AP® Biology Practice Tests | Albert Resources (2024)

AP® Biology Practice Tests | Albert Resources (1)

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  • The Albert Team
  • Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

AP® Biology Practice Tests | Albert Resources (2)

If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of the best AP® Biology practice tests, we’ve put them together here. In this post, we’ll outline background about the course and go over practice tests for AP® Biology that you can start using for your test prep efforts towards earning a 5.

Whether you’re reviewing Unit 1 or Unit 8, there’s a set of AP® Biology practice questions for you.

The exam features 60 multiple choice questions that make up 50% of your score, and 6 free response questions that comprise of the other half of your score.

AP® Biology aims to strengthen students’ abilities to demonstrate inquiry-based learning of essential concepts, and to use these skills to develop reasoning skills for science practices.

In case you’re looking for other free AP® Biology resources, check out our blog section for review articles, score calculators, and more.

What We Review

The 6 Science Practices AP® Biology Promotes

  1. Concept Explanation: Explain biological concepts, processes, and models presented in written format.
  2. Visual Representation: Analyze visual representations of biological concepts and processes.
  3. Questions and Methods: Determine scientific questions and methods.
  4. Representing and Describing Data: Represent and describe data.
  5. Statistical Tests and Data Analysis: Perform statistical tests and mathematical calculations to analyze and interpret data.
  6. Argumentation: Develop and justify scientific arguments using evidence.

AP® Biology Practice Tests | Albert Resources (3)

The Big Ideas of AP® Biology

There are four big ideas in the course:

  • Big Idea 1: Evolution – The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.
  • Big Idea 2: Energetics – Biological systems use energy and molecular building blocks to grow, reproduce, and maintain dynamic homeostasis.
  • Big Idea 3: Information Storage and Transmission – Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes.
  • Big Idea 4: Systems Interactions – Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions exhibit complex properties.

AP® Biology Practice Tests

Being intentional in your studying is crucial. Here, we’ve broken down our AP® Biology prep course into their individual units so that you can identify which parts of the test are a greater percentage of the exam, and start targeting your practice.

If you’ve never used Albert, click into Units 2, 4, and 7 to try our free AP® Biology multiple choice practice questions.

Unit 1: Chemistry of Life

  • 8-11% of the exam
  • 35+ AP® Biology practice questions
  • Unit 1 covers topics like the structure of water and hydrogen bonding, elements of life, properties and functions of biological macromolecules and nucleic acids

Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function

  • 10-13% of the exam
  • 110+ AP® Biology practice questions
  • Unit 2 digs more into topics like cell size, plasma membranes, membrane transport, tonicity and osmoregulation, and cell compartmentalization
  • Try 15 free AP® Biology practice questions on Topic 2.2 Cell Structure and Function

Unit 3: Cellular Energetics

  • 12-16% of the exam
  • 50+ AP® Biology practice questions
  • Unit 3 digs into topics such as enzyme structures and catalysis, photosynthesis, cellular respiration and fitness.

Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle

  • 10-15% of the exam
  • 80+ AP® Biology practice questions
  • Unit 4 investigates how cells communicate with one another via signal transduction, the parts of the cell cycle and regulation of the cell cycle.
  • Try 10+ free AP® Biology review questions on Topic 4.4 Changes in Signal Transduction Pathways

Unit 5: Heredity

  • 8-11% of the exam
  • 80+ AP® Biology practice questions
  • Unit 5 explores topics like meiosis and genetic diversity, digging into things like Mendelian genetics and Non-Mendelian genetics.

Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation

  • 12-16% of the exam
  • 110+ AP® Biology practice questions
  • Unit 6 digs into the DNA some more, covering transcription and RNA processing, translation, how mutations work, and biotechnology.

Unit 7: Natural Selection

  • 13-20% of the exam
  • 200+ AP® Biology practice questions
  • Unit 7 teaches about natural selection, artificial selection, population genetics, evidence of evolution and common ancestry.
  • Try 20 free AP® Biology multiple choice practice questions on Topic 7.5 Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Unit 8: Ecology

  • 10-15% of the exam
  • 140+ AP® Biology practice questions
  • Unit 8 wraps up AP® Biology with a look at the big picture: energy flow through ecosystems, population ecology, community ecology and biodiversity are just some of the topics covered.

