Techniques for reviewing?

[Fantasia94]

With regards to your question BadStudent, I think the difficulty of biology comes from not answering the actual question asked and often not expressing your answer clear enough. I think I often faced this problem, I understood pretty much all the theory but when it came to answering the questions I often found difficulty in writing a cohesive and accurate response.(and that's when good English skills can save you from facing this problem)

[Yacoubb]

What I find is really effective is having a note book (other than your actual Biol exercise book) beside you when you are actually learning something new. Once you have read a paragraph say about Immunity, write down on that notebook everything you just read. For example, the definition of immunity, The Non-Specific Immunity (First + Second Line of Defense) and Specific (3rd line of defense). It is a bit illogical to reason that Biol is only about application of knowledge when you don't have a basis of knowledge to begin with. I also find that enthusiasm helps. I have downloaded 17 apps on my iPhone that have lessons + info regarding topics in Bio like plasma membrane, biochemical processes, genetics, protein synthesis + even evolution! As cliche as it sounds, making concept maps and sort of creating sub-topics helps; e.g. rather than looking at aerobic respiration as one cycle with the presence of oxygen that breaks down complex organic compounds like glucose into a usable form of energy, look at it in terms of the three main cycles: Glycolysis, Kreb's Cycle + the Electron Transport chain! Hope this helps!

[jiji]

In my opinion, the best revision starts in the classroom. That is, if you don't understand something: ask questions! You don't want to be just listening to a teacher drone on, or even just following along in your textbook. You want to be actively participating. Take notes as you go, if you miss something or don't quite understand, ask your teacher to repeat it. Then see if you can create an analogy that helps you, personally, to understand a concept. It doesn't matter if they're stupid, if it helps you remember, go for it. For example, I created a couple of Biology pick up lines, which were horrendously cringeworthy and not recommended for public use, but were factual and stupid and made me giggle so I remembered them.

Secondly, find out if your teacher has any kind of policy for after school hours help. Do they check emails, are they willing to meet up with you at lunchtime, etc. My teacher gave the class his phone number, and was bombarded with calls around exam time, but was happy to help.

With revision, you can do summaries, but I find the best help is doing questions. And when you inevitably reach a question you don't understand, or know how to answer but don't know why its correct, write that down in a separate notebook. That way, if you do arrange a meeting with your teacher, you know exactly what concepts you need to cover.

When it comes down to it though, the exams are all about analysing the question and figuring out what on earth the assessors are looking for. Get a highlighter. One that is disturbingly bright. Highlight key terms, and do lots and lots and LOTS of practise exams, because that's probably the best preparation. You'll soon find common themes, and don't rush through reading the questions! They're tricksy, and confusingly worded. But all you really need is common sense. They're never going to ask you about something you haven't learnt. You just need to relate things back to what you know

[Yacoubb]

Bio is a subject that requires a combination of menory and application of knowledge, unlie other subjects which often require one or the other. Rather than memorising definitions, learn how to formulate them whilst learning topics. For example, once you learn about enzymes, you learn the definitions by putting everything you know regarding the topic of enzymes because your ability to remember that particular definition will be improved by an understanding of the essence of the definition.

Also, completing as many questions as possible that enable you to explout your Biological understanding + terminology will get you into the habit for SACs and exams. I mean it is simple to explain cellular respiration verbally; however, your written answer must be just as well or better!!