Are you looking for the best AP Biology textbook to help you prepare for your upcoming exam? AP Biology is a challenging course that requires a significant amount of hard work and dedication in order to perform well. As such, it is important to have the right tools to help you succeed. The right textbook can provide you with the guidance you need in order to get the most out of your studies and ensure your success on the exam. With so many textbooks to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is the best fit for you. In this guide, we will discuss some of the best AP Biology textbooks available so you can select the perfect one for your needs.
Best Ap Biology Textbooks
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
Campbell Biology AP Ninth Edition (Biology, 9th Edition)
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
Campbell Biology (Campbell Biology Series)
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
Campbell Biology (10th Edition)
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
Cracking the AP Biology Exam 2020, Premium Edition: 5 Practice Tests + Complete Content Review + Proven Prep for the NEW 2020 Exam (College Test Preparation)
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
Princeton Review AP Biology Premium Prep, 2021: 6 Practice Tests + Complete Content Review + Strategies & Techniques (College Test Preparation)
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
Fast Track: Biology: Essential Review for AP, Honors, and Other Advanced Study (High School Subject Review)
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
High School Biology Unlocked: Your Key to Understanding and Mastering Complex Biology Concepts (High School Subject Review)
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
AP Biology Premium: With 5 Practice Tests (Barron’s Test Prep)
|
7 .7
|
|
9
 |
Principles of Life: for the AP® Course
|
7. 4
|
|
10
 |
Biology for AP® Courses by OpenStax (hardcover version, full color)
|
7. 2
|
1. Campbell Biology AP Ninth Edition (Biology, 9th Edition)
The Campbell Biology AP Ninth Edition (Biology, 9th Edition) is an excellent textbook for college-level biology courses. It covers a wide range of topics in depth and provides a comprehensive overview of the various biological concepts. The book is well-structured and organized, making it easy to navigate and understand. The illustrations and diagrams are very helpful, providing a visual aid to understanding the material. The online resources, such as practice tests and study guides, are a great help in preparing for the AP Biology exam. Overall, this textbook is highly recommended for students taking AP Biology or other college-level biology classes.
- Provides comprehensive coverage of the essential concepts of biology.
- Incorporates newly-published discoveries and relevance of biology to a changing world.
- Features a wealth of interactive media tools and activities that helps students master difficult concepts.
- Includes updated end-of-chapter questions and experiments.
- Provides review material for the AP Biology Exam.
- Features ancillary resources, such as tutorial videos, animations, simulations, and online quizzes.
2. Campbell Biology (Campbell Biology Series)
I highly recommend Campbell Biology (Campbell Biology Series) for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of biology and the natural world. The book is comprehensive, yet easy to read, with clear and concise explanations of a wide variety of topics. It is also well-illustrated, with beautiful diagrams and photographs to aid in understanding. I particularly appreciate the focus on active learning, with end-of-chapter questions and activities that reinforce the material. Overall, this is a fantastic resource for anyone seeking an in-depth look into the field of biology.
- Comprehensive coverage of core concepts in biology with a focus on human biology
- Engaging narrative with a focus on developing problem-solving skills
- Incorporates cutting-edge research and discoveries to ensure students understand the most up-to-date science
- Covers a range of topics including ecology, evolution, cell biology, genetics, and biochemistry
- Explores human biology topics such as infectious disease, immunology, and cancer
- Contains study tools such as concept maps, chapter overviews, and practice quizzes
3. Campbell Biology (10th Edition)
I recently purchased the 10th edition of Campbell Biology and I am highly impressed. The book provides an excellent overview of the science of biology, with detailed illustrations throughout. The authors have done an excellent job of explaining the complex concepts of biology in an accessible and understandable way. In addition, the book provides plenty of practice questions and quizzes to test your knowledge. Overall, I would highly recommend the 10th edition of Campbell Biology for anyone interested in studying the science of biology.
- In-depth coverage of the essential topics in biology, including evolution, diversity, and homeostasis.
- Clear and effective illustrations, diagrams, and photographs to support understanding.
- Updated content to reflect the latest in biology, including new coverage of epigenetics, gene editing, and more.
- Engaging exercises, case studies and stories to bring the subject to life.
- A robust set of online resources including quizzes, animations, and tutorials.
4. Cracking the AP Biology Exam 2020, Premium Edition: 5 Practice Tests + Complete Content Review + Proven Prep for the NEW 2020 Exam (College Test Preparation)
I recently purchased Cracking the AP Biology Exam 2020, Premium Edition: 5 Practice Tests + Complete Content Review + Proven Prep for the NEW 2020 Exam (College Test Preparation) to help prepare for my upcoming AP Biology exam. This book was an amazing investment! The practice tests included in this book are incredibly helpful and accurately reflect the types of questions that will be on the actual test. Additionally, the content review provided was thorough and gave me the opportunity to brush up on the concepts I was struggling with. Lastly, the strategies and tips presented were invaluable and really improved my confidence going into the exam. I highly recommend this book to anyone preparing for the AP Biology Exam!
- 4 full-length practice tests with detailed answer explanations
- Complete content review for all test topics, including cell and molecular biology, evolution, organisms, ecology, and more
- Comprehensive strategies to help you score higher on the AP Biology Exam
- Up-to-date information on the 2020 AP Biology Exam, including new multiple-choice and free-response questions
- Practice drills throughout each content review chapter
- Thorough review of the lab and data-based investigations
- Guidance on how to use a graphing calculator to answer questions
- Access to online study plans, a handy list of key terms, helpful pre-college information, and more
5. Princeton Review AP Biology Premium Prep, 2021: 6 Practice Tests + Complete Content Review + Strategies & Techniques (College Test Preparation)
I recently purchased Princeton Review’s AP Biology Premium Prep, 2021 and I was very pleased with the results. The book provides 6 practice tests, complete content review, and strategies & techniques for taking the exam. The practice tests were very helpful in preparing for the actual test, as they reflected the material covered on the AP Biology Exam. The content review was thorough and organized in a way that made it easy to access and absorb the information. The strategies and techniques provided in the book was invaluable in helping me to maximize my score. Overall, I am very satisfied with the product and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to prepare for their AP Biology Exam.
