bio - classification

[Mstoothlady2012]

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Hi guys did you all memorize all the kingdoms, phylums, subphylums, verterbrates, invertebrates etc.

I mean how can i possibly memorize that arthropod includes population of crustaceans, spiders, & insects.

Custacea includes, crabs, lobsters, shrimps, barnacles......
their different systems (circulatory , excretory etc)

& so much more... you got the point. I mean i miss all of those questions on the practice test & they have atleast 5 questions related to that stuff!

man I am going crazy...I cannot memorize all of it!Whenever I see something new I memorize it & then in the next test there is something diff & i get it wrong! ITs like i can never answer those questions correctly!

Is it just me? or is every1 else having this probs?what am i suppose to do...i am so freaking depressed

please help!!!!!🙁😕

 

[AaBbZz]

Unfortunately you do have to learn this stuff. I know it sucks and the reason its hard to remember them all is because the material is sooo boring. My best advice for you is to at least memorize all the stuff for annelids, arthropods and cnidarians because those are by far the most tested questions pertaining to classification. Once you have those down start with some of the other stuff like Mollusks, platyhelmithes etc. Try to make it more fun for your self by pertaining it to animals you see everyday. But trust me take some time out and really go over this stuff because those 5 questions make a big difference in your bio score.
Good luck!

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

Unfortunately you do have to learn this stuff. I know it sucks and the reason its hard to remember them all is because the material is sooo boring. My best advice for you is to at least memorize all the stuff for annelids, arthropods and cnidarians because those are by far the most tested questions pertaining to classification. Once you have those down start with some of the other stuff like Mollusks, platyhelmithes etc. Try to make it more fun for your self by pertaining it to animals you see everyday. But trust me take some time out and really go over this stuff because those 5 questions make a big difference in your bio score.
Good luck!

yea i know 5 questions are so many! thanks for your help though! i tried to memorize but i just cant uhhhh.... its frustrating

thanks again! i appreciate it

 

[Bob Faraples]

You might consider these study options whenever you find something on the test that you aren't up on (like the classification systems):

- Read the given solution, but then pull out a txt book (like your freshman bio or your a&p) and read all about that subject and take notes. Then you will know not only the answer to that specific question, but the answers to many more that could possibly be asked.

- Another option (which is pretty good, too) if you perhaps sold those books for the sweet-moolah: When you come across something you don't know, through it into a Wikipedia search. During my undergrad career, I found wikipedia to be awesome (and it seems to be getting better all the time). If you type something like "arthropod" as your search, you will most likely (though I haven't searched arthropod specifically) get a paragraph at the top giving you the skinny on what one is, and maybe some specifics (like the crustaceans or whatever). Then (and here is the key) read the rest of the page (below the first paragraph). You will most likely get more than enough info, including enough details into the concept that will help you remember things on the subject later.

Here's something that I have always found useful - Find something interesting or strange that sticks out about a specific subject that you are more likely to remember than some simple facts, and use that information to reason your way through those things you really didn't want to memorize. For an example read my reply to the post - "Wrong answer in top score #3," (that may not be the exact title, but you get the drift).

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

You might consider these study options whenever you find something on the test that you aren't up on (like the classification systems):

- Read the given solution, but then pull out a txt book (like your freshman bio or your a&p) and read all about that subject and take notes. Then you will know not only the answer to that specific question, but the answers to many more that could possibly be asked.

- Another option (which is pretty good, too) if you perhaps sold those books for the sweet-moolah: When you come across something you don't know, through it into a Wikipedia search. During my undergrad career, I found wikipedia to be awesome (and it seems to be getting better all the time). If you type something like "arthropod" as your search, you will most likely (though I haven't searched arthropod specifically) get a paragraph at the top giving you the skinny on what one is, and maybe some specifics (like the crustaceans or whatever). Then (and here is the key) read the rest of the page (below the first paragraph). You will most likely get more than enough info, including enough details into the concept that will help you remember things on the subject later.

