The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition

Melanie balances the world of physics with biology in Episode 10. We don’t want to break the Laws of Thermodynamics! (1:20). She then debunks the definition of an enzyme (3:00) while riding a rollercoaster. Don’t forget that enzymes are not used up during a reaction and are substrate and condition specific (4:00), Melanie describes a “toothpickase” hand example to dig deeper into environmental eff...

In Episode 9, Melanie reviews all things transport - active and passive. Do you know who is invited to the party? (0:45). Molecular chemistry will greatly influence the method of transport (1:40). She distinguishes between active and passive transport, with multiple examples (2:20). Sounds like a great time to take a deep breath and make a cup of tea (2:48). Moving big things all at once will requ...

Episode 8 will recap how cell organization is crucial to efficient functioning. Melanie distinguishes between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in domain and design (1:07). Ribosomes are found in all cells (2:22) and manufacturers protein. Membrane bound organelles are made of phospholipids, just like cellular membranes (2:58). Rapid fire review of common organelles in name, structure and function...

We find out why there are no elephant sized Amoebas in Episode 7. Melanie begins with recapping the difference between the definitions of surface area and volume (1:27). The first APsolute RecAP CHALLENGE is announced! (2:30). Visit a Starbucks and be sure to email your submissions by April 15, 2020 for a chance to win a personalized exam prep podcast. Get a rundown of calculation variables and eq...

In Episode 6, Melanie recaps elements of life and shares two mnemonics - OSHMERG (1:03) and CHNOPS (4:00). She begins with the definition of matter and reviews its role in growth. Can you describe the atomic structure (2:09) and its role in bonding? Metabolism misconceptions are debunked (2:38) - even though students can eat an entire pizza. What do you think of when you hear the word organic? (3:...

We learn that you are what you eat in Episode 5. Melanie explores the four types of biological molecules in both structure and function. Kick it off with proteins (1:20) which have the greatest diversity in structure and function due to R-groups chemistry (2:49). Melanie reminds us of the elemental ratios in carbohydrates and to notice the pattern of an -ose ending (4:10). She also recAPs the dive...

Episode 4 is all about WATER! In the first of the content episodes, we zoom in to the elemental level and discuss water structure and its correlating properties. Melanie tells you to think of a familiar Disney character (1:48) and has you sketching water polarity (2:40). She shares some word reminders to tell the difference between cohesion and adhesion (4:30) with some real world examples. Have y...

In Episode 3, Melanie draws the line between what you need to know and what you don’t. Don’t worry about the extra information in your textbook! The eight units on the CED can be learned in any order and will often have math requirements. Biology begins with chemistry (1:55) which will influence how things function on a larger ecological scale (5:30) It is important to focus on the big picture (3:...

In this episode, Melanie explains the main themes and skills that students will continually see throughout all eight units of the course. The four Big Ideas have specific abbreviations in the CED (1:40). She reminds students of buzzwords (2:20) and the common theme of structure and function (3:47). The six science practices that students need to demonstrate on the exam are unpacked (4:52) with exa...

In this pilot episode, Melanie unpacks the AP Program and describes how the newly designed Biology Exam is structured for 2020. Students learn how to keep an appropriate pace on the multiple choice section (1:17) and some tips for practice (2:10). She explains that not all FRQ questions are valued the same and require active responses (2:56). Melanie gives away a teacher secret (3:08) and reminds...

The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition , hosted by Melanie Kingett, will be your guide to scoring the five! The APsolute RecAP is designed to maximize your understanding and minimize your need for memorization. Each episode will review content, skills and test taking tips to help you succeed in May. Please follow us on Instagram @TheAPsoluteRecAP . If you're a student with questions or a teacher with...