Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

This book is amazing- i practically memorized it and nothing else and got a 5. With this i didnt need to review class notes or any other book. It was perfect- simple and not too much information. The tests in the back were a bit easier than the AP- but the review is exactly what you need to get a 5- read the book ten thousand times and you will get a 5

Great book that prepared me well -- I got a 5! Barrons and REA were way too detailed; Princeton Review told me what I needed to know in an easy, friendly format! Buy this!