Any tips for studying biology?

[Aschematic]

I wrote the DAT today and I think my bio went horribly. (I took the Canadian DAT so I don't know the exact results yet.)

I went through Kaplan BB twice but a LOT of the stuff on the actual DAT was not covered by Kaplan BB, so I was pretty screwed.

I seriously want to improve my biology score.

Do you think these resources will be enough for biology?
- Kaplan BB
- Cliffs AP Biology
- DAT Destroyer (plan to buy soon)

I really need 20+..

I've only taken 2 first year bio courses so far. My major is completely unrelated to biology so... I am quite frustrated about biology.


Input would be very appreciated. Thanks.

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[phillips101]

I haven't actually TAKEN the DAT yet, so I'm not sure how effective my method is. However, what I'm doing right now is studying bio from 2 books: Barron's AP biology, and Campbell's bio. One's a review book, and the other is a textbook. So far, they compliment each other very well. Most people think that a textbook is too much detail (and in some chapters, it is), but I find that there are things covered in Barron's that isn't even mentioned in Campbell's, and vice versa.

As I read through each book, I make flashcards for each and every thing that I think is important, and should memorize. This is very time consuming, and I use a flashcard program, instead of writing the flashcards by hand. However, it works really well for me because I use the textbook to understand the concept, the question of why something happens, and I use Barron's to narrow down the basics. Also, sometimes, the information is a little ambiguous, and reading it from 2 views helps clear it out.

If anyone has any suggestions as to my method, feel free to comment.
Oh, and I didn't take Bio I & II, I only took Biochem and received AP credit for general bio and the labs. So that's also another reason why I read through the textbook, since I haven't dealt with things like photosynthesis for several years now.

 

[wantVCUdental]

Most of us here write the US DAT, so I don't know about the canadian DAT. But even for US DAT, Kaplan alone will not be enough. I have seen you many times on the forum, you KNOW what you need: KBB, Destroyer, AP Cliffs and Campbell(if you are setting on getting 30).

I think if you learn the first 3 that i have listed in detail, you will get above 20 in US DAT bio, not sure what Canada's is like
Good luck

 

[FutureDent020]

I haven't actually TAKEN the DAT yet, so I'm not sure how effective my method is. However, what I'm doing right now is studying bio from 2 books: Barron's AP biology, and Campbell's bio. One's a review book, and the other is a textbook. So far, they compliment each other very well. Most people think that a textbook is too much detail (and in some chapters, it is), but I find that there are things covered in Barron's that isn't even mentioned in Campbell's, and vice versa.

As I read through each book, I make flashcards for each and every thing that I think is important, and should memorize. This is very time consuming, and I use a flashcard program, instead of writing the flashcards by hand. However, it works really well for me because I use the textbook to understand the concept, the question of why something happens, and I use Barron's to narrow down the basics. Also, sometimes, the information is a little ambiguous, and reading it from 2 views helps clear it out.

If anyone has any suggestions as to my method, feel free to comment.
Oh, and I didn't take Bio I & II, I only took Biochem and received AP credit for general bio and the labs. So that's also another reason why I read through the textbook, since I haven't dealt with things like photosynthesis for several years now.

Careful with Campbell's. It's a good source to have if you need clarification. But don't use it as a biology road map. Use the destroyer, which will cover every topic you need to know. Some topics it doesn't cover in too much detail and that's when you should refer to Campbell's or Barrons. But each MC answer in the destroyer you need to study, whether it's the answer to the question being asked or not. I tell you this from experience. I knew the information that the Destroyer (bio) presented extremely well. But I also had about 5 or 6 questions that the destroyer briefly mentioned that I decided not to look into. So I just memorized what they presented. If I had studied a little more in depth my score (bio) may have been a couple points higher.

If you know and memorize the destroyer bio and can retain the information, you are guaranteed a 19, 20+. But if you study the destroyer the 'right' way you will score 21, 22. There were 30 questions that I knew right off the bat, a couple that took some conceptualizing, and then 5 or 6 I could have gotten if I looked a little deeper into the destroyer. 2 questions can make the difference between a 19 and a 21!

 

[phillips101]

Careful with Campbell's. It's a good source to have if you need clarification. But don't use it as a biology road map.

Could you clarify a little more on why Campbell's isn't a good idea? Is it too detailed, too broad, etc. I've only gone through up to photosynthesis, skipping one chapter on cell communication, so I'm not sure how the rest will be.

 

[go2dentist]

How is Cliffs AP Boi.. Is that better than Campbell?

 

[FutureDent020]

Could you clarify a little more on why Campbell's isn't a good idea? Is it too detailed, too broad, etc. I've only gone through up to photosynthesis, skipping one chapter on cell communication, so I'm not sure how the rest will be.