Here's something that I have always found useful - Find something interesting or strange that sticks out about a specific subject that you are more likely to remember than some simple facts, and use that information to reason your way through those things you really didn't want to memorize. For an example read my reply to the post - "Wrong answer in top score #3," (that may not be the exact title, but you get the drift).

thanks! I have all of my textbooks ( biology - campbell, anatomy, physiology, genetics ) & schuam's bio outlines thank god! so I am already following your study method # 1 & making notecards....lol wana see my pile of notecards? but they are really handy & helpful

If i dont find what I am looking for in textbooks or schuam then i use google or wikipedia

I never thought of study method # 3...but i will surely try to do that....I already have some mnemonics which are really helpful in memorzing some basic stuff.

thanks a lot for taking time to reply back! I am not having trouble finding info...I am having trouble digesting/memorizing those crazy stuff like classification.

thanks again!

 

[Bob Faraples]

Keep up the hard work! I'm sure you will find it rewarding.

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

You might consider these study options whenever you find something on the test that you aren't up on (like the classification systems):

- Read the given solution, but then pull out a txt book (like your freshman bio or your a&p) and read all about that subject and take notes. Then you will know not only the answer to that specific question, but the answers to many more that could possibly be asked.

- Another option (which is pretty good, too) if you perhaps sold those books for the sweet-moolah: When you come across something you don't know, through it into a Wikipedia search. During my undergrad career, I found wikipedia to be awesome (and it seems to be getting better all the time). If you type something like "arthropod" as your search, you will most likely (though I haven't searched arthropod specifically) get a paragraph at the top giving you the skinny on what one is, and maybe some specifics (like the crustaceans or whatever). Then (and here is the key) read the rest of the page (below the first paragraph). You will most likely get more than enough info, including enough details into the concept that will help you remember things on the subject later.

Here's something that I have always found useful - Find something interesting or strange that sticks out about a specific subject that you are more likely to remember than some simple facts, and use that information to reason your way through those things you really didn't want to memorize. For an example read my reply to the post - "Wrong answer in top score #3," (that may not be the exact title, but you get the drift).

I already am following study method # 1 - i have all my textbooks & schuam's bio outlines....I refer to those while taking studying for destroyer & make notecards

If i dont find what I am looking for in textbooks or schuam's bio outlines i use google or wikipedia

I never thought of study method # 3 - but i will try to do that as well. I have some really good mneumonics that help me memorize some of the basic stuff...so that's good

What i have prob with is not finding info! but to memorize those crazy classification stuff! its just way too much info i dont know what to memorize & what not to!

Thanks for your help...i really appreciate it!

 

[hokie4life]

how do you know we will get at least 5 questions pertaining to classification?

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

sorry for posting the same thing twice....for some reason my computer was showing that the post was not displayed😕

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

how do you know we will get at least 5 questions pertaining to classification?

I don't...i took 2 topscore's practice test & 1st one had 8 questions & 2nd one had 7 questions related to classification/ecology. Even in destroyer I saw many questions just about classification & also many related to ecology as well.

 

[Bob Faraples]

sorry for posting the same thing twice....for some reason my computer was showing that the post was not displayed😕

No problem at all - I enjoyed reading it both times.

Check this out: http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/dat_test_specifications.pdf

This is a link to the DAT peoples break down of the test, if you haven't checked it out already. I have never seen or heard anything about topscore or achiever necessarily following this same break down (which would be nice if they did), but that doesn't mean they don't. I may just be unaware of this information.

The PDF is pretty general, but it is at least assurance that you won't pull a test w/ 40 problems from the one area you don't know.

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

No problem at all - I enjoyed reading it both times.

Check this out: http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/dat_test_specifications.pdf

This is a link to the DAT peoples break down of the test, if you haven't checked it out already. I have never seen or heard anything about topscore or achiever necessarily following this same break down (which would be nice if they did), but that doesn't mean they don't. I may just be unaware of this information.

The PDF is pretty general, but it is at least assurance that you won't pull a test w/ 40 problems from the one area you don't know.

nice site! i have been on that website before. So DAT always follows this format? If it does then... there are gonna be 3 questions on classification & 4 one volution. 7 questions right there which I am weak at

 

[Bob Faraples]

nice site! i have been on that website before. So DAT always follows this format? If it does then... there are gonna be 3 questions on classification & 4 one volution. 7 questions right there which I am weak at

I haven't found anywhere that explicitly says that, but I am thinking that is what we are supposed to draw from that PDF.

You can do it! Just study up on those areas and you will dominate!

P.S. I dont know when you are taking the test, so this may not be practical, but my brother had a copy of the MCAT Audio Osmosis by the Examkrackers. The Audio Osmosis is a set of CDs that are supposed to be a comphrehensive review for the MCAT. My brother had a copy so I have used them slightly, and they are pretty nice. Not quite as detailed as the DAT demands (because its geared at a different test), but they are helpful.

