AP^® Biology

As most schools are closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, CollegeBoard has announced AP exams will be administered at home. This year’s tests will be free-response only, 45 minutes long, and taken online on any device. CollegeBoard will also accept photographs of written work.

There will be no multiple choice questions on the 2020 AP exams. We know many students have been anticipating and studying for MCQs, and the switch to free-response questions is daunting. The good news is that you can apply all of that knowledge to the FRQs. We’ll teach you step-by-step methods for tackling the FRQs you’ll see on the exam.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, in 2020 the AP Biology exam will be a 45-minute online test taken at home.

Traditionally, the AP Biology exam is 3 hours long and includes two sections:

• Section I: 69 questions (63 multiple-choice and 6 grid-in), 1 hour and 30 minutes, 50% of total score
• Section II: 8 free-response questions, 1 hour and 30 minutes, 50% of total score

The AP Biology exam is generally considered to be one of the harder AP exams offered because of the amount of material covered, so plenty of exam-like practice is highly recommended.

AP Biology includes four major topics:

• Evolution and genetics
• Energy, molecules, and cells
• Organism regulations and processes
• Ecology

There’s a lot of material to review, so it’s essential to have a plan that optimally uses the study time you have available.

If you have two months or more:

• Take a practice test to determine which concepts you need to study
• Review those concepts using the techniques you like best (flashcards, study guides, quizzes)
• Take another practice test to check your progress, and then review the answers and explanations
• Continue to study your greatest areas of opportunity
• Take one final practice test before the exam

If you have less than two months:

• Take a practice test to determine which concepts you need to study
• Review those concepts using the techniques you like best (flashcards, study guides, quizzes)
• Take another practice test before the test to check your progress, taking time to review the answers and explanations

If you have less than one month:

• Use your performance on the tests you’ve taken throughout the year to determine which concepts you need to review
• Study those concepts using the techniques you like best (flashcards, study guides, quizzes)
• Take a practice test, taking time to review the answers and explanations

Yes. The 2020 AP exams will be completely open book and open note. This may seem surprising, but it ensures a level playing field since tests will be taken at home.