Sat Subject Test Biology Pdf

Official Sat Subject Test Biology Pdf
Official Sat Subject Test Biology Pdf
Barron's Sat Subject Test Biology E/m 6th Edition Pdf
Sat Biology Subject Test Prep
Official Sat Subject Test Study Guide In Biology Pdf

If you’re applying to selective schools, you might have to submit SAT Subject Test scores along with your regular SAT (or ACT) scores. The Biology Subject Test (also called Biology SAT II) is a popular one because a vast majority of students take biology in high school, and most students find it less intimidating than chemistry or physics. This test can be a great way to fulfill your Subject Test requirements, especially if you plan on studying biology in college and want to show off your skills.

In this study guide, I’ll give you all the background information you need to start studying for the Biology Subject Test as well as example questions, practice materials, and study tips to use along the way.

Biology SAT Subject Test Overview: Format and Test Dates

In terms of Biology SAT Subject Tests, you can choose to take either Biology Ecological (Biology-E) or Biology Molecular (Biology-M). According to the College Board's descriptions of the two SAT Subject Tests, Biology-E 'leans more toward biological communities, populations, and energy flow,' whereas Biology-M is more 'geared toward biochemistry, cellular structure and processes, such as respiration and photosynthesis.'

Both versions have the same test format and guidelines:

Well, if science is your favorite subject, taking the SAT Subject Test in Biology: Molecular might be just the ticket to giving your high school transcript a boost before college application season. SAT Subject Tests are multiple-choice exams that measure a student’s knowledge of a single subject. SAT II Subject Tests: Free Downloadable Printable PDF Practice Tests Many universities are now requiring (or “recommending”) that applicants take at least two of the SAT II Subject tests. In addition, high scores on these assessments can help to enhance your college application and/or potentially place you out of an introductory college course. Practice Tests. College Board Biology Practice Questions (29 practice questions brought to you by the makers themselves). Sign up for a QuizStar student account. Sign up for a class called: Summit-Bio SAT 2 (exactly how I've written it out, otherwise you can't find it).

Total Time: 60 minutes
Total Number of Questions: 80 multiple-choice questions
Scoring: Scored on a scale from 200 to 800
No calculator allowed!

Sixty of the questions are identical for both versions of the test, while the last 20 are specialized to either E or M. Biology E/M is offered on the May, June, August, October, November, and December SAT Subject Test dates.

Should You Take the Biology Subject Test? Which Version?

Now that you understand what the Biology SAT Subject Test entails, should you take it or not?

To help you decide, you need to first find out if any of the schools you’re applying to require or recommend SAT Subject Tests. You can do this by simply looking at our other article for a full list of schools that ask applicants to send Subject Test scores (we also introduce these schools’ specific requirements).

If you already know that you need to take Subject Tests, there are a few reasons you might look to the Biology test as a viable option.

Want to get better grades and test scores?

We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores.

Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors.

When to Consider Taking the Biology Subject Test

Here are three cases in which it's a smart idea to consider taking the Biology SAT Subject Test.

#1: You Just Took a Biology Class

It's best to take the test in the spring right after you finish a biology course to cut down on study time. Here is the College Board’s recommended preparation for the Biology Subject Test:

A one-year introductory college preparatory course in biology
A one-year course in algebra
Laboratory experience

The Biology Subject Test is an especially good idea if you’ve just taken AP Biology (and have already prepared for the AP test). Subject tests are less intense than AP tests, so in comparison, it will probably seem like a breeze to you.

#2: You Haven't Taken a Science Subject Test

Most colleges that require or recommend SAT Subject Tests are looking for one in the humanities and one in the sciences (except for a couple of outliers such as MIT, which wants math and science Subject Tests).

If you need to take a Subject Test in the sciences and you’re nervous about it, Biology is the way to go. It should be slightly easier for you than Physics or Chemistry will be if you’re a stronger humanities student. Why? The Biology test involves fewer obscure concepts and calculations, and you can rely slightly more on memorization and basic logic to answer the questions.

