In 2020, as a response to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the College Board modified the AP exams so they were shorter, administered online, covered less material, and had a different format than previous tests. But thousands of students faced technical problems and had to retake their exams.
This year, the College Board is providing 3 testing dates starting in early May for each AP exam with options for in-school and at-home, as well as traditional and digital, testing.
“While this year’s exam options look different from years past, this schedule will maximize opportunities for AP students in a variety of different situations to test and earn college credit and placement,” according to the College Board.
The AP Biology exam for 2021 will be a full-length exam that students can take in school and/or at home, either traditionally (i.e., paper and pencil) or digitally, depending on the testing date.
Here are the key changes you need to know to do well in the upcoming AP Biology exam.
Will I get college credit for the 2021 AP Biology exam?
Students who take the 2021 AP Biology exam will be eligible for college credit.
As in previous years, a student must obtain a score of 3, 4, or 5 to be eligible for college credit.
How long is the 2021 AP Biology exam?
The 2021 AP Biology exam will be 3 hours long. Students can take it in school or at home depending on the testing date (details below).
What’s the 2021 AP Biology exam date?
The College Board is offering 3 exam dates for the AP Biology exam this year. The times and locations vary by date.
| Date | Time | Location | Method |
| Friday, May 14, 2021 | 8 AM Local Time | In School | Paper & Pencil |
| Thursday, May 27, 2021 | 12 PM EDT | In School & At Home | Digital |
| Friday, June 11, 2021 | 12 PM EDT | In School & At Home | Digital |
It is up to individual schools, though, to choose the exam options that work best for them.
What will be tested on the 2021 AP Biology exam?
The 2021 AP Biology exam will test students on the whole course content regardless of the version of the exam they take — traditional or digital — so be prepared to answer questions on these topics:
- Unit 1: Chemistry of Life
- Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function
- Unit 3: Cellular Energetics
- Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle
- Unit 5: Heredity
- Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation
- Unit 7: Natural Selection
- Unit 8: Ecology
What is the AP Biology exam format for 2021?
The 2021 AP Biology exam will be split equally between 2 sections: multiple-choice and free-response questions. Each section is worth 50 percent of the exam score. You will have 90 minutes to answer 60 multiple-choice questions and 90 minutes to answer 6 free-response questions, which will consist of 2 long and 4 short-answer questions.
For free examples of free-response questions, check here for the actual questions posed in the 2019 AP Biology exam and here for those posed in the 2018 exam.
You can also practice multiple-choice and free-response questions within the digital exam app starting early April.
Is there a difference between the traditional and the digital AP Biology exam for 2021?
There is no difference between the 2021 AP Biology paper exam and the digital exam. They are both 3 hours long, and they test the same course content.
And both the paper exam and the digital exam will allow you to use a 4-function (with square root), scientific, or graphing calculator, such as this TI-84 graphing calculator by Texas Instruments.
However, if you’re taking the digital AP Biology exam, there are a few things you should know. First, you will answer free-response questions with a keyboard, rather than by hand. You will be able to type your responses even if they include symbols as they’re included in the digital exam app. Second, you won’t have to draw or graph as part of your response. Instead, your skills will be assessed by answering questions about given graphs. Third, you may not submit handwritten or photographed responses (unlike last year, when the College Board made an accommodation for the 2020 AP Biology exam).
What device should I use to take the 2021 AP Biology exam digitally?
What you will need to take the exam digitally will depend on whether you’re taking the digital exam in school or at home. In either case, you should make the determination of which device works best for you beforehand.
If you’re taking the digital exam in school, you will need a laptop (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook) that has a built-in camera. This can be a personal or school-provided computer. If it’s a school-provided computer, it must not be shared between students once the exam setup is completed.
To take the digital exam at home, you will need a laptop or desktop computer (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook) that has a built-in or attached camera. This can be a personal or school-provided computer. If it’s a school-provided computer, it must not be shared between students once the exam setup is completed.
No matter the type of device or who owns it, make sure that your computer is fully charged on exam day so it will last for the whole exam. If you’re taking the digital exam at home, be sure that your setup includes charging during the exam if necessary.
You should also install the digital testing app no later than the day before the exam.
You will, of course, also need reliable access to the internet if you’re taking the digital exam.
Is the College Board offering any free AP Biology exam review courses?
The College Board is offering free AP resources to students.
The College Board’s AP YouTube channel gives students access to APLive classes and recordings delivered by AP teachers from across the country. Additionally, to help students review course content and skills before their exam, the College Board will give students access to AP Daily: Live Review sessions from April 19 to 29. You can sign up for the live review sessions here.
What are my other options for preparing for the 2021 AP Biology exam?
If you don’t have an AP Biology review book already, check out TUN’s Textbook Save Engine to compare prices and get the best deals.
There are also online resources that you can use to help you prepare for the 2021 AP Biology exam.
Khan Academy
In partnership with the College Board, Khan Academy provides an official AP Biology course that comes with free instructional videos, articles, and practice exercises created by current and former AP teachers. In addition, Khan Academy offers free exam skills and strategies.
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review offers a 6-Hour AP Cram Course for the AP Biology exam. The course covers topics on DNA and RNA, the cell cycle, evolutionary biology, and more. A Princeton Review expert will help you get ready for test day.
The course, which comes with a Princeton Review prep book, can be ordered online for $299. For now, there are 3 available Cram Course schedules.
- May 1 & 2, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
- May 3 & 5, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
- May 8 & 9, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
The Princeton Review also offers private tutoring, available both in-person or online, for a fee starting at $167 an hour. If you decide to go with this personalized option, expert tutors will work with you to “make a plan, set goals, and exceed them.” The Princeton Review guarantees that if you’re not 100% satisfied, they will match you with another tutor and your next lesson will be free.
If you’re taking more than one AP exam in 2021, check TUN’s AP Exam Review for details on other revised AP exams.
