How to Succeed in AP Biology
1. Breathe!!! You will do great! Don’t get discouraged by the amount of material you need to learn.
Take it bit by bit. If you’re feeling exceptionally stressed, come see your instructor for help.
2. Read, read, read – I cannot stress enough that you must keep up with the assigned readings and
review class notes.
3. 100 % Attendance – missing even one class can put you behind.
4. Come to class prepared – material covered in this class is interconnected. Therefore, you need to
review your lecture notes often and keep up with the text material so that you can make sense of each new
topic. No forgetting things after the test! You will see the material again.
5. Compare class notes – note-taking is a cultured art form. Compare the notes you take in class with
another classmate’s notes to ensure you are taking good notes.
6. Work for understanding – memorizing is not the same as learning. As much as possible, study by
doing. While you are reviewing notes or reading, try paraphrasing and summarizing the material yourself.
Quiz yourself and write your own questions on the text and lecture material. Focusing on the central
concepts will help you place details and vocabulary into a framework that makes sense.
7. Explain it – try teaching what you have learned to another person. If possible, get together in with your
classmates outside of class and take turns explaining terms, problems, and concepts to each other.
8. Use your resources wisely – your first priority should be reading your textbook. However, additional
resources such as the internet and the cd-rom that comes with your textbook are extremely helpful. Just
don’t try and use them in lieu of reading your textbook.