SAT Biology E/M Test Preparation Notes

STUDENTS CHOICE SAT SUBJECT TEST BIOLOGY E/M

• 5 full-length practice tests, including 1 diagnostic and 2 online.
• All questions answered and explained.
• Contains best strategies, tips, and tactics.
• Has extensive subject reviews and practice.
• Compatible with smartphones/tablets/PCS/Macs

About the Author

• Deborah Goldberg earned her M.S. degree from Long Island University.
• She did research as an electron microscopist at New York University Medical Center and New York Medical College for 14 years.
• From 1984 to 2006, Ms. Goldberg taught AP Biology and Chemistry at Lawrence High School on Long Island, New York.
• She is the author of Barron’s AP Biology, 6th Edition, and AP Biology Flash Cards, 3rd Edition.

Why Should I Buy This Book?

• Extensive subject reviews of every topic required for the Biology SAT, including the most current information about the three-domain system of taxonomy.
• One mini-diagnostic test that identifies your strengths and weaknesses.
• Two full-length practice tests with questions that mimic the actual SAT Biology test.
• Two more full-length practice tests available online and on all mobile devices.
• Instructions that enable you to calculate your 200 to 800 SAT score.
• Over 400 additional practice questions in the subject reviews.
• NOTE The link to the online practice tests can be found in this e-book.
• Both practice tests can be assessed on all mobile devices, including tablets and smartphones.
• This e-Book contains hundreds of hyperlinks that may take you to other resources, help you navigate through the content, and allow you to go back and forth between practice questions and answers.

What You Need to Know About the SAT Subject Test: Biology E/M

The Basics

• The Biology Subject Test measures your knowledge after completing a general college-preparatory high school Biology course.
• It is independent of any particular textbook or biology course you may have taken.
• SAT subject tests are required by many colleges you may decide to apply to.
• SAT Subject Tests Subject Area, Test Title
  • English Literature
  • History and Social Studies
    • US History
    • World History
  • Mathematics
    • Math Level 1
    • Math Level 2
  • Science Biology E/M
  • Languages
    • Chinese with Listening
    • French
    • French with Listening
    • German
    • German with Listening
    • Italian
    • Japanese with Listening
    • Korean with Listening
    • Latin
    • Modern Hebrew
    • Spanish
    • Spanish with Listening
• Take the test right after the course ends when the content is still fresh, either in May or June for most.
• Tests are given in October, November, December, January, May, and June.
• You may register by using registration forms found inside the SAT Registration Guide that is available from your high school Guidance Office or online by visiting the College Board’s website at www.collegeboard.com.
• When you register, you will have to indicate which specific subject tests you plan to take. You may take one, two, or three on any given testing date. Your testing fee will vary accordingly. You may change your mind on the day of the test and select any test offered and available that day, except for the Language Test with Listening, for which you preregister.
• The Biology E/M Test has two parts: 60 core questions followed by 20 questions in either specialized section—ecology (E) or molecular (M).
• Every student answers 80 questions—60 core questions plus 20 special section questions.
• You choose the area in biology for which you feel most prepared.
• There are 5 major content areas on the test. Both tests include questions on all 5 topics. However, the E test has more questions about ecology, while the M test has more questions about molecular and cell biology.
• The skills and knowledge tested on include:
  • RECALL. Knowledge of facts and terminology
  • APPLICATION. Understanding concepts, applying knowledge to practical situations, and solving problems
  • INTERPRETATION. Integrating information to form conclusions
• The metric system is used on this test.
• You will need:
  • Your admission ticket
  • An acceptable photo ID
  • Two No. 2 pencils with fresh erasers (do not use pens or mechanical pencils)
  • A watch with no audible alarm
• You are not allowed to use a calculator on the exam. Numerical calculations are limited to simple arithmetic.
• If you feel more comfortable answering questions about populations and community systems, and interpreting data about ecosystems, choose the Biology-E exam.
• If you feel that you would do better answering questions about cell structure and interpreting data about enzymes and other molecules, take the Biology-M test.
• If you are unsure about which one you should take, discuss it with your biology teacher.
• You may decide on the day of the test which test you will take. Because the two tests contain Common Core questions, you may not take both exams on the same day. You must pencil in the appropriate grid for the test you wish, either Biology-E or Biology-M.

