|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
The Biology Exam
|
|
| |
For the May 2013 Exam Administration
and Beyond
Exam Content
The AP Biology Exam consists of two sections: multiple choice and free response. Both 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. These may include questions on the following:
- the use of modeling to explain biological principles;
- the use of mathematical processes to explain concepts;
- the making of predictions and the justification of phenomena;
- the implementation of experimental design; and
- the manipulation and interpretation of data.
The exam is 3 hours long and includes both a 90-minute multiple-choice section and a 90-minute free-response section that begins with a mandatory 10-minute reading period. The multiple-choice section accounts for half of the student's exam grade, and the free-response section accounts for the other half.
The AP Biology Course and Exam Description, Effective Fall 2012 (.pdf/3.5MB) provides complete details about the exam
Section I: Multiple-Choice Section
Part A consists of 63 multiple-choice questions that represent the knowledge and science practices outlined in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework that students should understand and be able to apply. Part B includes 6 grid-in questions that require the integration of science and mathematical skills. For the grid-in 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.
Section II: Free-Response Section
Students should use the mandatory reading period to read and review the questions and begin planning their responses. This section contains two types of free-response questions (short and long), and the student will have a total of 80 minutes to complete all of the questions.
AP Biology Exam Format
| Section I |
| Question Type |
Number of Questions |
Timing |
| Part A: Multiple Choice |
63 |
90 minutes |
| Part B: Grid-In |
6 |
| Section II |
| Question Type |
Number of Questions |
Timing |
| Long Free Response |
2 |
80 minutes + 10-minute reading period |
| Short Free Response |
6 |
If you are using assistive technology and need help accessing these PDFs in another format, please contact us at ssd@info.collegeboard.org. Note: versions of these PDFs with enhanced accessibility will be available in the upcoming academic year.
| Free-Response Questions |
2013 |
2013: Free-Response Questions
Past Exam Questions
The College Board provides free-response questions from past AP Biology Exams. These questions do not reflect the redesigned AP Biology Exam administered for the first time in May 2013, but the question types are the same and the topics similar, making them a valuable resource for students and teachers. Included with the questions are scoring guidelines, sample student responses, and commentary on those responses, as well as exam statistics and the Student Performance Q&A (Chief Reader's Report) for the May 2012 administrations and before.
The College Board provides free-response questions from past AP Biology Exams. Included with the questions are scoring guidelines, sample student responses, and commentary on those responses, as well as exam statistics and the Student Performance Q&A (Chief Reader's Report) for the May 2012 administrations and before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Course Home Pages