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

I haven't found anywhere that explicitly says that, but I am thinking that is what we are supposed to draw from that PDF.

You can do it! Just study up on those areas and you will dominate!

P.S. I dont know when you are taking the test, so this may not be practical, but my brother had a copy of the MCAT Audio Osmosis by the Examkrackers. The Audio Osmosis is a set of CDs that are supposed to be a comphrehensive review for the MCAT. My brother had a copy so I have used them slightly, and they are pretty nice. Not quite as detailed as the DAT demands (because its geared at a different test), but they are helpful.

I am planning on taking DAT in 1st or 2nd week of Aug. Since I am taking summer classes as well, I hardly get 3 days in a week to study just for DAT.🙁 it sucks! i wanted summer off so that i can just focus on DAT...but oh well! it didnt work out that way🙄

 

[poc91nc]

Cliffs AP bio does an excellent job with classification. For 20 bucks...it's definitely worth checking out. There cool tables that do a good job of organizing the key points and seperation on the basis of things like protostome/deutrostome...radial/spiral cleavage...coelom etc.

The section on fungi and algae are nice too. In my opinion, Cliffs does a better job with classification, ecology, evolution than Schuams.

Check it out if you haven't...it's only 20 bucks!

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

Cliffs AP bio does an excellent job with classification. For 20 bucks...it's definitely worth checking out. There cool tables that do a good job of organizing the key points and seperation on the basis of things like protostome/deutrostome...radial/spiral cleavage...coelom etc.

The section on fungi and algae are nice too. In my opinion, Cliffs does a better job with classification, ecology, evolution than Schuams.

Check it out if you haven't...it's only 20 bucks!

thanks! i saw you got a good score on bio....did u memorize all of the classification & their characteristics?

 

[poc91nc]

Well....for the classification stuff...I memorized what I felt was necessary. I memorized anything I didn't know for kingdom animalia.

The protists stuff was just waaaaay too much...memorized only a few things that I thought were important.

For kingdom fungi....just the true divisions of fungi (ascomycota, basidiomycota, zygomycotoa..make sure you can cite an example of each). Also distinguish between true fungi (as previously mentioned) and lichen, miccorhizae ("imperfect" fungi).

Some other things for fungi to keep in mind are coenocytic, haustoria, hyphae/mycelium/, septae, chitin. Also differentiate between karyogamy and plasmogamy.

However, I didn't get too carried away with fungi life cycles and stuff like that.

For kingdom plantae: obviously gymnosperms (naked seed), angiosperm (flowering), pterophytes (seedless vascular), lycophytes (also seedless vascular, I think), bryophytes (avascular).

Hope that helps!

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

Well....for the classification stuff...I memorized what I felt was necessary. I memorized anything I didn't know for kingdom animalia.

The protists stuff was just waaaaay too much...memorized only a few things that I thought were important.

For kingdom fungi....just the true divisions of fungi (ascomycota, basidiomycota, zygomycotoa..make sure you can cite an example of each). Also distinguish between true fungi (as previously mentioned) and lichen, miccorhizae ("imperfect" fungi).

Some other things for fungi to keep in mind are coenocytic, haustoria, hyphae/mycelium/, septae, chitin. Also differentiate between karyogamy and plasmogamy.

However, I didn't get too carried away with fungi life cycles and stuff like that.

For kingdom plantae: obviously gymnosperms (naked seed), angiosperm (flowering), pterophytes (seedless vascular), lycophytes (also seedless vascular, I think), bryophytes (avascular).

Hope that helps!

thanks! bio is like everlasting

 

[littlemissy]

i bought those ulitmate bio study guides like poc suggested they really help

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

Cliffs AP bio does an excellent job with classification. For 20 bucks...it's definitely worth checking out. There cool tables that do a good job of organizing the key points and seperation on the basis of things like protostome/deutrostome...radial/spiral cleavage...coelom etc.

The section on fungi and algae are nice too. In my opinion, Cliffs does a better job with classification, ecology, evolution than Schuams.

Check it out if you haven't...it's only 20 bucks!

hey do you mind giving me isbn & author's name of the book that you are talking about....I am searching for that book just want to make sure that I get the right one. thanks!