• The test is scored on a scale of 200 to 800. You earn one point for each correct answer. You lose ¼ of a point for each wrong answer. Questions you omit are simply not counted and neither are questions for which you mark more than one answer. You are penalized more for a wrong answer than you are for leaving an answer blank.

• Your raw score is converted to a scaled score that is reported to you and to any colleges you specify.

• A score of 800 is fabulous, and a 750 is great. However, earning a great score will not necessarily ensure that you get into the college of your dreams. On the other hand, scoring a 600 does not necessarily mean that you will be barred from your favorite school. Many factors go into college admissions. The SAT Subject Test is simply one factor.

• Score Choice In 2009 the College Board introduced Score Choice, which allows you to choose the scores you send to colleges. It gives you an opportunity to show your best scores and is optional. If you do not choose it, all your scores will automatically be sent to the colleges.

• Canceling Scores On test day, if you want to cancel your scores, you must cancel all of the SAT Subject Tests you take that day.

Strategies

• Using this book will help you prepare for the SAT Subject Test: Biology E/M. However, do not expect to open up this book for the first time on the night before the test and reap any benefits. Instead, you should use this book for several months and do the following:
  • Familiarize yourself with the directions for the SAT Subject Test.
  • Familiarize yourself with the SAT Subject Test answer sheet.
  • Take the mini-diagnostic test in this book.
  • Study all review chapters in this book and answer all the multiple-choice questions at the end of each chapter, concentrating on your weakest areas.
  • Take the first practice test in this book in a quiet room. Do it in one sitting. Do not allow for any distractions. Do not take any phone calls. Do not talk to anyone. Do not listen to music.
  • Time yourself. Keep an eye on the time and notice how much time has passed when you are halfway through the test. Assess if you need to speed up or slow down. The real SAT Subject Test is 1 hour long, so your practice test should also take exactly 1 hour. Many students have told me that they found that they were much more nervous during the actual test than when they took the practice test at home. When I asked them what the conditions were when they took the practice test, they said, “I was listening to some music and took a break in the middle. ” Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! You must mimic the test conditions exactly when you practice, or you will not do as well as you could on the actual test.
  • When you are finished, calculate your grade according to the detailed instructions.
  • Evaluate your results on the practice test. Did you have enough time? Did you leave too many or not enough questions out? Did you make careless mistakes? Are there topics you need to study more?
  • After you have evaluated your results on the first practice test, take the second under the same conditions. After you take the second test, evaluate it the same way you evaluated the first one.
  • YOU ARE NOW READY TO TAKE THE SAT SUBJECT TEST IN BIOLOGY.

WHAT TYPES OF QUESTIONS CAN I EXPECT?

• The Classification Question
  This type of question requires little reading and can be answered quickly. Each question has 5 choices, and all the questions refer to those same 5 choices. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
• The Five-Choice Question
  The five-choice question is written either as an incomplete statement or as a question. It comes in different varieties. One type is the standard multiple-choice question.
• Some five-choice questions contain the words NOT, LEAST, or EXCEPT in capital letters. Read carefully!
• A special type of five-choice question might be called a multiple-multiple-choice question. It includes a list of 3 or 4 choices labeled by Roman numerals. One or more of these statements may correctly answer the question. You must select from among five lettered choices that follow.

WHAT TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES SHOULD I USE?

• Be Careful

  • Do not make any stray marks on the answer sheet; the tests are scored by machine.
  • You may write anywhere in the test booklet. Use it as scrap paper.
  • Check often to see that you are placing the answers in the correct place.
  • Be extra careful if you skip a question. Make sure that you also skip a line on the answer sheet. You cannot waste any time re-marking your answer sheet.

• Work at a Steady Pace—Watch the Clock

  • The test is 1 hour in length.
  • Bring a watch to the exam, and keep an eye on the time.
  • Do not spend too much time on any one question. Remember, every question is worth one point, no matter how easy or difficult it is.

• It Is Okay to Guess

  • If you are not sure of an answer but can eliminate at least one choice, then guess.
  • If you have no idea about one question, then leave it blank and move on to the next question. Remember to skip the appropriate line on the answer sheet.
  • No calculators are allowed—computations are easy.

• Use the following QR code to access the two online tests.