Free-response practice
Biology free-response questions
Free-response questions (FRQs) are the part of the AP® Biology exam where you write your own answers. Here they're grouped the way the exam uses them. Write your answer, then score it yourself with the rubric and a model answer, or sign in for free AI scoring.
14 questions · 6 types
Interpreting and evaluating experimental results
A long question built around a real-world experiment and its data in a table or graph. You describe the biology behind it, pick out the experiment's variables and controls, analyze the data or do a calculation, and make and justify a prediction.
On the exam: Question 1 of 6 in Section II (90 minutes, 50% of the exam score); about 25 minutes suggested. Plan on about 25 minutes for one.
Units 1 and 3
Enzymes from hot springs and soil
9 points · about 25 minutes · calculator allowed
Unit 4
Growth factor signaling and the cell cycle
9 points · about 25 minutes · calculator allowed
Unit 5
Two genes in a flowering plant
9 points · about 25 minutes · calculator allowed
Interpreting and evaluating experimental results with graphing
A long question with an experiment and a data table that you turn into a graph. On this site you describe the graph you'd draw (type, axes, units, scale, points and error bars), then analyze the data and make and justify a prediction.
On the exam: Question 2 of 6 in Section II (90 minutes, 50% of the exam score); about 25 minutes suggested. Plan on about 25 minutes for one.
Unit 3
Light intensity and oxygen release
9 points · about 25 minutes · calculator allowed
Unit 2
Sweet potato cores in sucrose
9 points · about 25 minutes · calculator allowed
Unit 8
Competition between duckweed species
9 points · about 25 minutes · calculator allowed
Scientific investigation
A short question about a described lab investigation. You describe a concept behind it, identify part of the method such as a control or a variable to hold constant, state a null hypothesis or predict a result, and justify a prediction.
On the exam: Question 3 of 6 in Section II; about 10 minutes suggested. Plan on about 10 minutes for one.
Unit 1
Phosphate and algal growth
4 points · about 10 minutes · calculator allowed
Unit 7
Selecting for hairier plants
4 points · about 10 minutes · calculator allowed
Conceptual analysis
A short question about a biological system that gets disrupted. You describe and explain the normal process, then predict what the disruption causes and justify that prediction.
On the exam: Question 4 of 6 in Section II; about 10 minutes suggested. Plan on about 10 minutes for one.
Unit 6
A nonsense mutation in a transporter gene
4 points · about 10 minutes · calculator allowed
Unit 4
Iodine and thyroid hormone feedback
4 points · about 10 minutes · calculator allowed
Analyze a model or visual representation
A short question built around a model or diagram of a biological process. You describe what the model shows, explain how its parts relate, add to or use the model, and connect it to a bigger biological idea.
On the exam: Question 5 of 6 in Section II; about 10 minutes suggested. Plan on about 10 minutes for one.
Unit 2
Glucose absorption by intestinal cells
4 points · about 10 minutes · calculator allowed
Unit 7
A cladogram of land plants
4 points · about 10 minutes · calculator allowed
Analyze data
A short question with data in a table or graph. You describe what the data show, use the data to judge a hypothesis, and explain how the results connect to biology you know.
On the exam: Question 6 of 6 in Section II; about 10 minutes suggested. Plan on about 10 minutes for one.
Unit 6
Gene expression in different tissues
4 points · about 10 minutes · calculator allowed
Unit 7
Allele frequencies in island lizards
4 points · about 10 minutes · calculator allowed