#3: You Have a Special Interest in Biology

If you’re interested in pursuing biology as a course of study, it’s a great idea to take the Biology Subject Test as a way to demonstrate your aptitude for the subject. If you’ve also done other specialized programs or projects in high school related to biology, taking the Subject Test will only bolster the cohesiveness of your application.

Alright, let's do this.

Assuming some or all of the factors listed above apply to you, and you’ve decided to take the test, there’s still one more decision to make: Biology E or Biology M?

How to Decide Between the Biology E and Biology M Versions

I gave you a short description of the content of each of these two tests in the previous section, but it probably wasn't enough information for you to make a decision.

This choice ultimately comes down to whether you’re more comfortable with the macro or micro aspects of biology. SAT Biology-E deals more with large-scale energy flow in ecosystems and changes in the environment over time. By contrast, Biology M focuses more on the chemical elements of biology that occur on a minuscule scale.

If you’re more of a science-oriented student, you’ll probably be better off with Biology-M. If you’re more into subjects like history and English, Biology-E might be a better choice.

Keep in mind that the two tests aren’t completely different. There are only 20 questions out of 80 that are specific to either E or M. For this reason, I wouldn’t stress too much over your choice. If you took a biology class and did reasonably well in it, you shouldn’t have a problem with either version of the test.

Oh, and for anyone who’s wondering—yes, you can take both Biology-E and Biology-M, but you can’t take them both on the same test date (makes sense, considering they’re almost the same test!).

Biology-M is more about this type of stuff. You know—all the creepy things happening at the molecular level inside your body. Right. Now.

What’s on the Biology SAT II?

Here’s a content overview provided by the College Board that lists the division of topics for each version of the Biology SAT Subject Test:

From the chart, you can see that many more questions are devoted to Cellular and Molecular Biology on the Biology-M test, and many more are devoted to Ecology on the Biology-E test.

Notice that Biology M also has slightly more questions on Genetics, whereas Biology E has slightly more questions on Evolution and Diversity. Both tests have the same number of questions dealing with Organismal Biology. These topics should all be familiar to you if you’ve taken a biology course.

The types of skills tested on both Biology-E and Biology-M include the following:

Recalling fundamental concepts and specific facts (about 30% of test)

Applying biological knowledge to practical scenarios presented on the test and solving problems using mathematical relationships (about 35% of test)

Making inferences and forming conclusions based on qualitative and quantitative data (about 35% of test)

Essentially, 70% of questions will present a scenario and then ask you to make deductions or calculations based on it. The scenario could be a chart of bacteria growth or a description of a lab procedure. It’s important to know the fundamental parts of an experiment (independent and dependent variables) and be able to project your understanding onto unfamiliar situations.

The other 30% of questions just ask you to recall biological facts directly. I'll provide examples of different types of questions you can expect to see on the test in the next section.

You might see questions about changes in species population density in a particular ecosystem. It's the ciiiiiircle of liiiiiiifeeeee!

Biology Subject Test Question Types

Here are a few official examples of the different types of questions you might see on the Biology Subject Test. Each question corresponds to one of the three skills I mentioned above.

Type 1: Data Interpretation

As I mentioned in the previous section, many of the questions on the test ask you to look at data and make deductions from the information given. In this question, although species Y isn’t explicitly mentioned in the chart, we know from the background information that whatever percentage of species X is planted, species Y seeds must make up the remainder.

To answer the question, we have to figure out where the graphed line intersects with the line that indicates the 25% mark on the x-axis (that is, the harvest at the point where 25% species X and 75% species Y were planted). It appears that the harvest was 50% species X, which means it must also have been 50% species Y.

Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Type 2: Applying Concepts

In this question, you’re asked to apply your biology knowledge to a given situation. Why did the results recorded in the graph occur based on what you know about the experiment?

From the background information (and from studying for the test), we know that thymine is one of the four main nucleotide bases present in DNA. Choice E makes the most sense as an answer to this question because as the embryos develop, they’re consistently forming DNA using the radioactive thymine that’s available to them.

As I wrote above, you'll also be asked to apply your knowledge of the scientific method and lab procedures to specific scenarios on the test. Take a look at the next question dealing with this radioactivity experiment:

The correct answer is choice C. This would be an appropriate control scenario because RNA contains uracil instead of thymine. The results of the experiment upon adding radioactive uracil would demonstrate definitively that the original experiment measured DNA and not RNA synthesis.

