Cracking the AP Biology, 2002-2003 Edition (College Test Prep) [Paperback]

Kim Magloire (Author)

Book Description

Series: College Test Prep | Publication Date: January 29, 2002

The Princeton Review realizes that acing the AP Biology exam is very different from getting straight As in school. The Princeton Review doesn't try to teach students everything there is to know about biology--only the techniques they'll need to score higher on the exam. There’s a big difference. In Cracking the AP Biology, TPR will teach test takers how to think like the test makers and

• Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool test takers
• Improve scores by knowing in advance what biology topics are most likely to be tested
• Memorize complicated biology concepts using simple techniques
• Use the three-pass system to get the most out of the test time
• Ace the essay section by practicing on TPR's sample essay questions

This book includes 2 full-length, simulated AP Biology exams. All of The Princeton Review practice test questions are like the ones test takers will see on the actual exam, and every solution is fully explained.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The Princeton Review realizes that acing the AP Biology exam is very different from getting straight As in school. The Princeton Review doesn't try to teach students everything there is to know about biology--only the techniques they'll need to score higher on the exam. There?s a big difference. In Cracking the AP Biology, TPR will teach test takers how to think like the test makers and

? Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool test takers
? Improve scores by knowing in advance what biology topics are most likely to be tested
? Memorize complicated biology concepts using simple techniques
? Use the three-pass system to get the most out of the test time
? Ace the essay section by practicing on TPR's sample essay questions

This book includes 2 full-length, simulated AP Biology exams. All of The Princeton Review practice test questions are like the ones test takers will see on the actual exam, and every solution is fully explained.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Review (January 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375762213
• ISBN-13: 978-0375762215
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,607,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, not good, November 21, 2002

By 

just bein' Frank (Woodbury, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking the AP Biology, 2002-2003 Edition (College Test Prep) (Paperback)

The problem with reviewing AP books after taking the actual exam is that once you've taken the test, the publishers have already put out a newer edition of the book updated for the next school year. So take this review with a grain of salt, because I'm in the midst of my Bio course.

THE GOOD: I'm someone who has always had some trouble with science. This book actually has helped me a lot in terms of studying for tests and being able to conceptualize certain biological processes. The diagrams are clear and the quizzes after each chapter are helpful.

THE BAD: As noted in a previous review, there definitely are typos and errors in the book. Just in Chapter 6 (Molecular Genetics), for example, the book erroneously states that guanine is a pyrimidine while cytosine and thymine are purines (p. 74) and confuses the terms "transcription" and "translation" (top of p. 79).

OVERALL: I will continue to use this book and would recommend it to others. But DO NOT think you can use it as a teacher; it should be used only as a supplement to class notes and/or a textbook. Many times, however, I could not understand what the textbook was trying to say and "Cracking the AP Biology Exam" really helped me out. In my humble opinion, the good outweighs the bad.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not up to the Princeton Review standard, June 18, 2003

By 

"studioustudent" (South Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking the AP Biology, 2002-2003 Edition (College Test Prep) (Paperback)

After being thoroughly impressed with the Princeton Review's guide for AP Chemistry the year before, I bought the AP bio book with high expectations. However, this book proved to be disappointing. To begin with, Princeton pared down the subject way too much- too little information was given on each bio topic. Even worse, the book is ridden with typos, a characteristic that should not be found in an $18 prep book.
This study aid could not be called "bad," but I would consider Cliff's prep book over this one. Princeton Review needs to make some serious modifications to this book.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Inaccuracies astounding!, May 14, 2002

By 

lewis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking the AP Biology, 2002-2003 Edition (College Test Prep) (Paperback)

This book was obviously not edited as there are mistakes in actual material such as "cytosine is a purine." Additionally, although the chapter reviews are helpful, the tests are a bit ridiculous in that they sometimes use methods not really expressed in the book. Get something else!