Help: Bio E or M? Is Physics Easy?

Carefree Me · 05-04-2008, 12:31 AM

Hello, new here, hopefully I'm doing the right thing here posting for help.

I've been hearing that the Bio M test is easier, but I've been studying Ecology for years for Science Olympiad, and recently placed 3rd at Nationals. Do you think I should still take the M test? I'm sure I won't have any problems with the ecology questions. Is it the rest of the test that wrecks scores?

Now for the physics. I took a practice test on physics and scored 750 (Kaplan). The only reason is because my school never covered circuits, and well, electricity in general (I know *nothing*). I'm also a bit weak on optics. However, they don't seem like topics that are too hard to learn... do you think I can spend a few hours learning them from Kaplan and score an 800?

Thanks lots. =)

skatj · 05-04-2008, 12:46 AM

I don't know about a few hours, but I would def take physics after a moderate review.

I heard that E is easier, but just play to your strengths. Obviously, someone who's studied Ecology a lot will have an easier time with that. Despite what people have said, the curve does not seem to be all that different.

UnleashedFury · 05-04-2008, 12:54 AM

Optics is probably one of the easiest parts of the exam. It also probably takes the least time to learn from scratch, but maybe that's just me. I found electricity way harder. You definitely can't do all that in a few hours, perhaps a week if you really work at it. I don't know how the Kaplan test is, but a 750 is a really good score if you don't know optics or electricity. Just study electricity and optics and keep practicing. You can definitely get an 800.

Frostysnow · 05-04-2008, 01:18 AM

Congratulations on placing 3rd at the sci olympiads =]. If you've been studying Ecology for years, and are relatively knowledgeable in that area, then take E.

M is not 'easier' in terms of the difficulty of the questions asked, but the curve is usually a bit more leniant. However, I would suggest that you take E, simply because it seems like you're good at it, and as long as you don't make any careless mistakes, you should be able to get perfect.

Carefree Me · 05-04-2008, 02:20 AM

Thanks a lot guys, I'll definitely be looking forward to the physics test in June then.

The biology test... well, my school only offers Advanced Biology, and it doesn't seem to cover quite as much as AP Biology (mostly due to it being an open class- no selection whatsoever). It looks like I will have to learn quite a bit of the material from prep books. I feel I can learn them (sciences are my strongest subjects), but does anyone know how long it would take?

I have another National Science Olympiad competition coming up at the end of this month. My dad suggested to put off the biology SAT II until fall. What do you think?

skatj · 05-04-2008, 02:24 AM

Have you taken a regular biology class?

The SAT II Bio test covers ALOT more than just ecology. I would suggest putting it off till fall as well.

samba · 05-04-2008, 02:37 AM

hm i took the Bio M today.. it was kinda ok cept for a few qts that were confusing. im in AP bio tho and took another year of bio in freshman year and been studying for the AP test and i used barrons for the SAT... well since u been studying ecology for so long i think you should go with Bio E and yeah theres alot more than ecology.. the test covers everything... cell and molecular bio... genetics.. organismal biology... yeah everything. its not thathard. i reccommend barrons. and lots of practice tests. goodluck man

Carefree Me · 05-04-2008, 03:04 AM

Yeah I've taken regular biology (9th grade) and advanced biology (currently). I feel like I'm missing out on a lot though...

So, with some biology background, I can study over the summer and expect some good results?

I got Barrons.

samba · 05-04-2008, 03:08 AM

youll do great man. i used barrons and it prepared me really well. dont let their practice tests discourage you cus theyre known to be inaccurate. goodluck with it in the fall

Carefree Me · 05-04-2008, 03:39 AM

Sweet. So the study material is good but the tests are at the wrong level?

samba · 05-04-2008, 04:05 AM

yeah, i took bio M today.. (edit: i took M because.. i talked to my teacher and since our class is more focused on molecular bio but you can kinda look at the questions for E or M if u want on the test day but i just went straight for M) i felt that barrons prepared me well. i bought the one with the CD so i had 4 barrons practice tests and i had a sparknotes book with 5 practice tests in it. so i ended up taking 6 (all 4 from barrons and 2 from sparknotes) and my scores varied along the way i studied. im in AP bio but then i never really read the campbells and just notes and review books like 5 steps and cliff notes... i started studying during spring break but then i actually read like 90% of barrons tues/wed 4/29-4/30 and started doing practice tests on wed and thurs and fri and reviewing the wrong answersand right ones too. and im also studying for the AP bio exam.. so practice tests from that.. and AP bio prep book.. which im sure youre doing also...

there are some details that barrons missed.. but thats guna happenwith every prep book. hm.. barrons test at wrong level? the study material is good... tests from barrons.. were harder than the real SAT (i think) but then again idk. i didnt see alot of stuff i studied but the only way to be safe is to study everything. and there were a few questions that really confused me! i first took diagnostic in the barrons and got like... 650. and then read cliffs. then i took sparknotes tests and got like 700s then i read barrons and i took those tests i got all of them in the 700s .. and the last one 770. so.. yeah just to give u a glimpse. hope i helped..