Advanced Placement (AP) Biology (also known as AP Bio) is an Advanced Placement biology course and exam offered by the College Board in the United States. For the 2012–2013 school year, the College Board unveiled a new curriculum with a greater focus on "scientific practices". This course is designed for students who wish to pursue an interest in the life sciences. The College Board recommends successful completion of high school biology and high school chemistry before commencing AP Biology, although the actual prerequisites vary from school to school and from state to state. Topic outline Topics covered by this course include: Biochemistry Botany Cell biology Developmental biology Ecology Evolution Genetics Microbiology Molecular biology Population biology Zoology In addition to the standard biology topics above, students are required to be familiar with a set of 12 specific biology labs, as well as general lab procedure. Exam Students are allowed to use a four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator. Score distribution Commonly used textbooks Biology, AP Edition by Sylvia Mader (2012, hardcover ) Life: The Science of Biology (Sadava, Heller, Orians, Purves, and Hillis, ) Campbell Biology AP Ninth Edition (Reece, Urry, Cain, Wasserman, Minorsky, and Andrew Jackson ) See also Glossary of biology A.P Bio (TV Show) References External links AP Biology at CollegeBoard.com AP Biology Teacher Community at CollegeBoard.org Advanced Placement Biology education Standardized tests zh:大学先修课程#科目