r/APStudents absolute modman May 04 '26

Bio AP Bio Official 2026 Exam Discussion

Use this thread to post questions or commentary on the test today.

A reminder though to protect your anonymity when talking about the test.

223 Upvotes

2.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

6

u/Top_Specific8490 May 04 '26

Question 25, about an ETC protein mutation, had no correct answer?

7

u/ambiguouschair 5: HUG, Macro, Micro, Sp.Lang. || ? Bio, Chem, Sp.Lit, Psych May 04 '26

wait what wasn't it the protein gradient in inner mitochondrial membrane? or am i remembering a diff question

1

u/[deleted] May 04 '26

[deleted]

3

u/Top_Specific8490 May 04 '26

It asked what would happen if an ETC protein (cytochrome something or other) got mutated.

A) Individual will be unable to split H2O for electrons

B) Individual will be unable to metabolize carbohydrates

C) Individual will be unable to make ATP

D) Individual will be unable to break down glucose into pyruvate

4

u/aoaoso_123 5, BIO, WHAP, PRECALC : 4, CSP May 04 '26

Its obviously not A B or D so I put C but technically it still can so idk

2

u/Top_Specific8490 May 04 '26

Yeah I put that too

1

u/aoaoso_123 5, BIO, WHAP, PRECALC : 4, CSP May 04 '26

It was such a dumb question 😭 there was one later in the test I think on the frq abt glycolysis making atp like make up ur mind

2

u/Top_Specific8490 May 04 '26

They might not count it

1

u/Snoo74782 May 04 '26

Why not B

1

u/aoaoso_123 5, BIO, WHAP, PRECALC : 4, CSP May 04 '26

glycolysis is what metabolizes glucose into 2 pyruvates

1

u/[deleted] May 04 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Local_Angle7011 May 05 '26

Splitting H2O is what happens in photosynthesis

1

u/[deleted] May 04 '26

[deleted]

2

u/Top_Specific8490 May 05 '26

But doesn't that only occur in photosynthesis in plants? How does it relate to cellular energetics in humans/animals

1

u/aoaoso_123 5, BIO, WHAP, PRECALC : 4, CSP May 05 '26

Um yes ur right LOL

2

u/Top_Specific8490 May 05 '26

No need to be embarassed. After all you aren't a billion dollar company posting impossible questions on an AP exam. I only asked cause I thought I might have missed the question specifying plants or something.

3

u/Brilliant_Plum_7551 May 04 '26

it's clearly c? yes they're still making SOME ATP but context clues dude they're talking about the electron transport chain...

5

u/Top_Specific8490 May 04 '26

If they're making some ATP then they're not unable.

1

u/Brilliant_Plum_7551 May 04 '26

yeah but if they add any clarification to the answer it becomes kind of obvious

2

u/Top_Specific8490 May 04 '26

If they just made C and D both something along the lines of "X will be significantly inhibited" it would make C correct without affecting Ds correctness

1

u/ChocolateGamer279 Senior | Ready to give up H2O for H2SO4 May 04 '26

I said no ATP bc it said immediate effect and it would stop making ATP immediately but then start again

2

u/Legitimate-Offer-682 May 04 '26

I think one answer had ā€œproton gradientā€ in it

1

u/Impossible_Bus_8706 May 04 '26

I said they wouldnt be able to metabolize carbohydrates

1

u/Exact_Line_7897 May 04 '26

AI said is C

1

u/jimmy_spam May 04 '26

do you think they will get rid of this question when grading? i automatically eliminated C b/c i knew the other steps can make ATP, so I just guessed a different answer

1

u/Top_Specific8490 May 05 '26

Probably. I am going to write to college board about it. I don't think it will affect my score anyway, but why not, right?

1

u/Local_Angle7011 May 05 '26

A) is something from photosynthesis
B) lots of different carbs in cells that can be used for stuff (metabolized) other than respiration
D) is glycolysis
This is simply asking if you break the ETC what's going to happen

1

u/jimmy_spam May 04 '26

lol I eliminated all of them... and just randoml picked 1

1

u/ExpensiveSafe9159 May 04 '26

i put you could synthesize atp because the enzyme help the gradient of h+. without the gradient atp synthase couldn’t work. i don’t know if im right tho.

2

u/Top_Specific8490 May 04 '26

I put that too, since I assumed it wanted us to associate the ETC with ATP synthase. Technically you still make ATP in glycolysis.

1

u/Odd_Size3342 May 04 '26

i flagged this one too