Question 1
A herbicide blocks the transfer of electrons from photosystem II to the electron transport chain in the thylakoid membrane. Which prediction is best supported?
The AP Biology exam in 2027
Three hours in two sections of 90 minutes, each worth half the score. You answer multiple choice in the Bluebook app and handwrite free-response answers in a paper booklet.
| Section I | 60 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes, 50% of the score |
|---|---|
| Section II | 6 free-response questions, 90 minutes, 50% of the score |
| Calculator | Allowed on both sections, with a reference sheet |
| Date | Monday, May 3, 2027, Session 2 |
The two sections
- Section I: 60 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes. Some stand alone; others come in sets of typically 4 to 5 questions that share a data table, graph or model.
- Section II: 6 free-response questions in 90 minutes: 2 long questions worth 9 points each and 4 short questions worth 4 points each, 34 points in all.
- It is a hybrid digital exam: you read every question in Bluebook, and you write free-response answers by hand in a paper booklet.
- A four-function, scientific or graphing calculator is allowed on both sections, and a reference sheet is provided.
The eight units and their weights
- Unit 1: Chemistry of Life, 8–11% of Section I
- Unit 2: Cells, 10–13%
- Unit 3: Cellular Energetics, 12–16%
- Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle, 10–15%
- Unit 5: Heredity, 8–11%
- Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation, 12–16%
- Unit 7: Natural Selection, 13–20%
- Unit 8: Ecology, 10–15%
The six free-response questions
- Question 1: interpreting and evaluating experimental results (9 points)
- Question 2: interpreting and evaluating experimental results with graphing (9 points)
- Question 3: scientific investigation (4 points)
- Question 4: conceptual analysis (4 points)
- Question 5: analyzing a model or visual representation (4 points)
- Question 6: analyzing data (4 points)
Pacing
Section I gives you 90 seconds a question. In Section II, plan about 25 minutes for each long question and 10 minutes for each short one. Answer every part: free-response points are earned one at a time.
Try 2 questions
Question 2
Biologists sample a deer population every five years and compare the genotype frequencies at one gene with the frequencies predicted by the Hardy-Weinberg equation. What null hypothesis are they testing?
Next step
Questions people ask
How long is the AP Biology exam?
3 hours: Section I is 90 minutes and Section II is 90 minutes.
When is the AP Biology exam in 2027?
Monday, May 3, 2027, in Session 2. College Board describes Session 2 as typically the afternoon slot; your AP coordinator confirms the exact time and place.
How many questions are on the AP Biology exam?
66: 60 multiple-choice questions in Section I and 6 free-response questions in Section II.
Can you use a calculator on the AP Biology exam?
Yes. A four-function, scientific or graphing calculator is allowed on both sections, and a reference sheet is provided.