Guide Note

Advanced Placement Biology is a course of college-level biology available to high school students. The course is intended to develop an understanding of the major concept and frame work of biology. It is offered at many high schools in preparation for the College Board's AP biology exam available every May.¹

Fast Facts

1. Program managed by the College Board¹
2. Exam fee: $84²
3. The year-long course is equivalent to a one-semester, introductory biology course¹

The AP biology exam gives high school students an opportunity to earn college credit before entering college. The exam has two sections; the first has 100 multiple choice questions and the second has four essay questions. The exam allows 80 minutes for the first section, ten minutes for reading and 90 minutes for the essay section. There are three major topics, molecules/cells and heredity/evolution, each topic making up 25% of the exam, and organisms and populations, making up 50% of the exam.^{3 1}