best way to study for bio?

[dbcooper23]

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I managed a B in introduction to cellular and molecular biology, but I feel like I could have done much better considering the amount of time I put in. I'm a 3.6 student and bio seems to be the one class that is holding me back from getting to the 3.75+ range.

Can you please let me know how you would study for a bio test that covers ~150 pages of a bio textbook? Multiple choice and short answer questions.

Last semester, I started off making note cards, but that seemed to take hours upon hours to do for each chapter and they weren't very helpful. Towards the end of the semester I ended up just reading each chapter 2 or 3 times. This got me nearly perfect scores on the multiple choice, but I had trouble on the short answer.

Anyways, any suggestions would help. I need to find a way to study more efficiently. I feel like a lot of the time I spent studying for tests wasn't helping my scores.

 

[integralx2]

I managed a B in introduction to cellular and molecular biology, but I feel like I could have done much better considering the amount of time I put in. I'm a 3.6 student and bio seems to be the one class that is holding me back from getting to the 3.75+ range.

Can you please let me know how you would study for a bio test that covers ~150 pages of a bio textbook? Multiple choice and short answer questions.

Last semester, I started off making note cards, but that seemed to take hours upon hours to do for each chapter and they weren't very helpful. Towards the end of the semester I ended up just reading each chapter 2 or 3 times. This got me nearly perfect scores on the multiple choice, but I had trouble on the short answer.

Anyways, any suggestions would help. I need to find a way to study more efficiently. I feel like a lot of the time I spent studying for tests wasn't helping my scores.

My way, is understand the big concept. Then I just logically let the little details fall into place. Also I go through the chapters, and take my own notes. This seemed to help the most. Cause you are writing the information down, and then you have the major points written in your notebook to study.

 

[rxlea]

I managed a B in introduction to cellular and molecular biology, but I feel like I could have done much better considering the amount of time I put in. I'm a 3.6 student and bio seems to be the one class that is holding me back from getting to the 3.75+ range.

Can you please let me know how you would study for a bio test that covers ~150 pages of a bio textbook? Multiple choice and short answer questions.

Last semester, I started off making note cards, but that seemed to take hours upon hours to do for each chapter and they weren't very helpful. Towards the end of the semester I ended up just reading each chapter 2 or 3 times. This got me nearly perfect scores on the multiple choice, but I had trouble on the short answer.

Anyways, any suggestions would help. I need to find a way to study more efficiently. I feel like a lot of the time I spent studying for tests wasn't helping my scores.

What is an example of a short answer question you were given?

Was it simple recall or did you have to explain mechanisms?

 

[unhappytnt]

I took a cellular biology & genetics class this semester and managed to get an A. I found that reading the material every day -instead of cramming right before the test- really works. As for taking notes, I used to write them but after a while I'd get really tired & it wasn't time efficient. So I started taking notes on my computer. This reduced the amount of time that I spent on note taking.

Also, and some people may not agree with me here, there's a lot of redundant (i.e., not going to be covered in the test) info in bio classes. It really helps to skim read, so you don't get bogged down in details. You just need to know what to look for.

 

[Barcu]

I took a cellular biology & genetics class this semester and managed to get an A. I found that reading the material every day -instead of cramming right before the test- really works. As for taking notes, I used to write them but after a while I'd get really tired & it wasn't time efficient. So I started taking notes on my computer. This reduced the amount of time that I spent on note taking.

Also, and some people may not agree with me here, there's a lot of redundant (i.e., not going to be covered in the test) info in bio classes. It really helps to skim read, so you don't get bogged down with details. You just need to know what to look for.

I 100% agree with this, though I guess it varies by school.

Do a little bit of work every day, start studying for tests a week in advance, and you should do alright.

 

[Maison]

I use the Cornell note taking method. My grades improved when I began doing this.

http://lsc.sas.cornell.edu/Sidebars/Study_Skills_Resources/cornellsystem.pdf

I read the chapters first, take notes with Cornell, and then if the textbook has an online resource to take practice quizzes, I do that as well.

 

[s1lver]

In my case, I always feel sleepy 5 minutes into reading the assigned textbook. I'm just not a big reader. 😳 So, what I did was search on YouTube vids of whatever topic is going to be covered next and also searched on iTunes U so I can listen to them.

Also, don't forget: study before, during, and after each class! Helps so much in retaining info.

