Exam+and+Study+Tips


 * AP Biology Exam Review Sites ** :   [|Exam Questions & Standards] [[http://www.csun.edu/~vceed002/biology/AP_biology/index.html| __ __]] and [|UGA AP Biology]
 * Format of the AP Biology Exam:  **
 * __ Section 1: __ 90 minutes and consists of 63 Multiple choice and 6 grid in answers (50%)
 * __ Section 2: __ 90 minutes consisting of 2 long essays (one with multipart questions and the other focusing on the seven principles and lab techniques that will also have multi parts), and 6 short answers. (50%)

1.The essay questions are not graded equally. The first two essays are worth 10 points each and the last six short answers will vary. 2.One long essay question will be lab-based. 3.Write in essay form! There is room on the test for you to create an outline to guide your answer if you'd like but outlines are not graded. That being said, perfect essay writing is not expected. There aren't deductions for grammar or spelling mishaps (provided the spelling is close enough to determine the word you are trying to write). 4.Diagrams are helpful! If you use a diagram, be sure to discuss it in your essay. 5.Points are not deducted from your essay score if you give an incorrect statement. (You just don't receive points for incorrect statements). But be careful not to contradict yourself, because this can cause you to not receive points.
 * Essay Section Hints: **

1.A biology textbook cannot be read the way you would read a novel! Begin by pre-reading the chapter; glance at the section headings, charts and tables in order to organize the material in your mind and stimulate your curiosity. This will make it easier to read the chapter and extract more information from it. 2.Be an active, not passive reader, by stopping frequently (at least every paragraph) and consider what you have just read. What is the concept being discussed? Put it in your own words (out loud or by writing it down); by doing so you are reprocessing and using the information presented in the text. Place a few key notes in you notebook; make sure these notes include all new terms and illustrative examples. 3.Become a note taker and not a note copier! Simply writing down what is written on the board is passive learning (it's a start, but is not as effective as it could be). To get the most out of taking lecture notes, do it in a systematic manner. Before class read the textbook material to be covered in lecture. You will then use class time more efficiently because you will learn more from the lecture, and you will be able to take better notes having been introduced to many of the concepts in the text. During lecture do not attempt to write down every word that is said; that approach is futile and unnecessary. Instead, focus on the major ideas. 4.Summarize information by making your own diagrams and tables which will allow you to rehearse and test yourself on the material. 5.Relate new information to other, related information. 6.Study with a friend in the class and at home! Take turns explaining the material to each other. Set up on-going study groups and meet at each others home each week. 7.There is too much new material in a biology class to be able to learn two weeks' worth of material the night before an exam! Review your text material and lecture notes daily so that you can avoid cramming at test time. Daily studying and rehearsal helps get information into long-term memory. 8.Make the most of your time in lab by arriving fully prepared. AP Biology labs are too long and involved to try to perform without having thoroughly read over them the day before. 1.Quiet structured study time! Help your child to establish a study routine by setting up a quiet study area and a consistent quiet study time nightly. The routine will help them practice good study habits for college. Should the study area be their bedroom or a family area, like the dining room? That depends on your household and your child. If your child is self-motivated and can work steadily without supervision, then a quiet desk space in their bedroom would work well. However, if their bedroom is equipped with distractions like a stereo or TV, then this might not be conducive to concentrating on homework and the family area may work better. 2.Work on Biology EVERY night! For your child to stay up-to-date in this course they need to spend some time on biology every night. The ideal would be about one (1) hour per night or approximately six (6) hours per week. This would include textbook reading, lecture review, lab notebook assignments, and test preparation. On weeks when they cannot devote that one hour on a weeknight, they should put in extra time on weekends to make up for it. On nights where they have minimal time, your child should at least review the day’s lecture notes (PowerPoint notes on the Web). 3.Support Study Groups! Encourage your child to arrange a study group with other students in the class. Each student will have different strengths and weaknesses in this course. In one unit, your child will be the teacher to other students and in a different unit they will be the student. Putting two or more heads together is always a benefit. You never learn something as well as when you have to explain it to someone else. However let me emphasize that, while study groups and cooperative effort are strongly encouraged; on final written work, all students are required to craft their //own// answers and must have a completely //uniquely// worded answer for each question! 4.Use a Lifeline! Encourage your child to ask for help. I can stay after any day for extra help. Also, all my AP students have my e-mail address and they can readily e-mail me for help at any time after school hours and I will make every effort to reply to them immediately. Do not allow them to feel like they are intruding, I am here to help them understand and learn to love the subject of Biology as much as I do. 5.Don’t Panic! Stick with it! Some parts of this course will come more easily than others. Encourage your child to work steadily and not to be discouraged. Success will build as they improve their critical thinking skills and their writing ability through practice. This is a college course and they are working on more than learning biology; they are working on skills that they will use to succeed academically for years to come. Your child needs to work hard and work steadily and they will be rewarded in this course!
 * Study Tips: **
 * How Can Parents Help: **