- Comprehensive content review for all AP Biology topics
- 6 full-length practice tests to hone test-taking skills
- Detailed answer explanations for every practice question
- Effective strategies and techniques for tackling questions
- Guidance on creating a customized study plan
- Expert author team led by a former AP Biology teacher
6. Fast Track: Biology: Essential Review for AP, Honors, and Other Advanced Study (High School Subject Review)
I recently used the Fast Track: Biology: Essential Review for AP, Honors, and Other Advanced Study (High School Subject Review) and found it to be an incredibly helpful resource. It is well organized and easy to use, and offers in-depth coverage of topics including cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, and more. It provides a comprehensive review of the essential material needed for advanced study of biology, and provides helpful summaries and test-taking tips to help students excel. I found the practice tests especially helpful in reinforcing what I had learned, and the additional online resources useful for further study. I highly recommend this book for any student looking for a comprehensive review for the AP, Honors, or other advanced biology exams.
- Comprehensive review of biology topics commonly taught in high school
- Comprehensive review of topics from the Advanced Placement (AP) Biology exam
- Detailed overview of topics taught in Honors and other advanced biology courses
- Reviews of key biological processes, including cell division, genetics, evolution, and ecology
- Explanations of the scientific method and its application to biology
- Focused review to help you prepare for and excel on the AP Biology exam
- Expert instruction and practice questions to help you ace the exam
7. High School Biology Unlocked: Your Key to Understanding and Mastering Complex Biology Concepts (High School Subject Review)
I recently purchased High School Biology Unlocked: Your Key to Understanding and Mastering Complex Biology Concepts and I have to say I am extremely impressed. The book is packed full of helpful information and is a great resource for anyone who is struggling with complex biology concepts. The chapters are clearly laid out and the explanations are easy to understand. The diagrams and illustrations are detailed and helpful for visual learners. I also appreciate the practice questions at the end of each chapter, which help to reinforce the content learned. Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to increase their understanding and mastery of high school biology.
- Comprehensive review of high school biology topics
- In-depth explanations of the major principles of biology
- Engaging practice questions to test understanding
- Interactive illustrations that provide visual explanations of biological concepts
- Review of key biology terms and definitions
- Easy-to-follow format
- Brain-boosting activities and exercises to strengthen understanding
8. AP Biology Premium: With 5 Practice Tests (Barron’s Test Prep)
I recently purchased 8. AP Biology Premium: With 5 Practice Tests (Barron’s Test Prep) and I’m really impressed with the quality of the materials. The book has a great layout with easy-to-follow practices and instructions that helped me prepare better for the AP Biology test. It also contains detailed explanations of concepts and terms which was really helpful. The practice tests were also very helpful in testing my knowledge and understanding of the material. Overall, I am very satisfied with this product and highly recommend it for anyone looking for an effective way to prepare for the AP Biology test.
- Comprehensive review of all AP Biology topics, including photosynthesis, cellular respiration, genetics, and ecology
- In-depth chapters on structure and function of living systems, scientific application and approaches to problem solving, and a special section on laboratory skills
- 2 full-length practice tests in the book and access to 3 additional online practice tests
- Detailed answer explanations for every question in the book
- Review of biology-specific math skills, and test-taking strategies to help maximize scores and improve performance
- A bonus chapter on the AP exam format and composition
- A glossary of essential biochemistry and biology terms
- Updated material that reflects the latest changes to the AP Biology curriculum
9. Principles of Life: for the AP® Course
I recently used the book 9. Principles of Life: for the AP® Course for an AP Biology class and I must say, it was one of the best textbooks I have ever worked with. The text is comprehensive and covers all the major topics in the course including cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, and more. The chapters are well-structured and organized, making it easy for me to find the information I needed. Each chapter also includes a variety of helpful diagrams and images, which helped me visualize and gain a better understanding of the concepts. Additionally, I found the practice questions at the end of each chapter to be very helpful in preparing for my exams. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to ace their AP Biology course.
- Provides comprehensive coverage of core concepts in the study of life.
- Aligns with the official AP® Course framework.
- Covers topics such as the chemistry of life, the cell, genetics, evolution, the history of life, and ecology.
- Includes visuals, activities, and an online Student Edition with interactive media.
- Integrates formative and summative assessments as well as hands-on labs.
- Features a visually-engaging design with straightforward explanations.
- Provides an interactive digital instructors manual with step-by-step instructions.
- Provides an online test bank and optional online quizzes with instant feedback.
- Includes access to an online gradebook.
10. Biology for AP® Courses by OpenStax (hardcover version, full color)
I recently purchased the hardcover full color version of Biology for AP® Courses by OpenStax and I am so glad I did. This book has been an invaluable resource! The chapters are laid out in an easy to understand manner and the illustrations are vivid and well-labeled. The questions and activities at the end of each chapter are helpful for reinforcing what I have learned. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone taking an AP biology course.
- Hardcover version of OpenStax’s Biology for AP® Courses
- Full color illustrations and diagrams
- Comprehensive coverage of AP® Biology topics
- Detailed review questions and practice quizzes
- Access to online supplemental materials
- Helpful study tips and test-taking strategies
- Integrates analysis of current research with the fundamental concepts
- Includes a comprehensive glossary of key terms
- End-of-chapter summaries for quick review
- Easy-to-follow example problems