AP® Biology Investigative Labs

  • 150 AP® Biology practice questions
  • These practice questions serve as supplemental review after you’ve completed the 13 AP® Biology laboratory investigations in class.
  • Investigative Labs provide guided inquiry opportunities for students. Students go through four levels of inquiry:
    • Confirmation: Confirming a principle through an activity where the results are known in advance.
    • Structured Inquiry: Exploring a teacher-presented question through a prescribed procedure.
    • Guided Inquiry: Evaluating a teacher-presented question through a student-designed process.
    • Open Inquiry: Investigating topic-related questions that students formulate and complete with their own designed process.

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AP® Biology Practice Tests Sorted by Big Ideas & Enduring Understandings

One of the best parts about using Albert for your AP® Biology review is that each practice question is tied directly back to the College Board standard, enduring understanding, or essential knowledge that’s being evaluated.

We’ve gone ahead and filtered down our AP® Bio multiple choice practice questions to help you get a head start:

Big Idea 1: Evolution

  • EVO-1:Evolution is characterized by a change in the genetic makeup of a population over time and is supported by multiple lines of evidence
  • EVO-2: Organisms are linked by lines of descent from common ancestry.
  • EVO-3: Life continues to evolve within a changing environment.

Big Idea 2: Energetics

  • ENE-1: The highly complex organization of living systems requires constant input of energy and the exchange of macromolecules.
  • ENE-2: Cells have membranes that allow them to establish and maintain internal environments that are different from their external environments.
  • ENE-3: Timing and coordination of biological mechanisms involved in growth, reproduction, and homeostasis depend on organisms responding to environmental cues.
  • ENE-4: Communities and ecosystems change on the basis of interactions among populations and disruptions to the environment.

Big Idea 3: Information Storage and Transmission

  • IST-1: Heritable information provides for continuity of life.
  • IST-2: Differences in the expression of genes account for some of the phenotypic differences between organisms.
  • IST-3: Cells communicate by generating, transmitting, receiving, and responding to chemical signals.
  • IST-4: The processing of genetic information is imperfect and is a source of genetic variation.
  • IST-5: Transmission of information results in changes within and between biological systems.

Big Idea 4: Systems Interactions

  • SYI-1: Living systems are organized in a hierarchy of structural levels that interact.
  • SYI-2: Competition and cooperation are important aspects of biological systems.
  • SYI-3: Naturally occurring diversity among and between components within biological systems affects interactions with the environment.

AP® Biology Unit Assessments

We’ve compiled unit assessments for some of the most important topics covered in AP® Bio. Use these after you’ve completed your targeted practice above.

Note: You’ll need an Albert subscription to access these tests.

  • AP® Biology Unit 1 Assessment
  • AP® Biology Unit 2 Assessment
  • AP® Biology Unit 3 Assessment
  • AP® Biology Unit 4 Assessment
  • AP® Biology Unit 5 Assessment
  • AP® Biology Unit 6 Assessment

AP® Biology Full-Length Practice Tests

After you complete your unit specific review, use these full-length AP® Biology exams to simulate the real test. Give yourself 180 minutes to complete these.

Note: You’ll need an Albert subscription to access these tests.

  • AP® Biology Practice Test 1
  • AP® Biology Practice Test 2
  • AP® Biology Practice Test 3
  • AP® Biology Practice Test 4

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AP® Biology Practice Tests | Albert Resources (5)

Previous AP® Biology Free Response Questions & Answers

The College Board provides a comprehensive database of the past years’ AP® Biology free response questions and answers. Here are some of the FRQs from recent years:

Helpful AP® Biology FRQ Videos

We’ve made two in-depth AP® Bio free response videos to help you get started in your studying:

Need help preparing for your AP® Biology exam?

AP® Biology Practice Tests | Albert Resources (6)

Albert has hundreds of AP® Biology practice questions, free response, and full-length practice tests to try out.

Start your AP® Biology test prep here

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AP® Biology Practice Tests | Albert Resources (2024)

FAQs

How can I practice for AP Bio exam? ›

In addition, be sure to remember these key study tips:
  1. Draw out systems and processes so you can understand them better.
  2. Don't just memorize facts—make connections to larger themes.
  3. Make sure you're familiar with your labs and the principles of experimental design.
  4. Take practice tests frequently.

