The AP Biology course is equivalent to a two-semester college introductory biology course for science majors. The key concepts and related content that define the course and exam are organized around a few underlying principles called the big ideas, which encompass the core scientific principles, theories, and processes governing living organisms and biological systems. Students will also develop advanced inquiry and reasoning skills, such as designing a plan for collecting data, analyzing data, applying mathematical routines, and connecting concepts in and across domains. Reading requirements for the course are rigorous and require a daily commitment in order to stay caught up in the class.  Exams generally cover 3 - 4 chapters in the text and occur every 2-3 weeks depending on the content being covered and the number of labs associated with concepts within the unit.  Laboratory activities suggested by the College Board are conducted to give the student a fair representation of a university-level Biology course.  Students will have the option to take a College Board exam over the subject at the end of the school year.  Whether or not college credit will be given is determined by the student’s score on the AP test.