Hey guys ill be completing year 11 next year and doing biology 3 and 4. Are there any tips you could give me in regards of how to study and keep on top of things. How much time should i devote to bio in comparison to other 1 and 2 subjects? Also what would be the marks i should be aiming to achieve to get a study score of at least 40. I would love a study score higher then 40!!
1/2s or 3/4s ?
Definitely strategically you should devote most of your time to your 3/4. However, I would be a little bit cautious with this. Some 3/4 subjects rely heavily upon a firm understanding of 1/2 content (e.g. chemistry, methods) so definitely do not neglect those. People who do may regret it in year 12 (as was the case with one of my students).
It's also nice to think of year 11 as a practice run of year 12. One important skill everyone has to learn is how to juggle multiple subjects/commitments. If you neglect your unit 1/2s then you won't really be making the most of this golden opportunity to practice managing a few subjects with few concrete repercussions of screwing up XD. Practice doing it now because you won't be able to neglect subjects in year 12.
How to stay on top of things?
Use your holidays well! I'm sure you're already on top of this but the textbook is amazing! Back in the December holidays of 2012 I read all of unit 3 ensuring I took fairly detailed notes (keeping the study design in close view). With all my notes made before even beginning school, the first semester was a breeze. Most of my work for bio during that time was spamming checkpoints and past exams and revising my already made notes. By that stage you will be an exam machine.
Dw too much if there are things you can't understand when you're reading the textbook. At least you'll be able to identify troublesome areas which you can focus on with your teacher/tutor/youtube. Did I have a life in the holidays? LOL NO! But it was worth it :3
Aiming for a 40?
I'm sure you're already on top of this now but getting a 40+ is insanely difficult! Well, maybe not, but its definitely not a cakewalk. The key is not to get complacent. Just because you are getting A+ does NOT mean you will get above 40 for 2 reasons:
-An A+ means you're anywhere between a 38-50 (depending on the subject)
-Different schools mark sacs differently. Some might be marking a little too leniently
so make sure you're getting A+s just to be safe.
Tips for bio
The biggest trap my students walk into is the "I-understand-it" trap. Just because the concepts make sense does not mean you'll do well
Memorisation is what separates the 30s from the 40s. The best way to enhance your memory is to make and regularly revise your notes in whatever way works best for you. Try fact sheets, flow charts, tables, diagrams, mind maps, mnemonics, audio/videos, flashcards, colour coding, posters etc. Personally I like to explain things to my parents or my desk lamp. Teaching is a great way to check and improve your memory and understanding.
Most important is to <3 it. If you love it you won't mind working at it hehe
Everyone's got their own way of doing things. These are just my thoughts
in year 12 I ended up with:
-SACs A+
-Exam 1 A+
-Exam 2 A+
-SS 50
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