Preparing for the Biology AP* Exam (School Edition) (Pearson Education Test Prep)

I teach AP biology for our homeschool co-op, and I have been looking for a good AP biology review book since the test was redesigned a few years ago. Barrons, et al, didn't seem to have questions that really prepared the kids for the questions on the actual exam, and all those review books definitely focused on lots of nit-picky details that were no longer required things to memorize. This book is clearly head and shoulders above the rest. It is written by the Holtzclaws, who also write guided reading questions to go along with the Campbell biology book. There are 10 topics, or chapters, that review content, and they include boxes called "You Must Know" that state bullet points that you should be able to explain to yourself. If not, some more time spent on that topic with your book is probably in order. Then there are several types of questions at the end of each chapter. Level one contains knowledge/comprehension questions that "review essential content knowledge but don't represent the type of question you will see on the AP exam. Level 2, application/synthesis, questions are similar to those you will see on the exam." Based on the questions I have seen on the practice exams released to approved AP bio teachers, these questions *do* look like the ones on the exam, unlike the questions in the other review books. Very good practice, and worth its weight in gold right there! Then there are at least 2 grid-in questions for each chapter, which again, the other books don't really focus on at all, and one free response question. You may need your textbook or whatever to review the topics more in depth, but this review book will help you figure out what areas you don't know well but should, and it will give you lots of practice in the kinds of problems you will actually encounter on the exam.

Excellent! The best test-prep book (in any subject) that I've come across so far. I used this book to study for the AP Biology exam without having taken AP Biology, or any other Biology course, and didn't start studying until the spring semester before the AP Biology Exam, but still managed to score a 5. When I tried to use the Barron's test prep books for the SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics II, results were not as pretty. Barron's did not go into as much detail I was expecting, and since I did not have any background in the subject it was a real struggle. But this AP Biology prep book goes into enough detail in each area to prepare you for the test, but not so much detail that it would take you forever to finish it, and is also organized into sections that are only about a page long so that if you only need to study a few concepts you don't have to go through a ton of extra information. This book really helped me out and I HIGHLY recommend it!

Worked for my exam.

This product works great with the AP Biology Campbell 8/e. It focuses on the big ideas and explains them thoroughly, it only talks about the material YOU need to know for the AP Exam. In addition to this, I also used it to prepare myself for quizzes or tests and it helped! This review book can also be used to take notes from. I recommend it to anyone who aspires to to obtain a 5 on the AP Biology exam.

I bought this book for my son to use for his AP Biology book and is a great accompaniment along with his textbook. The explanations in the book are condensed and straight to the point. Also, contains helpful practice questions to reinforce the information in the book.

Probably the best AP Biology review book (with questions) on the market right now. Honestly can't get better than this book. The content review is superb (each section includes drill-like questions). Combine this book with the Cliff's AP Biology book and you are sure to get a 5, if not 4 at minimum.

The book was really useful in my studies and it came in the mail brand new without a single mark on a page. The book comes with plenty of practice questions and a whole practice test. Also, the outlining of every chapter was REALLY good at pinpointing what I needed to focus on.

I'm taking BIO 101 in a community college. This book is helping me a lot, since I don't have the text book. Also has a lot of practice tests too, with answers on the back of the book.