Basic Info
Section I: 90 minutes for 63 multiple-choice + 6 gridin questions
 50% of total score
Section II: Free-Response Questions
 10 minute reading period to read/plan answers
 80 minutes to write:


2 Long Free Response questions (~20 min each)
6 Short Free Response questions (~6 min each)
 50% of total score
Content
Big Ideas:
1.Evolution
2.Cellular Processes: Energy & Communication
3.Genetics & Information Transfer
4.Interactions
Download and study the AP Biology Course and
Exam Description (available on our class website
under “AP Exam Review”)
Section I: Multiple-Choice & Grid-In
Questions
 Multiple Choice (63 questions)
 Essential Knowledge + Science Practice
 Requires more reading than in previous exams
(paragraphs, diagrams, data analysis)
 Grid-In (6 questions)
 Integrate science and math skills
 Calculate correct answer and bubble in the grid
 Bring a four-function calculator (with square root)
to use on the exam
 A formula list will be provided for the exam
Essential Knowledge + Science Practice
 Essential Knowledge 2.B.3:
 Eukaryotic cells maintain internal membranes that
partition the cell into specialized regions.
 Science Practice 6.2:
 The student can construct explanations of phenomena
based on evidence produced through scientific
practices.
 Learning Objective 2.13:
 The student is able to explain how internal membranes
and organelles contribute to cell functions.
Sample Multiple-Choice
Membrane-bound organelles have been an important
component in the evolution of complex, multicellular
organisms. Which of the following best summarizes an
advantage of eukaryotic cells having internal membranes?
A. Eukaryotic cells are able to reproduce faster because of
the presence of organelles.
B. Some organelles, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts,
are similar to prokaryotic cells in structure.
C. Organelles isolate specific reactions, increasing
metabolic efficiency.
D. Compartmentalization leads to a higher mutation rate in
DNA, which leads to more new species.
Calculators:
A four-function calculator (with square root) is permitted
on both the multiple-choice and free-response sections of
the AP Biology Exam since both sections contain
questions that require data manipulation.
No other types of calculators, including scientific and
graphing calculators, are permitted for use on the exam.
Sample Grid-In
 In a certain species of flowering plant, the
purple allele P is dominant to the yellow
allele p.
 A student performed a cross between a
purple-flowered plant and a yellowflowered plant. When planted, the 146
seeds that were produced from the cross
matured into 87 plants with purple flowers
and 59 plants with yellow flowers.
 Calculate the chi-squared value for the
null hypothesis that the purple-flowered
parents was heterozygous for the flowercolor gene. Give your answer to the
nearest hundreth.
Observed:
87
146
Expect: 50/50
59.5%
59 =
146
40.4%
Pp X pp
P
p
p
Pp
p
pp
(59.5 – 50)2 +
50
.0382
Pp
pp
(40.4-50)2
Answer .0382 but the instructions said to
give the answer to the nearest 100th = .04
Answer .0382 but the instructions said to
give the answer to the nearest 100th = .04
Multiple-Choice Strategies
 Pacing is important! Give yourself about 1 min. per
multiple-choice and about 3 min. per grid-in.
 NO penalty for guessing!! Answer every question.
 If calculations are required and more time is needed,
skip it and come back to it later. (Make a mark in test
booklet next to question to answer later.) Do the same
with questions you can’t answer.
 Lab-set questions are tedious. Skip the diagram/data,
skim the question first, then go back to the
diagram/data to seek the information.
 Underline key words such as NOT or EXCEPT.
Multiple-Choice Strategies
 Read each answer choice before making a final
selection.
 Use process of elimination! Cross out letters of
incorrect choices in test booklet. Narrow it down.
 If you absolutely don’t know it, GUESS! Don’t leave
anything blank!
 If you finish early, go back over as many items as
possible to catch careless errors.
Free-Response Questions
 During 10-minute reading period:
 Skim each question
 Identify which is easiest  hardest
 Organize thoughts and outline essays on
sheet provided
 Circle or underline KEY WORDS
 Be sure to address each directive listed. (eg.
analyze, compare, contrast, describe, design,
explain)
Free-Response Questions
 If there are several parts, answer in sequence.
 Write an essay! No bullet points or outlines.
 Diagrams: Label them!
 Calculations: Show your work and each step!
Remember UNITS.
 “Buzz words”: Define or describe them!
 If you can’t remember a term, describe/define it.
 Don’t leave any part of essay blank. Each point
is worth 2X a multiple-choice point.
 If time allows, proofread your essays!
 Be kind to Readers: use good handwriting
On test day:
 Arrive early! (30 minutes before start time.)
 Eat a good, nutritious breakfast!!
 Bring a photo ID.
 2+ sharpened #2 pencils + clean eraser
 2 black/dark blue ballpoint pens for essay
 Bring a watch.
 Bring a calculator. (4-function w/square root)
 Also, NO books, notes, laptops, cameras, cell
phones
2013 AP Bio Exam Scores
 Score Distribution:
 5 – 5.4%
 4 – 21.4%
 3 – 36.3%
 2 – 29.5%
 1 – 7.4%
College Board Comments about
new AP Biology Exam
 AP Biology grid-in questions require students to use
mathematics to solve biological problems. The avg
score on these was very low: 36%.
 Multiple-choice: last year, students earned 63%
correct on average; this year, 61%
 FRQs require students to "explain," "describe,"
"justify" their content knowledge. Very low scores on
avg.