What is the best resource for AP Biology? ›

Khan Academy — AP Biology

Provides asynchronous instruction and assessments for the AP Biology curriculum that “allow students to work independently.” Offers review of course units and “aligned with the new framework.”

What percent is a 5 on an AP Bio exam? ›

However, as a rough estimate, scoring around 70%-75% of the total points available on the exam should put you in a good position to earn a 5. The AP Biology exam is divided into two main sections: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Free-Response Questions (FRQs).

Is it hard to get a 5 on AP Bio? ›

Getting a 5 on the AP Biology exam requires lots of hard work. But if you start feeling burnt out by memorization, you can add some creative study methods to your rotation to keep practicing the skills you'll need for the exam. One thing you can do is get crafty.

Is AP Bio the hardest AP? ›

Yes, the AP Biology course is considered to be a hard AP course. The exam pass rate for 2022 was 67.9% in comparison to other AP exams. It is considered the 10th toughest AP subject when compared with all the 39 subjects.

Is AP Bio one of the hardest APs? ›

Okay, Seriously, Which AP Classes Are the Hardest? United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material.

What is the hardest chapter in AP Biology? ›

In AP Biology, the level of difficulty for each unit can vary from student to student, depending on their background and strengths. However, many students often find the cellular processes and molecular biology units to be quite challenging.

Why is AP Biology so difficult? ›

Is the AP Biology Content Difficult? There's no question that the breadth of content covered in AP Biology is extensive. It requires memorization of complex processes, along with a deep understanding of how biological concepts and themes connect with one another.

Is a 70% a 5 on the AP exam? ›

Usually, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. However, there are some exams that are exceptions to this rule of thumb. The AP Grades that are reported to students, high schools, colleges, and universities in July are on AP's five-point scale: 5: Extremely well qualified.

What is a 60 on the AP exam? ›

Yes, a 60 is considered a passing grade in AP classes. In AP, the average passing rate is 60-70%.

Is the AP test curved? ›

AP test scores are indeed "curved," but it's more accurate to call it a "scaling process." Instead of a traditional curve that compares your performance to other students' performance, the AP exam scaling process converts your raw score (the number of points you earned through multiple-choice questions and free- ...

Is AP chem or bio harder? ›

AP Chemistry is the more difficult exam, making it a better choice for students who have already taken AP science courses and intend to pursue a degree in a related field. If you're still not sure whether these classes are the right choice for you, talk to students who have taken one or both at your school.

How many people fail AP Biology? ›

Pass Rates by AP Test
TestStudents Who Earn a 3 or Higher*
Biology64.4%
Calculus AB58%
Calculus BC78.5%
Chemistry75.1%
34 more rows

Should I take AP Bio junior or senior year? ›

When Should You Take AP Biology? Most students take AP Biology in their junior or senior year of high school. Since AP Biology is conceptually complex, teachers recommend taking this course in the latter years of high school after satisfying introductory science courses.

How long should I study for the AP Bio exam? ›

Figure out how much time you have before the test and how much time you need to devote to AP Bio. Then create a calendar to budget your time. Perhaps you feel you need 20 hours to study – 2 hours to review the content for each of the 8 sections plus 4 hours of direct testing experience.

Is the AP Bio exam hard? ›

The AP® Biology exam is hard when compared to a typical high school-level biology course exam. The AP® course exams are designed to measure a higher level of content understanding and require you to analyze and apply that knowledge; all of this is typically taught at the college level.

How to study for a bio test? ›

Study tips
  1. Conceptual understanding is the goal. ...
  2. Embrace visual representations of the information. ...
  3. Do the assigned readings before lecture. ...
  4. Check your understanding. ...
  5. Convert your notes into study aids. ...
  6. Form a study group. ...
  7. Partner with a tutor.

Is AP Bio hard to self study? ›

AP Biology

AP Biology is definitely not regarded as an easy exam, but if you are in an honors biology class, it can be doable. Biology is generally more focused on memorizing than classes like Chemistry and Physics, which are much more conceptual. Use our free AP Biology study guide to review and study for the exam.

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