AP Biology covers three major topics. The first, molecules and cells, studies how enzymes and water work within a cell, as well as the classification of cells and their life cycle. The second, heredity and evolution, considers inheritance and DNA, and how genes can affect future generations. The course will mostly focus on the third topic, organisms and population, which studies the diversity of plants and animals and how they interact.
AP Biology students are provided with a textbook. Many universities and colleges use "Biology," by Neil A. Campbell and Jane B. Reece. Guides such as Cliffs AP Biology and Barron's AP Biology are updated regularly, as is the course itself. Sample exam questions can be found at the College Board's website.
The AP Biology exam is divided into two parts. The first part is a 100-item, multiple-choice section to be completed in 80 minutes. Questions for this section, which is worth 60 percent of the final exam grade, are taken from the entire course. Afterward, students are given 10 minutes to read the topics for the free-response section. This section, which is a 90-minute written exam on four topics, is worth 40 percent of the final exam grade. The grade will be converted to a five-point scale after completion: A grade of 5 is equivalent to a college's grade of A. A grade of 4 is similar to A-, B+ or B. Many colleges that accept AP grades in place of first-year courses require at least a 4.