lovemom

Looks like Barrons, PR and Cliffs Notes are recommended for the Bio SAT 2. How does one go about attacking the material in these books? Are there specific chapters in these books that are better in one book than the other?

What is a good strategy to study for the Bio Subject test for someone taking it in June, and the AP in May?

Thank you!

DankStarbursts

Personally I just read through the entire PR book, it was pretty boring. It took about 2 days (maybe 4-6 hrs) with a lot of TV breaks.

If you have a decent background in biology just simply read PR
If you need like a complete, in-depth refresher on all of biology read Barrons.

lovemom

if you read the PR subjec test book alone in its entirety that would be enough? D is in AP Bio class and will prepare for that using Barrons and Cliff Notes. So if she reviews PR before the June Bio SAT she will get a 750+?

Thanks

CDN_dancer

Considering she is in AP Bio, I think that should be enough. For what it's worth, I finished IB SL Bio June of grade 11, read through the PR book in the weeks leading up to the November SATII test day to review, and scored 760. For your D, the material will be even more fresh in her mind, so that'll only help her =)

lovemom

DankStarbursts, did you read for 4-6 hrs total or was that per day? She has been using Barrons throughout the year in her AP Bio class, will PR then be good the day before the test as a quick review?

skatj

PR is terrible and way too condensed to learn from it entirely.

Westmere

I used Barron's a little bit over the duration of the second semester of my AP Biology class, then studied out of it extensively during the two weeks before the test. I felt very comfortable with the material on the SAT II and predict that I did well.

I hope that helps.

Westmere

ahhhhhhhhhh

I study from the Barrons. I don't think it helped that much. I must say that it did help..but not immensely. When I took the test, there was a picture of an eye that is definitely not in the Barrons. It depends, b/c the AP BIo for barrons focuses on prepping for AP Bio..not for SAT 2

samba

if your daughter did study for AP bio then she should be able to get 700+ on the SAT already... i didnt use PR but i used barrons for the SAT bio.. it was easy to read. finished it in 2 days (the tuesday and wednesday before the exam). i felt that it prepared me well. the june SAT is.. pretty far away so your "D" has alot of time to study. she should even be able to get 750+! goodluck to her.

lovemom

thanks all. she likes Barrons for AP Bio, & she is in the 4-5 range for the AP. She is getting about 65% right on the AP MC, so i don't know how that helps with the SAT II.

al_tassadar

how is the kaplan sat ii bio?

skatj

terrible^ I got 660 on the diagnostic test, 780 on the official CB blue book one, and prolly 760+ on the real thing (don't know my scores yet). Info in Kaplan is dense and confusing.

I would just practice with AP Bio Cliffsnotes, it will over prepare you

PR AP Bio is decent too, but the SAT II one is terrible

(this is if you're shooting for 800)

hifi

ahhhhhhh,
barron's has a book for the sat2 with a picture of the eye, the ap book does not.
barron's sat2 has other material that is not in the ap book.
an ap prep book may not be enough.
best to use both.