 

[Tappinfool66]

Last semester, I started off making note cards, but that seemed to take hours upon hours to do for each chapter and they weren't very helpful. Towards the end of the semester I ended up just reading each chapter 2 or 3 times. This got me nearly perfect scores on the multiple choice, but I had trouble on the short answer.

Anyways, any suggestions would help. I need to find a way to study more efficiently. I feel like a lot of the time I spent studying for tests wasn't helping my scores.

I've never made flashcards because, like you said, it seems like they're really inefficient (time consuming and not helpful). Instead of just reading the chapters 2 or 3 times, this is what I do:

Read through the chapter once to get the info in your head. Then, maybe the next day, read through it again, but highlight the important info. Then, maybe the next day, take notes on the info you highlighted. Once you get into a rhythm, it's not very time consuming and I think the combination of plain reading, reading & highlighting and then writing down the info really helps.

Also, and some people may not agree with me here, there's a lot of redundant (i.e., not going to be covered in the test) info in bio classes. It really helps to skim read, so you don't get bogged down in details. You just need to know what to look for.

Agreed. I think it takes practice, but once you get better at picking out just the useful info, studying for classes like this gets a lot easier and a lot less time consuming.

 

[dbcooper23]

thanks everyone!

so nobody makes flash cards? I know they are helpful for some topics like memorizing terms, but- like I said- they seem like a fairly inefficient use of time for studying ~150 pages of material.

The main problem I had was simply recalling the information because it was just soo much. I would recognize the information in the questions from reading, but I couldn't remember the answers. Reviewing every day sounds like a great idea. I think I need to start taking it little by little and reviewing often instead of being overwhelmed by all of the information and trying to absorb it all at once.

The Cornell note taking looks great so I'll definitely give it a shot.

 

[greenlights]

so nobody makes flash cards? I know they are helpful for some topics like memorizing terms, but- like I said- they seem like a fairly inefficient use of time for studying ~150 pages of material.

The main problem I had was simply recalling the information because it was just soo much. I would recognize the information in the questions from reading, but I couldn't remember the answers.

I did on occasion make flash cards for bio classes, but only for the information that absolutely required brute memorization (I used a lot of flash cards in immunology, haha). However, for short answer questions, understanding the concepts is really the only way to go. I second others' recommendations on readings and reviewing a little bit at a time.

What I found productive when it came to information learned in class was to go through my notes and form questions from the concepts. I would then without looking at my notes answer those questions, either out loud or in writing. I would do the same for classes that had slides that were more pictures in words - I'd make myself explain the slide without looking at my notes. This method really tests your recall, and forces you to connect information in a coherent answer.

 

[Barcu]

Oh, and I forgot to add.

Studying in groups is great for Bio. You may think you understand a concept, but then try explaining it to someone else.

Get a good study group together, people you trust who will study before they get to the group. Then go over concepts and ask each other questions.

 

[unhappytnt]

Studying in groups is great for Bio. You may think you understand a concept, but then try explaining it to someone else.

This. It especially helps if your test is in short answer format instead of multiple choice.

 

[Glucagon]

Oh, and I forgot to add.

Studying in groups is great for Bio. You may think you understand a concept, but then try explaining it to someone else.

Get a good study group together, people you trust who will study before they get to the group. Then go over concepts and ask each other questions.

100% agree. In my bio classes, the lecturers posted lecture slides so I got the most out of having complete focus during class and then rephrasing the notes after lecture. Then I'd meet up with friends and we'd quiz each other on concepts.

 

[BioBA]

If the teacher teaches out of the text (ask the prof they will tell you), I read the textbook and take notes on that. Then I keep rewriting the notes down until I have them memorized.

Next, I briefly read PowerPoint slides/class notes. That way you are guaranteed to know 90% of the info, and you will usually remember random crap from class notes/textbook.

If its primarily PowerPoint notes kind of class, I just write down the PowerPoint notes until I have them memorized. I think physically writing things down is extremely helpful in memorization.

Although this method works best if you like to study only 2-4 days before a test for long periods of time. Not the best way to study probably, but it gives me free time during the week and I typically do well on tests

 

[StudyShy]

I find tutoring biology is helpful. If I am forced to explain to someone else why something is so in a way that they can understand, I end up learning the information extremely well.

There is also the Khan academy for biology topics. Check it out! 🙂

 

[biodreamer]

If you wanted to memorize the way from NY to California, you wouldn't try to memorize every tree, house, building you came across.

 

[Maison]

Khaaaaan!

ETA: That looks really neat, StudyShy.