AP Biology Summer Homework
1. Read Ch. 1-2 for main ideas. Read Ch. 3-5 very closely. There will
be an exam on Ch. 1- 5 within the first two weeks of school. We
will discuss the Ch. 1-2 material in class, but it will be done quickly
since you have already been exposed to this information in
previous courses. However, we will have thorough lectures on
the majority of Ch. 3-5.
2. If time permits and you want to get even more ahead, read Ch.
50-55 for the main ideas. This unit (ecology) will be all on your
own. These chapters ARE on the AP Bio exam, but we don’t have
time to cover them in class. So, read them and study them to get
the learning of this important information done over the summer
(or at least begun)! At some point later in the school year, you
will receive a review packet to help you with your ecology
learning. This packet will be worth class points and that will all be
explained to you later. For now, reading and your own note
taking will be a good start. Please note that there will NOT be a
quiz or exam on this material in our class, but it IS on the AP
Biology exam.
3. Develop a strategy for how you will handle reading large
quantities of material quickly and independently. Consider these
questions: Are you a note-taker? Do you like to answer study
guide questions as you read or after you read? Or, do you just
read on your own without any supporting guides or materials?
Knowing your own personal reading strategy will be perhaps the
single most important key to your success in this class!
4. Consider buying an AP Test Prep book and/or the Campbell Study
Guide that accompanies the course text. The course text is
Campbell Biology 7th edition. If you buy an AP Test Prep book, I
recommend one of these two AP Test Prep books: Pearson
Education Test Prep Series AP Biology Holtzclaw and Holtzclaw
AND/OR Barron’s. However, there are other choices that are
suitable as well. None of the above books/resources are not
required for the course, but many students have found them
useful.