AP Biology FRQ six questions, two long and four short.
Section II of the AP Biology exam is six free-response questions in 90 minutes, worth 50% of your score: two long-answer and four short-answer. Here is the format, what each type asks for, and how the rubric awards points.
The format at a glance
The six questions split into two longer ones and four shorter ones, and a simple calculator is allowed.
What each type asks
The two long questions carry the most points and lean on experiments and models.
What it tests
Questions pull from across the course: the chemistry of life, cell structure and energetics, cell communication and the cell cycle, heredity and gene expression, natural selection, and ecology. Many ask you to connect two units, such as using genetics to explain an evolutionary outcome.
Where students lose points
How to practice
Pull the College Board released AP Biology free-response questions and grade against the official scoring guidelines, since the rubric rewards specific moves you can learn. Start with the two long questions under a timer. Once you have a raw count, the AP Biology score calculator turns it into a projected 1–5.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers — written by humans, not a chatbot.
How many FRQs are on the AP Biology exam?
Six, made up of two long-answer and four short-answer questions, in 90 minutes, worth half of your total score.
Can I use a calculator on the AP Biology FRQ?
Yes, a four-function calculator with a square-root key. A formula sheet with statistics is also provided.
What do the long AP Biology FRQs focus on?
Interpreting and evaluating experimental results, and analyzing a model or visual representation. They carry the most points.