Do you understand the differences between DNA and RNA? Can you rattle off the phases of meiosis? The AP ® Biology exam tests topics and skills discussed in your high school Advanced Placement Biology course. If you score high enough, your AP Biology score could earn you college credit!
Check out our AP Biology Guide for what you need to know about the exam:
The AP Biology exam is three hours long and consists of two sections: a multiple-choice/grid-in quantitative section and a free-response section.
AP Bio Section |
Timing |
Number of Questions |
% of Exam Score |
Multiple Choice |
90 min |
|
50% |
Free Response |
90 min |
|
50% |
The 60 multiple-choice questions test your grasp of the fundamentals of biology and your ability to apply biological concepts to help solve problems.
The free response section consists of two long-form free-response questions, both of which require data analysis, and four short-form free-response questions that require a paragraph-length response that covers your ability to describe, explain, predict, justify, or represent a given scenario. You will have 90 minutes to answer all 6 questions. Unlike the multiple-choice section, which is scored by a computer, the free-response section is graded by high school and college teachers. They have guidelines for awarding partial credit, so you may still receive partial points should you not correctly respond to every part of question in your essay.
The College Board is very detailed in what they require your AP teacher to cover in his or her AP Biology course. These are the official Big Four Ideas:
To fully understand the four big ideas, a solid grasp of the following topics is required. These topics include the following:
Check out our Cracking the AP Biology Exam and ASAP Biology books for a comprehensive content review.
AP scores are reported from 1 to 5. Colleges are generally looking for a 4 or 5 on the AP Biology exam, but some may grant credit for a 3. Learn more about AP credit policies. Each test is curved so scores vary from year to year. Here’s how AP biology students scored on the May 2022 test:
AP Bio Score |
Meaning |
2022 Percentage of Test Takers |
5 |
Extremely qualified |
15.0% |
4 |
Well qualified |
23.1% |
3 |
Qualified |
29.7% |
2 |
Possibly qualified |
21.6% |
1 |
No recommendation |
10.5% |
Source: College Board
AP classes are great, but for many students they’re not enough! For a thorough review of AP Biology content and strategy, pick the AP prep option that works best for your goals and learning style.
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