ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Biology => Topic started by: WhoTookMyUsername on February 06, 2011, 04:51:08 pm
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Hi guys,
I am just wondering if there is a efficient way of studying for Bio.
Lots of memorisation? lots of questions? How to study :D What form of notes? - just definitions or mainly processes? Do i need a tutor?
Thanks.
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Well firstly you don't start practice exams before school starts :P
Secondly you listen to Stiglec and use him as a resource.
Thirdly {wait for russ}
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Well firstly you don't start practice exams before school starts :P
Secondly you listen to Stiglec and use him as a resource.
Thirdly {wait for russ}
You can't talk, you've done more prac exams than me :P
Glad as i got stiglex, Roberts isn't there 1/2 the time :S
Got some bad teachers though...
Half-exams - not full.
And I've done 2, and that too of TSSM shit quality. Furthermore I get slightly more than 50% indicating I actually have understood the course.
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A tutor helps, but isnt necessary imo. You will need to memorise a shit load of info, but when it comes to the exams you have to apply that knowledge. Hand writing notes helped me memorise stuff, but it does depend what you're memorising sometimes it may be more beneficial to look at diagrams or tables.
Do practise exams. The more quesitons you do, the more prepared you will be for the exam.
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I did Units 1/2 last year with stiglecs. That was excellent in terms of my development in foundation for Bio. However, if you are going straight into 3/4 Bio with stiglecs its got its good and bad. Good = Great knowledge. But you should know Stigs is hella tight on how he marks. Small discrepancies = minus 1/2 - 1 mark. It's almost impossible getting full marks on SACs with him. He even said in class last year, only 3 ppl got full marks on his sacs in the past few years. [that's how i remember it]
Added from that, I heard that coz of his sacs, the highest mark for one year with stigs was 46. S:
However, the good thing is, you actually learn biology :D
This year i have roberts, who makes bio lots of fun LOL. And his jokes actually get laughed at (you'll know what i mean)
and after stigs 1 year of bio foundation, me and a few other mates agree he isnt the teacher we want for year 12 .
Anyway that was really OT.
I reckon studying is all of the things you just mentioned. What works best when I learn is trying to explain concepts to someone (or myself) as that really consolidates the info!
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I got slightly more than 50% as well. Your arguments are invalid ;)
You advertised 50% - your fault.
Not an argument :S
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The best way is to not do practice exams before you've started the course at school! Teachers are there for a reason, and are always another source of info other than pre-prepared notes and podcasts.
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I found working through checkpoints (excluding questions from 2006 to 2010) consistently throughout the year helped a lot.
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I found working through checkpoints (excluding questions from 2006 to 2010) consistently throughout the year helped a lot.
Excluding ?
You want to save VCAA exams for exam time... (if you plan to do exams ;) -don't make my mistakes though)
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I found working through checkpoints (excluding questions from 2006 to 2010) consistently throughout the year helped a lot.
Excluding ?
You want to save VCAA exams for exam time... (if you plan to do exams ;) -don't make my mistakes though)
This. I haven't even bought Checkpts for Psych -.-
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I found working through checkpoints (excluding questions from 2006 to 2010) consistently throughout the year helped a lot.
Excluding ?
You want to save VCAA exams for exam time... (if you plan to do exams ;) -don't make my mistakes though)
This. I haven't even bought Checkpts for Psych -.-
Yes on what rohitpi said. you don't do the questions from the exams that were written for the current study design. If you work through 2006 to 2011 vcaa+external companies exams, that should be plenty to go through for your exam preparation
For me, I sometimes find buying checkpoints can be a bit of a rip off since you're paying for the colored cover, ink and paper the questions are printed on. I would only buy them if there was no other way of accessing them through school or local libraries. Also, make sure to compare the checkpoints answers with the examiners' reports answers. Sometimes, the writers of checkpoints can get it wrong or they fail to mention other correct possibilities.
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Stay ahead of your class by a decent amount if you can.
Bio isnt really like chemistry or something were spamming heaps of similar questions will help and theres a very small core of concept.
Bio has a pretty big core of concepts and you're asked to apply them in all kinds of situations in the exam. So, just really learn the concepts very well inside out and you're set.
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lol right now im in my first bio class of yr12, and your all freaking me out :/
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It's an enjoyable subject and a lot of people find it relatively easier compared to some of their other subjects (well i did anyway).
So, just enjoy the class and as long as you pay attention and do your work you should be just fine.
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Taking notes from douchy's podcast helped me heaps.
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He's alright but he tends to go on a bit sometimes
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i did alright in bio and heres what i did
Do not do any practice exams now, they will lonly be wasted resources which you could have used closer to mid years.
Focus on actually understanding the concepts then the questions that test you will come much easier.
VCAA assessment reports are your bible, they provide you with the exact definitions you need. Begin forming definitions ofwhat you may write on the exam. I found being ahead is the key. and writing LOTS AND LOTS of notes, highlighting key pieces of info etc.
Probably one of the most important things is Mark your self as harshly as possible. Even if you answer may be almost right, in the eyes of VCAA it is nt.So suck it up and prepare to get some dismal scores in your first few praccy's.
Most of all enjoy biology, i loved the course
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i did alright in bio
Haha Jdog you did awesome in biology, 47 is a good score. ;D
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Again, immerse yourself in the subject. Don't simply take it as a rote-learning exercise. When reading the text, ask yourself questions. Criticise the text. Don't be afraid to extend your knowledge to somewhat beyond the course, so long as it supplements what you know inside the course.
Principles! Use principles!
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Again, immerse yourself in the subject. Don't simply take it as a rote-learning exercise. When reading the text, ask yourself questions. Criticise the text. Don't be afraid to extend your knowledge to somewhat beyond the course, so long as it supplements what you know inside the course.
Principles! Use principles!
Great advice !
What type of "principles" are you referring to?
For example - in unit 3 there is a heavy emphasis on binding specificity. Two molecules can only bind to each other if they have a complementary shape. The structure of one molecule defines its function; changing the structure slightly completely alters its function as it will not bind to the same molecules.
Another example in unit 4 - when you learn about evolution and speciation, you realise that it's simply applied genetics, stuff that you would have already done. Punnett squares are simply representations of meiosis. etc etc
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Again, immerse yourself in the subject. Don't simply take it as a rote-learning exercise. When reading the text, ask yourself questions. Criticise the text. Don't be afraid to extend your knowledge to somewhat beyond the course, so long as it supplements what you know inside the course.
Principles! Use principles!
LOL! I didn't do any of that... Except I looked in Capmbell's (spelled it wrong probably) Biology a couple of times (an extension?)
(hence a crappy-ish SS)
My tips: Do whatever Thushan says to do, because he definitely knows his stuff (and don't do what I did).
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Haha thanks Bazza. As for VCE hints, I really don't have much to say besides learn the principles for each subject - that you can derive all you knowledge from...and just enjoy the subject.
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Is it http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/book/campbell-biology/12281483/
that one?
Thats $600 :O Where can i find it? (not to buy obv)
School library, some get it by other means from specific internet searches though (not encouraging illegal behavior ;) )
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yeah theres some on torrents ;)
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So am I, I can't use torrents either.
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So am I, I can't use torrents either.
Haha! I'm better than you at something! (first and last time, promise :P)
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Nah mate, you'll probs do better than me this year ATAR-wise...I'm not doing too well atm :S
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Nah mate, you'll probs do better than me this year ATAR-wise...I'm not doing too well atm :S
I highly doubt that!