Hello Everyone, (please, before reading my 'guide', look at my edit at the 'footer': I feel it is necessary to foresee my intention. Thank you)
I thought it would be useful to create a thread solely to provide details on what I believe necessitates success in VCE Biology.
These threads are all over the place and I am sure you will be able to find other useful information elsewhere, however, to provide a unique outlook on the course, the main offerings that I can provide are based on the fact that I have used most VCE Biology textbooks (at least the ones I could get my hands on....). Therefore, I hope this new insight provides use towards you and your future studies.
To begin, I achieved a study score 47 in VCE Biology. This was done through hard work, dedication and pure passion for this extraordinary subject. VCE Biology enables for students to gain a truly distinctive view on the natural world around us and can also facilitate success in other ('similar') subjects (i.e. VCE Chemistry). Anyway.... enough about the vague discussion of the subject - more into the 'nitty gritty' of things.
Firstly, no matter what your school or institution uses as a textbook, you MUST, and I repeat MUST, get your hands on one or BOTH of these texts:
(1) Jacaranda Nature of Biology 2 (all chapters can be obtained for free on the Jacaranda website
)
(2) Heinemann Biology 2
If you can only choose one, pick Jacaranda Nature of Biology 2. These texts, of the ones I had utilised (which included Nelson and Campbell (an entry-level university text)) were most definitely the most well-written, correct (not always) and detailed. Nelson often lacked detail, important information (i.e. large chunks of biotechnology were completely dismissed: literally, not even in the text despite being key elements to the study design and APPEARING on the end of year examination....) and was, at times, completely misleading. Heinemann Biology 2 was awesome, it had beautiful diagrams, was a true pleasure to read and OFTEN provided adequate detail, however this text also had lacking areas to which I thought were of up-most importance (i.e. human change over time). Jacaranda Nature of Biology 2 was freaking fantastic. It generally covered all aspects of the study design (and often beyond: treat that with optimism or negativity, your choice) and was of great detail, often providing necessary information (to prevent misinterpretation) where other texts lacked. However, be warned, it does also miss out on some details necessary to the study design (i.e. no mention of plant immunity). This is why I would recommend you purchase MORE than one text OR borrow it from a friend.
Now, the next texts: these are the supplementary texts that I recommend in order of decreasing importance:
(1) Biozone (THIS IS A MUST (in my opinion))
(2) NEAP smartstudy
(3) ExamPro (seriously good for clarification and revision on each topic)
(4) VCE Checkpoints (this is great too)
(5) A+ Notes (awesome revision) or ATAR notes course notes.
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(1') PRIMARILY EXAM PERIOD: TSFX notes are godly..... without these - you have lost a considerable 'edge'.... no joke.
Now, I am not going to go through each individual text in detail - I will provide a brief description of each, however.
(1): This text consists of a multitude of worksheets for each topic. The questions are based around VCE past exams, however it is nothing like checkpoints - only better.
(2): This NEAP text is written by an awesome chief examiner for VCE Biology. I can assure you that these are some of the more difficult questions you will encounter (when I say this I am referring to the NEAP smartstudy exams.... the smartstudy questions are quite good too).
(3): ExamPro is written by some of the most talented and successful VCE Biology students. The tests are numerous, with 4 trial exams included. This guide is extremely unique as it has ridiculously detailed solutions with embedded theory and comprehension questions not found in any other texts I have encountered.
(4): I feel like this deserves no description. It is merely a text that includes nicely formatted and set out past VCE exam questions in a area-of-study by area-of-study fashion. Definitely purchase this... however it is not on the top of my list as these questions will be encountered when you do practice exams towards the end of the year.
(5): Concise notes. Well written. Both texts receive the same rank as they are both very good in their conciseness and clarity.
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(1'): Where do I even start. Best explanations, best descriptions, awesome questions.
Anyway everyone... Good luck. I hope your 2018 endeavours are fruitful!
EDIT: After much controversy regarding the expense of these texts, I would just like to clarify that it is NOT necessary to purchase them all in the pursuit of success in this subject. I do not want you to feel that this is the primary purpose of this post. In fact, the goal here is quite the contrary. I am hoping that by providing insight and through my subjective analysis of each text, you are able to make an informed decision on what texts are best for you. Textbooks and secondary resources are highly personal. I might suggest that a resource is necessary for ME, but it may not be for YOU.
Please, please, please do not feel disadvantaged and belittled by what I am stating. I am here to help, not to be the detriment of other's esteems.
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