tissue often operate outside of the class time block.
Thus, on several labs, it will be necessary for students to do some of the lab work extending throughout
the day and before and after school. You will be notified in advance of known time allotments outside
the regularly scheduled class. Please do not make assumptions of my availability of my time or class
room. Please make arrangements as early as possible.
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Advanced Placement Biology is a college course taught in the high school. Each student and parent
should not be surprised by course requirements that are in excess of what you might expect from a
normal advanced high school course. The amount of reading of studying the student will need to do in
order to be successful will be considerable. There will be some full lab write-ups, occasional articles to
be read and summarized and numerous quizzes and exams that will be very challenging. Also some
students who are accustomed to making A’s will make B’s, C’s, or even D’s on exams and assignments.
This may lead them to doubt themselves, their teacher, and the course itself because they forgot they
are taking a college level course with standards that are higher than what they are used to. Colleges
expect a student to have an “equivalent” experience to their freshman level Biology (for science majors)
course, including the laboratories, and to have mastered the content. Many colleges give credit for a
score of 3,4, or 5 on the AP Exam. Other colleges will only accept it as an elective credit for science
majors and not substitute it for their freshman Biology course. Some colleges may require a 5 on the AP
Biology Exam in order to enroll in the Honors Freshman Biology course at their college. You must
contact the college/s you are likely to attend in order to find out their policies on accepting AP scores for
credit and especially request this information from the Dean of the college of study you will be majoring
in with in the college you will be attending. This information must be presented on the Goals Form at
the beginning of your binder.
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Keep in mind that even if you score high on the exam, you may elect to not exempt an introductory
Biology course in college. We will have some great labs, but we cannot match the college facility. With
the kind of preparation you will get in this course, along with some hard work your freshman year, the
good grade you can make in a freshman Biology course could be very helpful to your GPA. In addition
every college tends to have a ‘bias’ in their approach to teaching biology. One school will place more
emphasis on molecular biology, another on evolutionary theory and yet another on ecology. For
students intending to major in a biological science, it is beneficial to pick up on whatever area of biology
their college tends to emphasize as soon as possible. However, for students who make a 4 or 5 on the
AP exam, and do not intend to major in a biological science, retaking Biology would not be the best use
of their time or tuition funds.
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It is important for you to consider why you are taking this course. If your primary reason for taking this
course is a desire to accept and tackle a difficult intellectual challenge, to take a superior course and/or
just to take the AP exam, then AP Biology at Berkner High School can help you meet these goals. I
believer that an AP Biology course can be very beneficial to a student regardless if they pass the AP
Exam or not.
Exposure to higher level subject matter in this course will make you aware of the level of study and time
management skills you will need to be successful in college. I believer that sort of experience can be as
valuable as the college credit you may receive.
The greatest challenge will be that students remain consistent throughout the year. In regular courses,
a bright, high-ability student can let his or her effort slide a little from time to time and make up for it
with a big push right before the test. Other students may work very hard for one semester and then,
upon acceptance to college, may let their efforts slide in the spring. These sorts of strategies will
threaten even the most gifted student’s chances of passing the AP exam.
Although extracurricular activities should be chosen wisely, I see no reason that AP Biology students can
participate fully in athletics, music, drama, student government, clubs and student publications. But
they will have to plan their time carefully. You should expect to spend a minimum of 4-6 hours a week
reading and studying for AP Biology regardless of how many AP courses the student is enrolled in. The
priority you give the course will also be important to how successful the experience will be. I know
many students will be taking more than one AP course. Your priorities are your business, but please
remember that scores of 4 or 5 are difficult to get and require great effort.
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Class and Grading Policy
Make-up Work and Absences:
Check your class calendar or the class website and ask your classmates for notes/worksheets that you
missed. All documents are available on the class Share Drive. The teacher is not responsible for
furnishing students with missing work, instruction, or deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to
utilize the resources and request help as needed.
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Daily, punctual attendance is extremely important to your success in this course.
Unexcused absences/tardies or failure to make up missed work in the required amount of time will
result in zero points for tests, quizzes, labs, homework, classwork etc.
Missed class assignments due to absence must be made up in accordance to the student hand book.