Type 3: Recalling Facts

You'll also see questions like this on the Biology Subject Test that ask you to recall basic facts. The answer to question 1 would be (B), and the answer to question 2 would be (A).

Sometimes these questions are accompanied by diagrams. Here's an example of one in a slightly different format:

This is a little more challenging since you need to identify the parts of the flower that the numbers are labeling and also remember the functions of those specific parts. The answer to question 6 is (A), and the answer to question 7 is (D).

10/10 would pollinate.

Where to Find Practice Materials for the Biology Subject Test

If you're looking to prep for the Biology SAT Subject test, you'll need some quality study materials. I've compiled a list of where to find the best practice tests and review guides.

Free Online Sample Questions and Tests

This is a list of online (official and unofficial) practice materials for the Biology E/M Subject Test. Most of these resources don't provide complete practice tests, but there are tons of questions available that will expose you to the full range of the content on the exam.

Official Biology Subject Test Practice Questions

We'll start with the best of the best: official practice questions created by the College Board. All of these questions are extremely realistic and very similar to the ones you'll see on test day.

General Biology: 24 practice questions with answer explanations.

Biology-E: Five questions specific to Biology-E.

Biology-M: Five questions specific to Biology-M.

The SAT Subject Tests Student Guide: Pages 20-24 offer a total of 17 biology questions (11 on general biology, three on Biology-E, and three on Biology-M). Answers and explanations are available here.

CrackSAT Practice Tests and Questions

Although all of these tests are much shorter than the real thing, they're still incredibly useful as practice materials. Note that since there's less of a focus on lab and data analysis, these questions might be less challenging than those on the actual test.

SAT II: Biology Google Site

This site has two full-length practice tests and two diagnostic tests. It doesn't have automatic scoring since all pages are scanned PDFs, so these are good to print out and take like the real test. Be sure to emulate real testing conditions as closely as possible: follow the official time limit and take them in a quiet room without distractions.

Free Online Content Review

Khan Academy is a free website and partner of the College Board that provides tons of learning materials, including video lessons, practice questions, and answer explanations, for the SAT and various school subjects. Its biology section is especially helpful since it offers an overview of essential concepts, many of which you'll find on the Biology SAT Subject Test.

In addition to in-depth videos that teach you the basic (and even more advanced) biology concepts, Khan Academy offers more than 80 biology practice questions. While these questions don't look like those you'll see on the Subject Test, they're still useful for helping you learn and retain the fundamentals of the subject.

Paid Review Books

In addition to free resources, there are a few helpful review books you can buy that are specifically for Biology E/M. You can also check out this article that focuses on the best books to use for the Biology Subject Test based on your score level.

Official Sat Subject Test Biology Pdf

The Official SAT Subject Test in Biology Study Guide: This official book is a must-have. It includes two full-length Biology tests (that were actually administered in the past!) as well as detailed answer explanations and a few test-taking tips. Buy it for around $13 on Amazon.

The Official Study Guide for ALL SAT Subject Tests, 2nd Edition: This book contains official practice tests for all SAT Subject Tests, including, of course, the Biology test. It's a good choice if you're planning to take other SAT Subject Tests and prefer having one comprehensive resource. The current price is around $19 on Amazon.

Barron's SAT Subject Test Biology E/M, 6th Edition: Although this is an unofficial resource, it's got a lot of material you can work with, including more than 350 questions and two full-length practice tests. It currently sells for about $16 on Amazon.

Cracking the SAT Subject Test in Biology E/M, 16th Edition: This book by The Princeton Review aims to get you a perfect 800 on the Biology test. Although its questions aren't as realistic as those in official resources, it does offer a solid array of learning material, from helpful test-taking strategies to practice tests. You can buy it for around $14 on Amazon.

Sterling SAT Biology E/M Practice Questions: High Yield SAT Biology E/M Questions: If you want a comprehensive resource of Biology practice questions, look no further. This book offers an astounding 1,500+ practice questions and answer explanations. The current cost is about $23 on Amazon.

