2 hours 20 min, including a 5 min break
Tuesday, 1/21/24
12:50pm – 3:15pm
other session 3 exams begin at 1:15 – we will start 12:55 on the dot, be there by 12:50 to settle in and get short instructions
Location – Multiple Purpose Room (C-building)
90 minutes - 60 multiple choice
45 minutes - 1 long FRQ (~25 min), 2 short FRQ (~8-10 min each)
All questions are AP Exam format
Lots of diagrams, figures, and data to interpret
Formula sheet provided
Some multiple choice will be in groups of 4-5 questions related to a single experiment or passage
Lab-related questions (experimental design, data analysis, scientific method (purpose, hypothesis, conclusion, etc.))
Math-related questions (Hardy-weinberg, Transformation efficiency, SA:Volume ratios, Rates of reactions, Solute/pressure/water potential, Chi-square, SEM)
You may not go back and forth between MC and FRQ, but within a section you can skip around as much as you'd like.
Multiple choice are 1 point each (60 total points), worth about 75% of your midyear exam score
FRQ count for a total of about 18 points (10, 4, 4), worth about 25% of your midyear exam score.
The midyear may be curved slightly after I see the scored and determine what needs to be done. I normally curve the exam so that it has the same average as a typical unit quiz or test (unless that would make the average go down). It will not be curved like the AP Exam (where a 70% would earn a 5) because I HAND PICK questions that you should be able to do based on what I've taught you in this class.
Unit 1 – Molecular Basis of Evolution
Ch. 18, part of 17, 21
Unit 2 – Evolution
Ch. 22-28
Labs: Hardy-Weinberg, Chi-Square, TB lab, Biochemical evidence for evolution (Hemoglobin), Cladogram construction
Unit 3 – Biochemistry
Ch. 2-5, 8
Labs: Prop of water, Standard Error, Transformation, Protein modeling online, Enzyme lab
Unit 4 – The Cell
Ch. 6-7, 9-10
Lab: Dynamic Equilibrium
Here is a modified document from the College Board that lists all the objectives and things you need to know for each topic. I've rearranged it to fit our units.
FRQs
Read/skim all the questions and jot down some ideas before you begin writing.
Answer the questions you KNOW first instead of getting stuck on ones you don't know.
Circle task verbs as you read and outline your answers (see below for task verb descriptions)
Ask yourself - what is the questions asking and what is the question NOT asking?
ATP - Answer the prompt directly, don't be too wordy, don't include intro or conclusion paragraphs, don't repeat the prompt, just ANSWER THE QUESTION to avoid wasting time
Label your sections (a, b, c, etc...) and skip a line between sections
Write in pen
Graphs need: units, label for each axis, key/legend if applicable, plotted data (and trendline/error bars if needed)
Only provide the number of examples they ask for (if you give 5 examples and they asked for 2, only the first 2 will be scored and you'll have wasted your time and potentially contradicted yourself)
Identify - Provide an example (no elaboration)
Explain or discuss - Discuss relevance to question, discuss how/why using evidence and/or reasoning to support a claim
Predict - Predict the causes or effects of a change in, or disruption to, one or more components in a relationship
Justify - Provide multiple reasons to defend a particular hypothesis or stance
Calculate - Do math – use proper equations, correct units
Construct/ Draw - Create a diagram, graph, representation, or model
Describe - Provide relevant characteristics
Determine - Decide or conclude after reasoning, observation, or math
Make a claim - Make an assertion that is based on evidence or knowledge.
Evaluate/ Assess - Provide a justified stance, after thoughtful consideration of evidence (CITE evidence to defend your stance)