This study focused on potential pedagological uses of standardized placement exams. A sample of 250 exams of the May 1984 Biology Advanced Placement (AP) exam was obtained and student responses to the question on cell structure were analyzed. The frequency of particular responses to the question is listed and trends and patterns in the responses are discussed. Interviews were also conducted with AP biology instructors, high school science coordinators, readers of the 1985 AP Biology exam, college biology instructors, and professional research cell biologists for purposes of explaining the AP cell structure question results. Textbooks and resource materials were then examined for their impact on potential learnings of students and for the amount of information that they had on cell structures. Recommendations resulting from this study include: (1) provisions for additional uses of national standardized exam results other than the measurement of achievement; (2) development of hierarchically related science textbooks from high school to college; and (3) periodic replacement of learning resource materials to accompany test materials. (ML)