Yes, expert tutors can guide you through all units of the AP Biology curriculum, from Unit 1 (Chemistry of Life) through Unit 8 (Ecology). However, the most effective approach is to focus tutoring sessions on your weakest areas rather than trying to re-teach everything—your tutor will work with you to identify gaps and spend time where it matters most for your score.

Free-response questions are where many students lose points, often because they don't understand the rubric or how to structure their answers. A tutor can show you exactly what graders are looking for, help you practice outlining answers quickly under time pressure, and give you feedback on your explanations before test day. This targeted practice typically translates directly to higher scores on the actual exam.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure about question formats—both things tutoring directly addresses. By working through practice tests under timed conditions with a tutor, you'll build confidence in your knowledge and develop a pacing strategy that works for your speed. Your tutor can also teach you techniques to manage anxiety during the exam, like how to skip difficult questions strategically and come back to them.

Your first session is a diagnostic—a tutor will assess which units and question types give you the most trouble, review your current understanding of key concepts, and learn about your goals (are you aiming for a 3, 4, or 5?). From there, you'll build a personalized study plan together that focuses on the areas where you'll gain the most points before test day.

Ideally, you should take at least 3-4 full-length practice tests under timed conditions before May—one early to establish your baseline, then 2-3 more spaced throughout your prep to track improvement and identify persistent weak spots. A tutor can review your practice test results with you, pinpoint patterns in the questions you're missing, and help you adjust your study strategy accordingly.

Look for a tutor with strong AP Biology experience—ideally someone who has taught the course, scored well on the AP exam themselves, or regularly tutors students preparing for it. They should understand the College Board's rubrics and be able to explain not just the biology, but how to answer questions the way graders expect. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Des Moines who have proven success helping students improve their AP Biology scores.

The AP Biology exam is 3 hours total: 90 minutes for 60 multiple-choice questions (about 1.5 minutes per question) and 90 minutes for 6 free-response questions (about 15 minutes each). A tutor can help you practice this timing with real tests, teach you to identify quick wins in the multiple-choice section, and show you how to budget your time on free-response questions so you don't run out of time on the last one.