Labs may or may not be able to be made up due to the nature of perishable lab materials and time
requirements; however you will be required to fully complete the lab with provided data or the
equivalent as prescribed by your instructor.
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Homework/Late Work Policies:
Late work is not accepted
All homework assignments and labs are due at the beginning of the period or no credit will be given. A
weekly calendar is provided and each day’s assignments will also be posted on the board at least one
class period before it is due.
Unit homework will consist of questions, descriptions of figures, etc. provided in the form of reading
guides, study guides, and student created notes.
Communication:
Your instructor will post all information on the Share drive by the week and no later than 12 hours prior
class. Late postings will be accompanied with a REMIND text message. It is the students responsibility
to collect all information they may need for class. Do not rely on internet connection and collect all
necessary information ahead of time. All emailed and posted documents must be sent by midnight the
evening prior to deadlines. The instructor will make all efforts to contact parents in the case of poor
student success but it is the responsibility of the parent to monitor the students online grade book.
Many reminders and interesting links are sent through REMIND online and smart phone app. Parents
and students can sign up for this by texting @biosuccess to 214 646 1142 and following the instructions.
You must use your real name in this system. The system does not allow incoming messages so your
instructor will not receive any response to the messages. The best way for you to communicate with the
teacher is through email. Your teacher will try to make phone calls during their conference period as
listed above.
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No Electronic Device Policy:
No cell phones may be used at any time without the express permission of the instructor and only for
research and specific application use. Do not use your cell phone to check the time. Use the classroom
clock provided. You may take notes with ipads and computers as individually discussed with the
instructor only. Labs, projects, and instruction may be videoed with cell phones and ipads only under
express permission of the instructor. Permission must be secured for each and every individual use.
Inappropriate use of video or camera or messaging via email text or social media without the express
permission of the instructor is a clear violation of the Acceptable Use of Technology agreement of the
student. Violations will be punished to the most extreme measure permissible by the student handbook
and discretion of the instructor. Punitive action will include but not limited to reduction of points of the
appropriate grade.
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Corrections:
Ability to correct quizzes and tests is left to the discretion of the instructor and is primarily used during
the first semester. Students have 1 week after receiving a graded test to make corrections including a
statement of why the correct answer is the best answer, justification for why all other options are
incorrect, and a correlation to all other topics studied thus far. Corrections must be completed during
regularly scheduled tutorials before or after school. Tests may never leave the classroom. Corrections
result in earning half of the credit back on missed problems. The instructor reserves the right to
determine maximum grade that may be corrected per test.
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Classroom Rules and Safety:
Safety first. Students will follow all safety rules as defined in the safety contract provided the first week
of classes. Any infringement of the safety rules and common sense, including but not limited to the
continual wearing of goggles and gloves, results in a deduction of points from the lab grade. Students
that do not suggest correction of behavior of a student to aid in the safety of the student or of other
student’s in the room may also result in a deduction of points from the lab grade.
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AP Saturday Schedule:
You are expected to attend all district AP Saturday School sessions. Please notify your instructor
immediately if you are not able to attend. You will be required to complete all work as well as make up
work to aid in the learning you missed. Place these dates in your calendar now.
Study Session I
Saturday, January 31 8am-1pm
Pearce High School
Study Session II
Saturday, March 21
8am-1pm
Pearce High School
Practice Exam
Saturday, April 13
8am-noon
Berkner High School
Grading Percentages
Test
Labs and Projects
Quizzes
Classwork/ Homework
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50%
25%
15%
10%
Please contact your instructor immediately if you have any questions or concerns. This form is due
signed prior to the first notebook check. Any issues or concerns must be addressed via email prior to
the due date of this form. Signature of this form indicates the agreement to comply with all procedures
and policies addressed in this document.
Sign and initial in all areas indicated to show that you and your parent understand all of the policies and
procedures. Turn this in for the instructor to make an electronic copy. Place this in your binder after it
is returned to you. Place this is the binder as described in the first notebook check.
_______________________________ _______________________________ ___________________
Print Student Name
Student Signature
Student Email
_______________________________ _______________________________ ___________________
Print Parent Name
Parent Signature
Parent Email
Basic translation: Do your best. Be honest. Work hard. You can do it!