About the AP About the AP Biology ExamBiology Exam

Why take the AP Exam?Why take the AP Exam?

Students who take the AP Exam…Students who take the AP Exam…

Stand outStand out in the college admissions in the college admissions process! process!

Earn Earn academic scholarships and academic scholarships and awardsawards from colleges and universities from colleges and universities

Experience Experience college-level academics college-level academics now, while they're still in high school now, while they're still in high school

Save time and moneySave time and money once they get once they get to college, providing them with more to college, providing them with more study options and allowing them to study options and allowing them to move directly into upper-level move directly into upper-level coursescourses in their field of interest in their field of interest

Earn AP Scholar Awards, an academic Earn AP Scholar Awards, an academic distinction granted each September distinction granted each September by the College Board to students with by the College Board to students with exemplary AP Exam grades exemplary AP Exam grades

Cost of the exam:Cost of the exam:

$87$87

Length of exam:Length of exam:

Number of sections:Number of sections:

Section I: Multiple ChoiceSection I: Multiple Choice

Time: 90 minutesTime: 90 minutes Number of questions: 69Number of questions: 69 Percent of Overall Score: 50%Percent of Overall Score: 50% Correct answer: +1 pointCorrect answer: +1 point NO GUESSING PENALTYNO GUESSING PENALTY No answer: 0 pointsNo answer: 0 points

4 Answer choices instead of 4 Answer choices instead of 5!5!

A.A.

B.B.

C.C.

D.D.

6 Grid-in Questions6 Grid-in Questions

Assess math skillsAssess math skills

You can use a simple, 4-You can use a simple, 4-function calculator function calculator

(including square root) on (including square root) on the test.the test.

No Scientific Calculators!No Scientific Calculators!

Percentage of Questions by Percentage of Questions by TopicTopic

Molecules and Cells: 25%Molecules and Cells: 25% Heredity and Evolution: 25%Heredity and Evolution: 25% Organisms and Populations: Organisms and Populations:

50%50%

Section II: Free ResponseSection II: Free Response

Time: 90 minutes (After a Time: 90 minutes (After a 10 minute reading period)10 minute reading period)

Number of Questions: 8Number of Questions: 8 Percentage of score: 50%Percentage of score: 50%

Reading PeriodReading Period

Green BookGreen Book 10 minutes10 minutes Read the questions and Read the questions and

organize responseorganize response Can refer to green book when Can refer to green book when

writing essayswriting essays

EssaysEssays

Blue book (Can refer to green Blue book (Can refer to green book)book)

90 minutes for 8 90 minutes for 8 Each essay scored 0-10 pointsEach essay scored 0-10 points 50% of total exam grade50% of total exam grade Each question weighted equallyEach question weighted equally

Scoring of the exam:Scoring of the exam:

5 = Extremely well qualified5 = Extremely well qualified 4 = Well qualified4 = Well qualified 3 = Qualified3 = Qualified 2 = Possibly qualified2 = Possibly qualified 1 = No recommendation1 = No recommendation

Test is scored it JuneTest is scored it June

Results available in JulyResults available in July

Credit for universitiesCredit for universities

Each university sets its own Each university sets its own guidelines for credit or placement.guidelines for credit or placement.

Some universities give full or partial Some universities give full or partial credit hours for qualifying scores on credit hours for qualifying scores on the AP examthe AP exam

You can research how an individual You can research how an individual university handles AP credit at university handles AP credit at www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicwww.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicyy

Local universities:Local universities:

UCR = gives credit for AP exam UCR = gives credit for AP exam (elective)(elective)

CSUSB = gives credit and advanced CSUSB = gives credit and advanced placement in sequence of coursesplacement in sequence of courses

To help you prepareTo help you prepare

Unit tests will consist of AP exam-type Unit tests will consist of AP exam-type questions questions

There will be one essay on each unit There will be one essay on each unit test and you will have 22.5 minutes to test and you will have 22.5 minutes to write itwrite it

You will learn how to score AP essays You will learn how to score AP essays (which will help you write them!)(which will help you write them!)

You will use released test questions to You will use released test questions to reviewreview