Biology Long Essay Free Response Questions

Overview of the Long Essay (FRQ) Questions

The AP Biology exam consists of six free response questions—two “long” essays and four shorter ones. The two long-form questions make up 50% of the free response score, which translates to 25% of your total score. In short, these questions have a significant impact on your score!

The long essay questions will always be the first two questions on your exam. You’ll need to answer these in blue or black ink (don’t use pencil), so have a few reliable pens on hand. You’ll be provided with plenty of pages to write on, and a Formulas and Equations sheet for any calculations you need to do.

Each long essay question is worth 8-10 points and usually covers multiple content areas. You might start by discussing protein structure and then shift to explaining evolutionary evidence—they are designed to test your ability to connect biological concepts.

One guarantee on the long essay portion is that one of these questions will involve graphing. This is often the most straightforward part of the FRQ, and it’s worth around three points just for graphing some provided data. Here’s what you need to remember:

1. Scale your graph appropriately.
2. Label the axes and include units—without units, you won’t get this point.
3. Plot the data correctly.

Pretty simple, right?

Response Grading (from a Former AP Reader)

There are nearly twenty points in this section, and these points make up 25% of your total AP Biology score. CollegeBoard ensures that grading is rigorous but fair. AP Readers (the graders) undergo extensive training to ensure consistency. They spend a full day training to score just a single question, and then spend an entire week grading that one question for eight hours a day.

While this may sound intimidating, it’s actually beneficial if you understand what AP Readers are looking for in your responses. The bolded verbs in FRQs are key—they tell you precisely what the Readers want to see. Knowing these verbs inside and out will help you craft responses that score full points. This way, you can avoid writing content that might be scientifically correct but doesn’t match the expectations of the question.

Essential Verbiage to Know

Many different verbs are used in AP Biology FRQs, and each has specific expectations:

• Identify: State the name of a concept, process, or phenomenon.
• Describe: Provide a detailed account of something.
• Explain: Give reasons or mechanisms behind a concept or process.
• Construct: Draw a graph or create a representation.
• Justify: Support your answer with reasoning or evidence.

If a question asks you to describe two factors or explain three phenomena, remember to provide all of them to score full points.

Strategies for Scoring a 5

Do you want a 5 on the AP Biology Exam? Here’s what you need to do:

1. Read the Question Carefully

   • So many students miss easy points by skimming the question and missing critical details. Read all directions carefully. For example, responses written directly on the question page won’t be scored, so make sure to use the lined pages provided for your answers.

2. Use Complete Sentences

   • Unless the question is identify, construct, or calculate, you need to write in complete sentences with proper grammar. Bullet points, outlines, and drawings are generally not graded unless specified.

3. Highlight the Bolded Verbs

   • Circle the bolded verbs in each question. Figure out how many points each part is worth and prioritize your time accordingly.

4. Skip Around if Necessary

   • You don’t have to answer questions in order. If you’re stumped on Question 1, move on and come back later. Don’t waste time getting stuck on one question when there are others you can answer.

5. Answer the Easier Questions First

   • Go for the questions that are worth the most points or take the least time: Construct a graph, Design an experiment, Identify, Graph/draw. These types of questions are often faster to answer compared to others that require long explanations.

6. Manage Your Time

   • You get 90 minutes for the free response section, but it goes quickly. Keep a digital watch (that doesn’t beep) handy, and plan how much time to spend on each question. Don’t over-invest in one question and run out of time for others.

7. Skip the Fluff

   • AP Biology Readers don’t care about pretty introductions or elaborate thesis statements. Skip the fluff and get straight to the point. Don’t restate the question or write anything unrelated—just answer what’s asked.

8. Label Your Responses

   • Clearly label each response with a, b, c, etc., if the question has multiple parts. This helps Readers find your answer quickly.

9. Be Confident in Your Answer

   • Readers don’t like indecisive answers. Avoid using phrases like “might,” “possible,” or “I think.” Even if you’re unsure, commit to your answer confidently. For example, don’t write, “The purple hippopotamus might photosynthesize if conditions are right.” Instead, write, “The purple hippopotamus photosynthesizes.” Confidence matters!

10. Use Examples When Applicable

    • If you have time and it’s relevant, use specific examples. For instance, if you’re asked about the difference between natural and artificial selection, mention dog breeding as an example of artificial selection. Examples can earn extra points when used appropriately.

Sample Question

Soybeans (Glycine max) are grown in the American delta. They are fast-growing, with only sixty days from planting to harvest, and are used in various products like soy milk and tofu. However, they are sensitive to frost. Soybeans also rely on mycorrhizae (a type of fungus in their roots) to fix nitrogen.

a) Construct a graph of soybean growth from days 1 to 60.
b) Draw and label a line showing your prediction if mycorrhizae were not present in soybean roots. Explain why this would occur.
c) The mycorrhizae in plant roots fix nitrogen that plants need. Identify the type of relationship between the plants and mycorrhizae, and explain why it is beneficial or harmful.
d) Farmers often rotate soybean fields every three years, alternating with corn. Describe why this is done and how it benefits the plants and their environment.

Sample Answer Breakdown

Before diving in, quickly assess each part of the question and determine how many points it’s worth.

Part A: Graph Construction (3 points)

• Graph your data from days 1 to 60.
  • Label the axes (e.g., Growth Rate (cm/day) on the y-axis, Days on the x-axis).
  • Include units.
  • Plot the points accurately.

This is straightforward, and it’s the easiest way to earn three points.

Part B: Effect of No Mycorrhizae (1 point)

• Draw a flat line near the bottom of the x-axis. Without mycorrhizae, the soybeans won’t grow well because they won’t have sufficient nitrogen.
• Explanation: Without mycorrhizae, soybeans cannot effectively fix nitrogen, which is crucial for growth. This results in stunted growth or no growth at all.

Part C: Mutualism Relationship (2 points)

• Identify: The relationship is mutualism (1 point).
• Explain: The plant provides sugars to the mycorrhizae, while the fungus fixes nitrogen, benefiting both organisms.

Part D: Crop Rotation (2 points)

• Identify: Crop rotation is used to prevent soil nutrient depletion.
• Explanation: Soybeans fix nitrogen, enriching the soil, while corn depletes it. By rotating crops, farmers maintain soil health, reduce pests, and minimize fertilizer use.