And when you're done taking practice tests, you can reward yourself with something that would be unacceptable to consume in public. In the immortal words of the Goo Goo Dolls, 'And I don't want the world to see me / 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand / When everything's made to be chocolate / I just want you to know who I am.'

Want to get better grades and test scores?

Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors.

How to Study for the Biology Subject Test

Here are a couple of pointers to keep in mind as you study for the Biology SAT Subject Test.

Don’t Over-Prepare

Remember that this isn’t an AP test—there are no free-response questions, and much of the test involves interpreting information that’s already been provided to you. Therefore, if you recently took a final exam for a biology class or the AP Biology test and felt pretty confident about your performance, you shouldn’t have any issues acing the Subject Test.

I’d still recommend taking a practice test (as discussed in my next point), but there’s no need to kill yourself with studying if the information is fresh in your mind. If it’s been a year or so since you took a biology class, a few hours of review might be in order. Again, though, this test shouldn’t be especially challenging for you if you’ve already completed a mid- to high-level biology course.

Take Plenty of Practice Tests

Even if you feel very comfortable with the subject matter, you should take at least one practice test as an experiment to see how high you’re scoring. This way, if you’re at a satisfactory score level, you can avoid wasting time with additional studying.

If your results are lower than expected, analyze your mistakes and then study the relevant content areas (or just do similar practice problems if your mistakes are related to data interpretation more so than they are to general biology knowledge).

You can also do some practice questions for each version of the Biology test on the College Board website and/or those in the other resources listed above.

Practice tests can help raise alarms about unexpected problem areas on the test.

Acing the Biology Subject Test: 3 Essential Test-Taking Tips

In this section, I'll give you a few tips for when you actually sit down to take the Biology SAT Subject Test. Tailoring your strategy to the format and content will do wonders for your score!

Tip 1: Read the Background Information—but Don’t Overthink It

As you saw from the examples above, questions on the Biology SAT Subject Test often come paired with background information to contextualize the data being provided to you. This will come in the form of a paragraph that describes the experiment so you don’t get confused when you look at the corresponding chart or graph. Always take a moment to read this paragraph, as it sometimes contains information that isn’t clear if you view the data in isolation.

However, don't get too wrapped up in understanding every aspect of the experiment. It’s best to maintain a practical mindset and just focus on understanding the parts you need to know so you can answer the questions.

Take the second sample question above. Here it is again for your reference:

You can see that some of the information in the paragraph—such as the fact that radioactivity was measured in 'counts per minute'—doesn't actually help you answer the question.

Be efficient, and avoid dwelling on smaller details that might not be important.

Tip 2: Don't Linger on Hard Questions

As you're taking the Biology Subject Test, you might come across some questions you can't figure out right away. If you spend more than 30 seconds on a question without getting any closer to the correct answer, skip it for the time being and move forward.

Official Sat Subject Test Biology Pdf

Lingering on problems that give you trouble spells danger for this test, so try to answer all the less challenging questions first so you don't run out of time at the end and miss any easy points.

Tip 3: Keep Guessing to a Minimum

Although there's no guessing penalty on the regular SAT, SAT Subject Tests are still under the fractional-point subtraction's reign of terror. This means that guessing incorrectly is worse for your score than leaving a question blank. Answering a question incorrectly on the Biology Subject Test will cause you to lose 1/4 a point, leaving a question blank results in no loss or gain of points, and answering a question correctly earns you one point.

As a result, don't guess on a question unless you can eliminate at least one wrong answer choice. Otherwise, you're taking too much of a risk. If you're completely stumped by a question, just leave it blank.

If you can't decide between five answer options that all seem equally viable to you, leave the question blank.

Conclusion: How to Prep for the Biology SAT Subject Test

The Biology Subject Test can be an easy and convenient way to fulfill your SAT II requirements for college applications. You have the option of taking either Biology-E (ecological) or Biology-M (molecular), but 75% of the questions are the same on both tests.

Both versions of the test are an hour long and include 80 multiple-choice questions that deal with topics ranging from cell biology to genetics to evolution. Though these questions mostly cover basic biology knowledge, there's also a significant amount of data interpretation and analysis of experimental scenarios.

