Bio Tests - Help!!!

[Karim]

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I'm between a rock and a hardplace. My General Biology II teacher grades solely based on 3 tests, a final, and the lab. I just got back the second test--I only got a 71. I got a 83 on the first one and I'm acing the lab. I actually studied for these tests a few days in advance and felt that I had a good understanding of the material but I did so poorly!

My problem is that she grades like this: anything above a 90 is an A (4.0) and anything below a 90 but above an 80 is a B (3.0)! She completely disregards the plus/minus system. I'm still a freshman and I don't want my GPA to suffer. I really, really, really need to get above a 90.

I calculated that I need to practically ace the third test and the final to get above a 90 in the class (or at least get a mid-A on both). If I totally ace both I'll have a 92.10%. What should I do?! Do you think it is possible??? Maybe I'm studying for them all wrong. What helped you guys in general biology to do well on tests? The third test will be like the others, 50 multiple-choice questions, but the final is going to be comprehensive (eek). I'm seriously considering memorizing all five chapters for this upcoming test. The third test is on November 22. The final is on December 15th. When should I start studying!?

PLEASE HELP!!! I'm freaking out!

 

[Karim]

The resources that I have availabe are:
1) The book
2) I have a friend who just got a previous test (except the comprehensive final)
3) The book's website

Is there anything else which would help me out? I only have one previous test...which is for the 3rd exam.

I know I look really pathetic right now but I'm desperate and I'd really appreciate anyone who would be willing to help me out. Thanks in advancee...

 

[CoverMe]

Karim... I see you're in UNLV-land... are you taking 191? With Rogers? If so, your lab counts for 25% of your grade, so make sure you're including your grade in the lab, also, have you taken the first lab midterm yet? Sometimes students have a hard time w/ the lab midterm and choose to drop based on that. Hang in there.

 

[captaindargo]

I taking Bio 1 and I have the same problem... except my grades are a little worse... i got 64, 67 on the quizzes... then i was like ****. so i chanced my ways of studying... i been rewriting my notes over and over again and study with kids in class and my quiz 3 i got 80. I'm still hope to get an A in my classes too. But i have an unknown amount of quizzes (he won't tell us) before the final. So all i can say is study hard and it will happen.

 

[CoverMe]

The resources that I have availabe are:
1) The book
2) I have a friend who just got a previous test (except the comprehensive final)
3) The book's website

Is there anything else which would help me out? I only have one previous test...which is for the 3rd exam.

I know I look really pathetic right now but I'm desperate and I'd really appreciate anyone who would be willing to help me out. Thanks in advancee...

Many old tests should be availiable through APHP, and you need to join that club anyway... they should be able to help you out.

 

[Em1]

Read the chapter to be covered BEFORE lecture. Take LOTS of notes even if you can get them in powerpoint form. Writing it down helps you learn it better. After class go over the material covered again. If you don't understand something, go ask the prof.

From your post it sounds like you didn't have to study at all in high school. College is an entirely different ballgame, and a lot of people who don't know how to study have a little trouble adjusting, myself included. The only way you will ace the third test and final is if you study at least an hour or two EVERY SINGLE DAY, not just the few days before the test!

Get used to the 3 tests/final/lab format. It's how most biology classes are run, at least at my school.

 

[Karim]

Oh my God...yes I am! She's so tough (Rogers)! My lab TA only gives weekly quizzes and no practical...I have a perfect score so far. I have maybe 3 or 4 quizzes left and I plan on doing just as well on them..

 

[Karim]

Many old tests should be availiable through APHP, and you need to join that club anyway... they should be able to help you out.

I'm in APHP and they told me that she refused to let them use any of her tests. They also told me that nobody is letting them make copies out of their old tests....

 

[CoverMe]

Innnnnteresting. You must be in 190 then, w/no lab MT or Final. Rogers is big on testing out of the book, her lectures are designed to help you with the book, but you've GOT to read the book. Dr. Rogers, IMHO, is a fantastic teacher... she's also incredibly difficult. She's INCREDIBLY bright, and she has high expectations of you guys, but you're going to love her when it comes to be MCAT time. I worked for her for a few years, TA'ing 189 labs...were you my student?

I only taught 190 a couple of times, and I think students only got their scan-trons back... so I don't know if there is any help from that direction :-( If they're still using the campbell book, make sure you use the CD-rom that came with it, and do the practice quizzes, students of 189 thought that there were some similarities btwn her questions and those quizzes.

Christine

 

[Karim]

I'm taking now what is called Biology 196 (Principles of General Biology I). You're right--I waived 189, but now I wish that I took it with her so I can learn her grading technique with easier material...Everyone hates her but I think she is very bright and does a very good job. If I knew ahead of time that her tests were this difficult I would have studied every day like someone pointed out, so I wouldn't have been in this situation. In high school I didn't study at ALL, but for this class I studied maybe 3 or 4 days in advance (I read all the chapters right before the test, study all the notes), while occasionally reading the book ahead of class, but even that is not enough. Christine, since you've had her before--what is the best way to prepare for her tests? I think she comes up with the questions out of thin air; I doubt that she's pulling them off of the text's website or anything like that. So, with that in mind, am I right in saying that the only way to ensure that I will get an A on her tests is to completely know/understand/memorize every single thing mentioned in the book and in the notes??? I mean, she only gives out a 50 question multiple choice test based on 5 chapters!

 

[CoverMe]

woops... you're right, they renumbered the classes so UNR and UNLV would have the same numbers... 189, 196 and 197... which used to be just 190 and 191.

I actually never took her classes, I just taught for her, as I was done w/ those classes by the time she came along.

You're not going to like my answer... BUT... yes, you need to know everything out of the book. Sometimes it's helpful to go look at your old test, and take your book and notes. Then highlight where those questions came from. (I actually recommend this to everyone, for every class). There will typically be a pattern... some instructors really like you to understand the figures, some instructors like their own ppts, some like the practice quizzes etc. This just means theres a TENDENCY, not that all questions will come from one place.

The thing is... they (the questions) AREN'T pulled from thin air... they're just college-level questions that people at UNLV aren't used to... ESPECIALLY coming from one of the LV high schools (Gorman being the POSSIBLE exception, and not always). The plain fact is, anyone can get into UNLV, so the level of students is exceedingly low... something I didn't know until I went there. The Millenium scholarship further reinforced that ANY student in nevada can go to University for (basically) free, whether they should, are ready for it, or even have the aptitude for it. Other universities weed many of those students out in the application process... but the nevada universities have basically turned themselves into huge CC's. Because this is the case, many profs at UNLV have started teaching down to the level of the students, and lowering expectations.

Dr. Rogers doesn't bow down to that level, she has expectations that you would do well at ANY biology test at ANY university, after taking her course. I think that is appropriate. I'm sorry that this is probably not what you wanted to hear... but you're going to appreciate what you learned in her classes. It comes back in just about every other BIO class that you'll take, and you'll be proud to know how to get through classes such as hers.

Best of luck.

 

[Karim]

I just took a very deep look inside of myself and I have decided that this will be my very last post/visit to SDN until I begin to prepare for the MCAT. I am still a freshman and I should be concerned with my studies and I should get on with my life, and SDN (as of now) is only a distraction. Ironically, SDN (and other very addicting things) has become a detriment in view of my ultimate goal of becoming a physician. I thank everyone on these forums for all the knowledge and support that you have provided me, and now I plan to seriously apply everything which I have learned. I'll miss you guys 🙁...

Karim