Yea, while Campbell's a great source to have, you have to be cautious because it will consume too much of your time. The trick with the DAT is to study smart, not hard. The destroyer is efficient and hits on ALL the important information. If there is something you want to go into more detail on, then read into Campbell's. Understand that Campbell's is written as a textbook. So passages are extensive and dance around the essential information that you need to know. The information is there, but harder to extract b/c of all the details surrounding it. Are you hesitant to purchase the destroyer b/c of the price?
There is sooooo much information on the DAT that too do well, you must trim the fat. With Campbell's you may grasp concepts, but due to the influx of information, you won't be able to memorize like you need to. Come test day, you have to be able to pull loads of information from your head in limited time. So you most know the terms and concepts like the back of your hand to do well.
I'm telling you all this from personal experience. Campbell's will help you understand mechanisms, but too much Campbell's will consume valuable time.

 

[FutureDent020]

How is Cliffs AP Boi.. Is that better than Campbell?

Did not use Cliff's. Wish I had. It's supposedly precise and touches on very important information. Have Campbell's near you when you study for a reference. Some say Wikipedia is just as good as Campbell's though...

 

[go2dentist]

Did not use Cliff's. Wish I had. It's supposedly precise and touches on very important information. Have Campbell's near you when you study for a reference. Some say Wikipedia is just as good as Campbell's though...

Thanks so much for all this imp. information. I am glad that people are there who want to share their experience and help others.

 

[FutureDent020]

No problem. It's smart that you all are asking these questions. I wish I had discovered this site before I took the DAT. I went in blind. But never want to take that **** again even though i'd like to do better. Oh and don't base my information on my DAT scores, cause I would have liked to do better. My advice is based on what I would have done differently to improve.

 

[uclaDDS101]

Did not use Cliff's. Wish I had. It's supposedly precise and touches on very important information. Have Campbell's near you when you study for a reference. Some say Wikipedia is just as good as Campbell's though...

I am definitely an example of someone who would say that Wikipedia is as good (and for me, better) than Campbell's. I hate dealing with textbooks. They're big, expensive, and have way more words than I want to read. I rarely buy the textbook for my classes, so I would have had to buy Campbell's just for the DAT. Quick solution: wiki. It's quick, convenient, and, as far as I can tell, pretty accurate. Oh yeah, and it's free! So if you don't already have Campbell's from one of your classes, I wouldn't suggest buying it. In the end, my resources for bio were Kaplan BB, wiki, and deep analysis of practice tests (kaplan and achiever).

 

[FutureDent020]

I am definitely an example of someone who would say that Wikipedia is as good (and for me, better) than Campbell's. I hate dealing with textbooks. There big, expensive, and have way more words than I want to read. I rarely buy the textbook for my classes, so I would have had to buy Campbell's just for the DAT. Quick solution: wiki. It's quick, convenient, and, as far as I can tell, pretty accurate. Oh yeah, and it's free! So if you don't already have Campbell's from one of your classes, I wouldn't suggest buying it. In the end, my resources for bio were Kaplan BB, wiki, and deep analysis of practice tests (kaplan and achiever).

UCLADDS, you shouldn't post on DAT discussions. You're going to scare the little ones with your DAT score

 

[uclaDDS101]

UCLADDS, you shouldn't post on DAT discussions. You're going to scare the little ones with your DAT score

😳My bad. I'm not trying to scare these kids. If anything, I hope I can show them that the dat isn't really something to be scared of.

Plus, I've been getting multiple PMs asking repetitive questions, so I thought that occasionally posting in the dat discussions would decrease the the number of PM's I've been getting...

 

[FutureDent020]

😳My bad. I'm not trying to scare these kids. If anything, I hope I can show them that the dat isn't really something to be scared of.

Plus, I've been getting multiple PMs asking repetitive questions, so I thought that occasionally posting in the dat discussions would decrease the the number of PM's I've been getting...

Haha, I'm just messing around. I would want to hear your strategy pre-DAT as well. You're score is a lot of natural ability too though. Not just your study method. But i'm sure your methods helped

 

[Aschematic]

Thanks for all the responses!
Another question: Is it possible to do well on biology without buying the Kaplan online material? (so expensive ><)

It seems like everyone who did well did the Kaplan stuff..

 

[CanadianDental]

I have taken the Canadian DAT recently, haven't got my score yet but the BIO section went really well for me. Here is what I used to study BIO:

1. Old BIO notes
2. Cliff's AP BIO
3. Barron's AP BIO

Out of the three resources, the Barron's book was the best one I found, it covered everything there was on the DAT...except for two random questions that were so random that no one taking the DAT with me knew the answer to except for BIO majors.

Good luck

 

[Aschematic]

Thanks for the reply. How was Cliff's AP bio?
I skimmed through Cliff's AP bio but didn't really study Cliff's book with dedication. Is Barron's AP far better quality? and in what ways? Thanks.

 

[wantVCUdental]

Thanks for the reply. How was Cliff's AP bio?
I skimmed through Cliff's AP bio but didn't really study Cliff's book with dedication. Is Barron's AP far better quality? and in what ways? Thanks.

Don't use barron's, they are the worst study guide makers! They just flood you with an overwhelming amount of information and of course, if you memorize it all, you'll do well... but then again, if you memorized campbells, you would ace the DAT bio.

Go through Cliffs more carefully, there's tons you can pick up in there

 

[Aschematic]

I see. Thanks for the warning.