I don't want to scare you, but this stuff is a lot to handle. The best advice I can give you is to stay on top of things. It's really easy to get behind. I was excited too because we have a cat dissection after the AP exam on Monday 😀. Also to agree with the above poster, it's not all memorization anymore. There are still things that you have to memorize, but the main goal of the new curriculum is to focus on the main four points of AP biology and use that to analyze, explain and apply to many different situations. One tough chapter is the DNA and biotechology, there is SO MUCH to cover, and applying it can get difficult. You don't study zoology in the AP biology curriculum. Ecology in AP biology isn't hard, it's just a little more information than a regular biology course. To go along with the new curriculum, there's math. The math isn't hard, it's incorporating it with the subject matter that's hard. You'll get an equation sheet front and back on the exam. You'll use equations like: chi square, population growths, water and solute potential, h-w equations and etc. The AP exam contains 63 multiple choice and they included 6 grid-in questions. Instead of 4 LONG essays, you'll have I think 8 short answers and 2 essays. It's a big change from the old exam. Overall, this class is really fun, but you have to put some work into it, or you will suffer. Many students who usually don't study for anything, have to study for this class.....so just study.
