We’re solidly in February, which means that even though the weather doesn’t necessarily feel spring-like, we are definitely fully in the spring semester -- which means for most students it is the semester of final exams, AP tests, and Subject Tests.
Spring semester is when I usually have the highest number of biology students -- a large number of whom aim to take the SAT Subject Tests in May and June.
As a disclaimer before we start talking about the E vs M versions of the test: if you are a freshman taking biology, even if you’re acing the class, I do not recommend that you take this test until you take an AP Biology course. The subject tests are not easy, especially since you need a pretty high score in order to impress colleges with them. The SAT Subject Test in Biology’s level of difficulty typically falls somewhere between that of an honors-level course and an AP-level course, so if there’s a chance you might take AP Bio in the future, wait to take the Subject Test then. That way, the studying you do works doubletime -- toward the AP test and toward the Subject Test too.
So, if you’re taking the SAT Subject Test in Biology, should you take Biology-E or Biology-M?
This is one of the most common questions I get, and it’s an important one to think about! The SAT Biology test is different the rest of the Subject Tests in that there are two versions of it -- Ecological Biology, which focuses slightly more on concepts related to ecology, evolution, and biodiversity; and Molecular Biology, which focuses slightly more on, well, molecular-scale concepts like biochemistry, cellular structure, and cellular processes, such as respiration and photosynthesis.
Notice “slightly” in that sentence -- it’s key. No matter which version of the test you end up taking, you’ll be expected to have a certain level of mastery in both categories of topics. It works kind of like a choose-your-own-adventure book: everyone starts with the same 60 questions, and then you can choose to proceed either to the E section (questions 61-80) or to the M section (questions 81-100). Regardless of your choice, the first 75% of the test will be exactly the same (and will test both ecological and molecular concepts).
A breakdown of topics, and their relative frequency on each version of the test, can be found in the table below. Notice that all categories are represented on both versions of the test, so you’re not “off the hook” for any of them if you choose one version of the test or another.
from collegeboard.org
Given all that background, this is how I would go about choosing which version of the test to take:
What of the material in the table above are you most comfortable with? A lot of high school curricula and teachers focus more heavily on cellular structure, molecular processes, and genetics, so the Biology-M test might be a more comfortable fit based on what’s fresh in your mind from school. This was certainly what I experienced when I was in high school, and I opted to take Biology-M. (Full disclosure, I did eventually go onto become a molecular biology major… so that test choice might have reflected my personal interests, as well. 😜)
IF you truly have no preference in terms of the material, I would recommend that you take Biology-E section. I say this for two reasons, neither of which should override a preference for the Biology-M material, but are worth considering if you’re completely on the fence.
Reason 1: Especially if you’re starting from scratch, the material that is more heavily emphasized on the Biology-E test (natural selection, evidence and patterns of evolution, and ecological concepts) are typically a little easier to pick up than molecular structures and processes.
Reason 2: The curves and percentile ranks tend to be a little “nicer” on the Biology E version of the test. For example, on the two most recently released SAT Biology tests, you need to get fewer questions right on the Biology-E test in order to get the same scaled score, and according to the percentile ranks released by the CollegeBoard, those scaled scores would translate to higher percentile ranks.
All that said, you don’t have to make your decision right away, and I actually encourage you not to. When you register, you’ll register for “Biology E/M,” and it’s not until you’re in the testing room that you need to commit to one version or the other.
As you’re studying, I actually think it’s best to practice both the E and M sections, because again, all the topics are fair game on either version of the test -- the only difference is how many related questions you’ll see.
To do this, all you need to do is add 15 minutes to your hour-long testing period (the test gives an average of 0.75 min per question, so if you’re doing 20 extra questions, you should add 15 extra minutes) and do all 100 questions that are printed in the test booklet. That way, you’ll have a greater number of opportunities to uncover and review your weak topics and will also become more familiar with both the E and M sections so you can make a more informed decision when test day comes.
Here at LogicPrep, we actually find that students see the most success when prepping for the Subject Tests at least 3 months in advance. Since students often take the tests in May and June, the best time to start prepping is now! If you have any questions, contact us and we will help you get started!