Take a practice test to see where you stand, and do additional studying if you find your knowledge is lacking. If you were successful in your high school biology class, you should generally have no problem doing well on this test with just a little bit of preparation!

What's Next?

Are you currently taking AP Biology? Learn more about the format and content of the AP test, and get a rundown of the best resources you can use to study for the exam!

You should also read our complete review guide for AP Biology. You can use it to brush up on some skills that will come in handy for the Biology Subject Test as well.

While you're studying for the Biology Subject Test (or even if you're just taking bio), take advantage of our articles reviewing key bio concepts. Start with our exploration of the distinction between homologous and analogous structures, then go on to our guides to enzymes, the photosynthesis equation, cell theory, cell membranes, and the endoplasmic reticulum.

Still not sure whether you should take the Biology Subject Test? Check out this expert advice on which Subject Tests you should take based on your goals and interests.

Need a little extra help prepping for your Subject Tests? We have the industry's leading SAT Subject Test prep programs (for all non-language Subject Tests). Built by Harvard grads and SAT Subject Test full or 99th %ile scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible.

Learn more about our Subject Test products below:

The SAT II Biology E/M Subject Test is a good choice for students looking at medicine or who want to show off their hard science skills. But what's the best way to study for the Biology E/M Subject Tests? What are good books and study schedules? Read this guide to find out!

Note: I am not affiliated with any of the book publishers below. Neither I nor PrepScholar get paid for any sales of the books below, allowing us to provide the most neutral reviews.

Who Should Take the SAT Subject Tests in Biology E/M?

Taking a few SAT Subject Tests is mandatory for a number of selective colleges. Colleges use these tests to see which subjects you're especially strong in. For example, if the overall message of your application is that you want to be a future doctor, being strong in biology is a very important signal to send. The Biology E/M Subject Tests are also good for someone who is usually stronger in the humanities but wants to signal their strength in a science that's not too mathy.

There are two Biology Subject Tests: Biology Ecological (Biology-E) or Biology Molecular (Biology-M). According to the College Board, Biology-E 'leans more toward biological communities, populations, and energy flow' while Biology-M is 'geared toward biochemistry, cellular structure and processes, such as respiration and photosynthesis.'

Both versions are 60 minutes long, include 80 multiple-choice questions, and are scored on a scale from 200 to 800. Sixty of the test questions are identical for both versions of the exam, and the last 20 are specialized to either E or M. No calculator is allowed.

As for all SAT Subject Tests, you should only take a Biology Subject Test if you know you'll do well. If you're not sure how well you'll score, take and score a practice Biology Subject Test. If you get at least a 500, you're probably in a good place to score well with some additional practice.

A low Subject Test score does reflect badly on you. It shows that the biology course you're taking in school may be too easy, and you can't compete in a standardized setting. In fact, I would go as far as to say don't take a Biology Subject Test test if you can't get at least 550: even a 550 is around the worst 20th percentile.

Therefore, I will only focus on two groups of scorers in this guide: those scoring from 500-650, and those scoring from 650-750 (with a bonus section for those 750 or higher!)

Biology E/M Tips for Everyone

To maximize your score on Biology E/M Subject Tests, know that the best time to schedule your test is right around the end of your most difficult biology course in high school. For example, if you take biology in 11th grade, and your biology finals in May or June, seriously consider the June test date. You'll have maximized your bio knowledge at that time. If you take the test too early you won't have covered some items in your course, and if you take the test too late and you'll start to forget important biology info. Also it's great to time your test near your bio finals because you can double your efficiency in studying.

If you're taking biology senior year, and you've already taken a year of biology, then you won't be able to take the Subject Test at the end of the class, since the end of your senior year will be too late for colleges to see your results. The latest you should take Subject Tests is the fall of your senior year, so you'll likely have to do some independent studying to make sure you know all the necessary information for the Biology Subject Test.

The best study resources for the Biology Subject Tests are official practice tests. You can purchase the Official SAT Subject Test Study Guide in Biology for about $13, which includes two complete practice tests with answer keys. We recommend everyone taking the Subject Test take at least two or three practice tests.

