AP Scores in ... a final thought!

The 2014 AP scores are in and I have gotten calls from a few students.  We are in the second year of the new AP Exam.  It is now much harder to get a 5 (highest score) with less than 7 percent of the students nationally getting this score.  However, it is easier to make a two and three.

We had over half the AP Biology class pass this year's exam even though we missed several days of school.  In a full year, students are in class about 140 hours.  This year,  if a student didn't miss any days, did not go to club schedule and did not take any field trips (I do not know this student) they were in class 125 hours.  Many of my students came into the exam with less than 100 hours of instruction.  The results were several students passed (must get at least a 3 to pass) but, there were only one score over three.

Also, in the new exam, if you are a good reader you have a chance to pass the exam regardless of how much you attend school.

Finally,  thanks to Ted and Jeremy for the work that they did with these students in freshman biology.  Additionally, thanks to Jeremy for teaching Environmental Science.  Many of these students took AP ES ... it helps both in content and test-taking ability.  On to the 2015 Exam ... it will be my 23rd year teaching AP Biology.

Below is my best picture taken today ... an Eastern Tailed-Blue.  It is sitting on a bloom of dutch white clover ... this butterfly is about a 1/2 inch tall!

Also, from last weekend near Barren River.  An Ebony Jewelwing, a damselfly.

AP Scores ... Raven and Johnson's Biology Book

The AP scores are in for 2014.  For AP Biology it is the second year of the new curriculum and the revised scoring standard curve.  It is now easier to make a 3 (expecially if you are a good reader)  but, much harder to make a 4, 5 or 1.  Congrats to all that took the test ... learning how to take big tests is important.

School starts in one month for students ... August 6th.

I am reviewing textbooks in case our school opts to replace textbooks ... slim chance of that.  We will probably just add more ducktape to our old Campbell books.  This week, I started reading through the new Raven Biology book.  Science changes and the biotechology, genetics, genomics and gene expression chapters all reflect new findings.  Internet or not, I still like a good textbook.