AP Exam Info

Section 1: Multiple Choice

60 questions - 50% of Exam Score - 90 Minutes

Science Practices AP Exam Weighting:

1. Concept Explanation: 25-33%

2. Visual Representations: 16-24%

3. Questions and Methods: 8-14%

4. Representing and Describing Data: 8-14%

5. Statistical Tests and Data Analysis: 8-14%

6. Argumentation: 20-26%

Section 2: Free-Response

6 Questions - 50% of Exam Score - 90 Minutes

• Free-response question 1 Interpreting and Evaluating Results with Graphing: An 8-10 point question that presents students with an authentic scenario accompanied by data in a table and/or graph. This question assesses student ability to do the following in four question parts:

  • Part A (1-2 points): Describe and explain biological concepts, processes, or models.

  • Part B (3-4 points): Identify experimental design procedures.

  • Part C (1-3 points): Analyze data.

  • Part D (2-4 points): Make and justify predictions.

• Free-response question 2 Interpreting and Evaluating Experimental Results with Graphing: An 8-10 point question that presents students with an authentic scenario accompanied by data in a table. This question assesses students' ability to do the following in four question parts:

  • Part A (1-2 points): Describe and explain biological concepts, processes, or models.

  • Part B (4 points): Construct a graph, plot, or chart and use confidence intervals or error bars.

  • Part C (1-3 points): Analyze data.

  • Part D (1-3 points): Make and justify predictions.

• Free-response question 3 Scientific Investigation: A 4 point question that presents students with a description of a lab investigation scenario. This question assesses students' ability to do the following in four question parts:

  • Part A (1 point): Describe biological concepts or processes.

  • Part B (1 point): Identify experimental procedures.

  • Part C (1 point): Predict results.

  • Part D (1 point): Justify predictions.

• Free-response question 4 Conceptual Analysis: A 4-point question that presents students with an authentic scenario describing a biological phenomenon with a disruption. This question assesses the students' ability to fo the following in four question parts:

  • Part A (1 point): Describe biological concepts of processes.

  • Part B (1 point): Explain biological concepts or processes.

  • Part C (1 point): Predict the causes or effects of a change in a biological system.

  • Part D (1 point): Justify predictions.

• Free-response question 5 Analyze Model or Visual Representation: A 4-point question that presents students with a description of an authentic scenario accompanied by a visual model or representation. This question assesses students' ability to do the following in four question parts:

  • Part A (1 point): Describe characteristics of a biological concept, process, or model, represented visually.

  • Part B (1 point): Explain relationships between different characteristics of a biological concept or process represented visually.

  • Part C (1 point): Represent relationships with a biological model.

  • Part D (1 point): Explain how a biological concept or process represented visually relates to a larger biological principle, concept, process, or theory.

• Free-response question 6 Analyze Data: Is a 4-point question that presents students with data in a graph, table, or other visual representation. This question assesses students' ability to do the following in four question parts:

  • Part A (1 point): Describe data.

  • Part B (1 point): Describe data.

  • Part C (1 point): Use data to evaluate a hypothesis or prediction.

  • Part D (1 point): Explain how experimental results relate to biological principles, concepts, processes, or theories.

AP Calculator Policy

A four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator is allowed on both sections of the exam. For more information about which calculators can be used on all of the AP exams, check the college board policies here.