Planning on taking the USABO exam on Feb 1st, 2024?
SpringLight’s December and January USABO Prep courses will help you prepare!
Register here!
This course is designed primarily for students who’ve taken at least an AP Biology class and are interested in practicing for the USABO exam.
Before each session and at home, students will complete practice USABO Open and Semi-Final exams. In this way, the class provides structure and achievable goals for students as they practice for the exam.
Students will communicate their exam questions to the teacher, usually ahead of class using a google-forms survey. Based on these questions, the teacher will explain confusing test questions and review whichever concepts students need help with.
Commonly reviewed items in previous years included lab techniques, advanced concepts such as enzyme kinetics and membrane potentials, plant anatomy, physiology, genetics, cell and molecular biology, endocrine system, immune system. These topics often go beyond the content of USABO and Advanced USABO classes.
| Class name | date | Exams covered in that day’s class | |
| December class
USABO Test Prep Day 1-5, |
12/26 10 AM - 12:30 PM (Pacific) |
2020 Open 2016 Open |
|
| December class
USABO Test Prep Day 1-5, |
12/27 10 AM - 12:30 PM (Pacific) |
2021 Open 2017 Open |
|
| December class
USABO Test Prep Day 1-5, |
12/28 10 AM - 12:30 PM (Pacific) |
2016 Semi | |
| December class
USABO Test Prep Day 1-5, |
12/29 10 AM - 12:30 PM (Pacific) |
2018 Semi | |
| December class
USABO Test Prep Day 1-5, |
12/30 10 AM - 12:30 PM (Pacific) |
2019 Semi | |
| January class
USABO Test Prep Day 6-10, |
1/7 2:00 - 4:30 PM (Pacific) |
2018 open 2014 open |
|
| January class
USABO Test Prep Day 6-10, |
1/14 2:00 - 4:30 PM (Pacific) |
2019 open 2015 open |
|
| January class
USABO Test Prep Day 6-10, |
1/21 2:00 - 4:30 PM (Pacific) |
2017 semi | |
| January class
USABO Test Prep Day 6-10, |
1/27 2:00 - 4:30 PM (Pacific) |
2020 semi | |
| January class
USABO Test Prep Day 6-10, |
1/28 2:00 - 4:30 PM (Pacific) |
2021 Semi |
FAQ:
Can I just take a few lessons (not the whole course)?
Students can register for and attend one lesson or all of them, depending on students’ schedules.
There is no significant overlap between lessons, so a student who takes lesson 1 and lesson 6 will find that they learn different useful things in each one.
The lessons don’t build up on each other significantly, so it’s ok to skip some if they don’t interest a student.
What’s the difference between the December and January classes?
Each lesson covers different practice exams.
They are scheduled so that we cover a total of 6 semifinal exams and 8 open exams.
The December and January classes BOTH cover new and old, semi and open exams. See schedule, included.
What if I paid but can’t attend?
Videos of each lesson will be available for students who have paid for that lesson.
Will this prepare me for the AP exam?
While you’ll end up reviewing topics that are covered on the AP, the USABO exam isn’t very similar to the AP Biology exam and isn’t the best way to prepare. Students who like biology and contests might still find the class very interesting, however!
I’ve only taken an AP class, not a dedicated USABO class; will I know enough?
Depends on your teacher. In Mrs. Webster’s AP Bio class, we covered these topics that will be on the USABO: Cell and Molec, Ecology, Evolution, Genetics. However, we didn’t cover Botany or Physiology, since those aren’t tested on the AP Bio.
Could I just attend one lesson to check it out?
Of course! You can pay for one lesson and attend to find out if you like it. If you then decide you wish to attend many more, just inform the SpringLight office and they’ll be happy to change your registration.
Our fees are $140/lesson, or $680/5 lessons.
This class is a great fit for me! How do I register for just the lessons I want?
Registration link is here!
If you happen to only want to attend a few of the classes, let’s say just days 2-4, you should register for the USABO Test Prep Day 1-5 (the December class), and let us know in the “comments” of the registration document which specific days you will attend.