Advice for People Scoring 500-650

Barron's Sat Subject Test Biology E/m 6th Edition Pdf

As I mentioned above, 550 is around 20th percentile, and 500 is 12th. Thus, if you find yourself still not being able to score higher than 550 on your last practice test, consider taking another subject very, very seriously.

You'll want to put around 20 hours into studying. Some of this can be concurrent with your bio final in school (see above). One of the best books for scorers in this range is the Princeton Review SAT II Biology E / M guide. I have many issues with the Princeton Review general SAT books, but their SAT Biology E/M book is a very quick read and can be finished in 20 hours for sure.

You'll want to take a few practice tests: three would be ideal. The first one is for calibration (to see what range you're in), so you don't need to waste an official practice Subject Test on that. The second one you can take the real SAT II Biology test released for free online by the College Board. The final one, save for a couple of days before the test to perfect your timing.

But again, if your score on this final practice exam isn't above 550, don't take the real test.

Advice For People Scoring 650-750

Okay, You're doing better on the SAT II biology — you're clearly in the range where the Biology E/M is a good choice to send to your college (although make sure it is at least 100 points above your average general SAT score). If you're scoring on the lower end of this range, or don't want to spend much time (maybe 15 hours or less) on the study, follow the same schedule and book as above.

The people remaining should be those who really want to gun towards a perfect. For you folks, I strongly recommend Barron's SAT II Biology E / M guide in addition to going through the Princeton Review guide above. Barron's was my personal favorite book in high school. It's more difficult than needed, which means if you can ace Barron's, you can ace the actual test.

If you're aiming for a large gain at the high end of this range, use the Princeton Review guide as a refresher. Much of it will cover items that you know already, but there will be surprising holes it will fill. Their tests can be inaccurate for some of the more difficult problems, but you can 'burn' these tests for your initial test and for some extra practice. At the 8-10 hour mark, move on to Barron's.

Are You Putting in a Lot of Study Time But Not Improving?

Many of the above books focus on quick summaries of biology in just a few hours. Unlike the general SAT or ACT, SAT Subject Tests are less about strategy, and actually quite a bit about knowing the content.

For advancing your content understanding, there is a silver bullet, but it may be a tough bullet to swallow: Campbell Biology. This beast takes hundreds of hours to read completely, but it is known as the bible in AP Biology. Fully understanding this book qualifies you to be among the top 20 bio students in the US. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you have just a few holes to fill, this book will definitely do it.

Last Notes: Scoring Above 750? Taking AP Bio?

If you're scoring above a 750, know that the final few points are usually due to careless mistakes. I would use Campbell Biology to brush up on the few last topics you don't understand, and then work on avoiding careless mistakes. Don't stress over the difference between a 780 and a 800 — I know colleges don't.

If you're taking AP Bio, know that the AP test is much harder than the SAT Subject Test — in the sense a 5 on the AP test means more than a near-800 on the SAT II. You may choose to take the SAT Subject Test if your AP score won't be out in time to include with your applications. In this case, study a bit ahead of the rest of the class — you get to use it on the Subject Test and it'll be useful later on! If your AP score is out in time, then the Subject Test is likely redundant — only take if you need to 'burn' an SAT Subject Test requirement for college.

Good luck!

What's Next?

Thinking about taking other SAT Subject Tests? Check out our guide to the easiest SAT Subject Tests out there!

Still not sure whether you should take the Biology Subject Test? Check out this expert advice on which Subject Tests you should take based on your goals and interests.

If you're taking the SAT 2 Biology—Molecular test, you'll need to be on top of your cell biology facts. Brush up on enzymes, cell theory, how the cell membrane and endoplasmic reticulum function, and the photosynthesis equation. For either test, you'll also want to know the difference between homologous and analogous structures.

Choosing your subject tests also depends on your prospective colleges' requirement. Check out this guide to see the full list of schools that require SAT Subject Tests.

Sat Biology Subject Test Prep

Considering going to medical school after college? Read our guide to preparing for pre-med in high school and our list of the books you'll want to read as a pre-med student.

Official Sat Subject Test Study Guide In Biology Pdf

Learn more about our Subject Test products below: