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Average Customer Rating:

Chockful of information

Customer Rating:

I decided to skim through Kaplan AP Biology a few days before the AP Biology exam. This book is BIG, a lot thicker than the Princeton Review's version. Although there is a TON of helpful information in this book, it did go too much in detail for the AP exam itself. I was worrying so much about specifics because this book goes into detail in a lot of topics (which it did a good job of), but when I took the AP exam, the multiple choice section was a breeze, and the free-response was very doable. Better to be overprepared than underprepared, though, so I am glad that I skimmed this book. I believe this book is more useful for the AP Biology class over the course of a year. There were topics like evolution and genetics that I was shaky on because our biology book provided so much information that it was confusing to digest, but Kaplan summarized topics - less than the college text but more than, say, Princeton Review, which tends to provide students with JUST enough for the AP exam. The summaries of the 12 recommended labs, genetics, and ecology were so helpful that even though I did not need about 80% of what I had read for the actual AP exam, I am glad that I have this information downpat for future use! My analysis therefore is: This is an informative book with an excellent summaries. However, do not read this big book cover to cover the night before the exam because it is long and oftentimes more specific than you need to be for the AP exam. You'll probably end up despairing over the fact that there's so much information and panic, which is not a good idea!

Not So Bad After All

Customer Rating:

I reviewed for the AP using this book. I only read the first three chapters or so, and read the lab portion (which, by the way, is extremely helpful). I also used one of the two practice tests. The answer explanations were excellent, and explain not only why a certain answer is right, but why the others are wrong. I felt well prepared after taking the 1994 and 1999 AP Bio tests for practice in addition, and an SAT II. This book covers everything that was on the AP that was not presented in my particular course book. I took the AP this morning and found that quite a few concepts I reviewed last minute in this book came in handy. However, it is a little boring to read at times, so if you plan to use it begin well in advance. ******* Edit: I got my score, and it was a four. Much better than my grade in the class was-- I think this book helped a great deal.

great book	Customer Rating:
This book is very good. I didn't take any AP biology class. I just went through a text book and skimmed this prep book and landed myself a 5. Beware of lab questions though. This book under represented lab questions in its practice exams.

Clear and Concise Review

Customer Rating:

I purchased this book 2 months prior to the AP biology in 2005. I hadn't started reviewing the AP topics before that, although I was competent in our AP biology class at school. The book was a great resource for me. It doesn't require much previous knowledge and is able to summarize huge concepts in a couple of paragraphs and make the reader get the whole picture. The practice questions at the end of the chapters were very helpful because they accurately measured how well one had understood the topic. I am pleased with all aspects of the book. I got a 5 and I think I partly owe it to the clear and comprehensive review of this book

Helpful book. Well worth the money.

Customer Rating:

This book was very helpful for studying for my AP Biology Exam. It showed me what to know for the test. Ecology, Five kingdoms, the cell,etc. were all written very clear to study from--very thorough. I also highly recommend: The Ultimate Study Guide for Biology: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations by Patrick Leonardi Volume 1, 2 and 3. These three study guides were especially helpful for the multiple choice section of the AP Exam. This is because the complexity of the questions were similar to AP type.