BIOLOGY UNIT 3 - TIPS

[Samuel_Spillane]

I've seen a lot of people asking general questions about preparation for Unit 3 Biology so I thought I'd compile some tips for the last couple of days before you get back to school.

STUDY NOTES
I've seen many questions regarding the use of study notes or study cards.  Personally, I think that compiling your study notes is invaluable, and I highly recommend that you get into the habit of producing these every fortnight.  Study notes should not be written straight out of your text book or handouts given out to you by your teacher.  They should be compiled after you have done your reading with minimal content to assist you.  This exercise will show you which areas you are competent in, and which areas you still need to work in. 
If you do decide to purchase study material from a company, allow this to supplement your study notes, rather than replace them.  Study notes do not necessarily have to be words. 
Understand how you prefer and learn best and compile notes that reflect that.  I'm a very lateral learner and my notes consisted mainly or words and a couple of diagrams.  However, I have friends who performed equally as well who studied by producing posters and colourful pictures.

EARLY CONTENT
Many of you will have had transitional classes before or during the holidays.  Others will have missed or did not have these classes.  A few of you will not have completed Units 1 and 2 of Biology at all.  Don't stress. 
If you want to get ahead before you go back I would start at familiarising yourself with the four biomacromolecules covered in VCE.  I would construct a table with four columns labelled "Nucleic Acids", "Proteins", "Polysaccharides" and "Lipids".  I would then have a number of rows to summarise these molecules.  Examples include "Monomer of molecule", "Polymer of molecule" and "Diagram". 
Inevitably, students doing Chemistry alongside Biology early on in the year are going to have an advantage.  A bit of Chemistry knowledge at the start of the year is really going to do you well.

QUICK TIPS
Keep ALL of your handouts and study notes.  They will be great use to you for mid-year preparation.
Do not get behind in your work.  Mid-year examinations creep up on you and there won't be much time to prepare for them as compared to end-of-the-year.
Make use of your teachers.  Ask as many questions as you feel is necessary. 

[itsdanny]

Thanks!!

[bumble95]

thanks - that's awesome!