Course Information

Course Description

Welcome to the Advanced Placement Biology at Channel Islands High School.  A.P. Biology is a college-level biology course for able and motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors.  The course will be equivalent to an introductory college biology course.  AP biology covers three major topics in biology:

1. Molecules and Cells

2. Genetics and Evolution

3. Organisms and Populations

Although this may not sound like many topics, there are many subtopics that must be covered within these.

Challenges

A.P. Biology students need to understand and accept the fact that this course will place unusually heavy demands on their time and energy.  This is the tenth year this course has been offered.  Some students have reported spending 7-10 hours of study time outside of the class a week.  Students must complete an intensive amount of reading from a college textbook.  Students will need to attend night or weekend review sessions as the A.P. test draws near.  The test will be offered once on May 14.  If we fall behind, we will have to make-up time by having after-school or lunch time sessions.

The exam, itself, will cost each student approximately $87.00.  If students qualify for Free or reduced lunch, the cost of their test becomes about $10.