FRQ 1 – Interpreting and Evaluating Experimental Results (Long)

This guide organizes advice from past students who got 4s and 5s on their exams. We hope it gives you some new ideas and tools for your study sessions. But remember, everyone's different—what works for one student might not work for you. If you've got a study method that's doing the trick, stick with it. Think of this as extra help, not a must-do overhaul.

📌 Overview

• Students are given an authentic scenario with a graph or table and are asked to analyze the specific scenario and explain biological concepts
• 13% of Exam Score:
• Spend about 22 min
• Scored on a 9 point rubric:
  • Explains processes (2)
  • Justifies experiment design (3)
  • Analyzes data (2)
  • Justifies predictions (2)

💭 General Advice

Tips on mindset, strategy, structure, time management, and any other high level things to know

• Process all the tables, pictures, graphs, and figures one by one. I found it helpful to write a 1-6 word note next to each figure provided to determine exactly what each of them mean.
• Know that the first 1-2 questions are worth much more than the others; these are much more time-intensive but, in the end, it should pay off so stick to it and answer all the questions!
• This is often self-explanatory, but label your answers to each part of the question (a, b, c, etc.).
• Be familiar with the AP verbs and exactly what they mean, like “explain” and “identify” (which can be really confusing at times)!
• If you know your content, then just be confident — everything will fall into place!
• Keep an eye on the clock. Wear a watch!
• Start with the FRQ question you feel most confident about to start collecting some points! This will help build your confidence and give you motivation to tackle the tougher ones.
• Attempt to answer every question. Do your best to answer all parts of every FRQ question because you may get some extra points, even if you’re not sure of yourself. Focus first on what you know and leave some space to come back to the question if you are having a lot of trouble with it.

🕐 Before You Write

What should a student do in the first few minutes, before they start writing?

• Before even starting the FRQs, use the break between the MCQ and FRQ sections to go to the bathroom, drink water, and clear your mind.
• Take a deep breath and plan out how you’ll divide your time between questions.
• Be calm and read the FRQs in GREAT detail; you don’t want to get the question wrong because you misinterpreted a question or missed a snippet here or there. Read it over a couple times so you know exactly what the question is asking!
• Pick the FRQ question you think you will answer the best and start outlining on the booklet. Do one word or short answers in the question booklet so you have a general idea on what you are going to write about. This can also help you stay on topic and make sure you say all the important things to answer the question.
• Carefully read the scenario and examine the provided graph or table. Pay attention to labels, units, and trends.
• Note down any key terms or concepts related to the scenario and the data presented.
• Review any background information provided and connect it to the experimental setup.
• Take a bit to read through the question thoroughly and brain-dump everything you know about the concepts involved. It will make recall easier once you start writing.

💯 Tips for Earning Each Point

Describe/Explain Biological Concepts, Processes, or Models

• When defining biological concepts, be clear and concise. Use proper terminology and provide context for better understanding
• When explaining biological processes, offer specific contextual information. Describe where and why these processes occur in living organisms. This helps the reader visualize the significance of the process in a biological context
• When discussing models, relate them to real-world examples. This helps in understanding how these models apply to biological systems
• Draw comparisons between different biological concepts or processes. Highlight similarities and differences to deepen your explanation, and ensure the examples are specific and relevant to the original prompt
• Provide a clear explanation of the biological concepts or processes relevant to the scenario. Use accurate scientific terminology and examples to support your explanation.
• Consider how the concepts or processes relate to the data presented in the scenario.
• This is where brain-dumping and lots of concept review in your studying will come in handy. This requires you to really know your biology, which is what you’ve been learning in your class so far! You can also rely on the data presented to jog your memory about specifics of the concepts.

Identify Experimental Design Procedures

• Clearly define any independent, dependent, and control variables. Discuss how manipulating the independent variable affects the dependent variable
• Understand the purpose of the control group. Evaluate whether it effectively isolates the variable of interest. Note any potential sources of bias or error
• Discuss the significance of an adequate sample size. Consider how randomization contributes to the validity of the results. If asked, suggest ways to enhance the experimental design through larger sample sizes or improved randomization techniques.
• Consider how well the methods could be applied in different settings. Address any limitations in the experimental design and propose modifications for increased reliability
• Any question that tells you to “Identify” is going to be a one sentence response. It is just asking you for the name of the thing they are asking for, don’t overcomplicate it!
  • If they wanted you to give more information on the topic, they would ask you to describe or explain.
  • They might ask you for the dependent or independent variable. Just state what the dependent/independent variable is and move on.
• Outline the experimental design used in the scenario. Discuss variables, controls, and the overall purpose of the experiment.
• Justify why the chosen experimental design is appropriate for investigating the biological phenomenon described.
• Annotate the FRQ to identify the dependent/independent variables, controls, etc. as you’re reading and preparing to answer.

Analyze Data

• If statistical analyses are present, understand what they signify. Be prepared to discuss the significance level (p-value) and how it relates to the results. Make sure you know what common measures (mean, standard deviation, correlation coefficients, etc.) mean in the context of the question
• Interpret the data presented in the graph or table. Discuss trends, patterns, and any significant findings or relationships between variables.
• Use numerical data or specific details from the graph/table to support your analysis.
• Make sure you practice interpreting statistical measures in full sentences over and over—use released FRQs to do this! It won’t be enough just to say whether something is significant or correlates, you’ll have to put it in context by answering questions like, “What does it mean that this data is significant?”

Make or Justify Predictions

• Explain why a particular outcome is expected based on the biological concepts asked of in the question. Connect your justification to broader biological principles (cellular processes, genetics, ecological interactions, etc.)
• Address potential alternative explanations for your predictions. Include why your prediction is likely but also why other potential outcomes are less probable
• Based on the data and your understanding of biological concepts, make predictions or hypotheses about potential outcomes or future experiments.
• Provide logical reasoning or scientific principles to justify your predictions.
• This will rely on both the data presented to you and your understanding of the underlying biological concept. Use the data to check your understanding of the concept, and vice versa and make sure everything can be explained!

Reading Graphs/Tables

• Pay attention to labels, units, and scales. Misinterpretation can lead to inaccurate conclusions.
• Note trends, patterns, and outliers. Connect these observations to biological concepts!