Do you take notes when studying for Bio?

Everyone is different so you have to do what works best for you. This may sound a bit hardcore, but I took notes of every chapter in Cliffs AP Bio and KBB and amassed over 120+ typed pages of notes. I also have about 700+ flashcards and still making more every day. There's just so much crap to know.

 

700 flashcards?

When are you signed up to take the DAT?!

 

I know it's nuts. But this is it for me--I have one shot at this. I'm taking it in a few weeks.

 

I took notes from Cliffs also..chapter to chapter. But I strongly recommend Alan's notes or whoever made that 18 pages of notes to enlighten some SDNers here. Although there were some minor minor minor mistakes, it was really a great resource to have as you go through biology because it summarizes almost everything you need to know in an organized manner. You just need to focus on the areas where you aren't confident about and then search for more details. I also recommend Barron's because it was such a easy read and you can accompany Cliffs with Barron's when you feel like Cliffs are going into TOO MUCH details. Barron's often has concise descriptions compare to Cliffs.

 

I think I'm at the 900 mark for flash cards, but I'm near the end. I threw a lot away as they became obvious to me. I also have written notes in notebook that I did long time ago, but I didn't really find it helpful.

 

I read a paragraph and try to recite everything I learned or what it told me from memory. I then move onto the next paragraph and do the same. Then I try to remember paragraph 1 then 2. Then I move onto paragraph three etc. etc. etc. till I have the whole chapter memorized.

This is how I have gotten A's in my upper bio classes. I find that when I make flash cards or take notes on things like cliffs that are already in abbrieviated form, i'm just blow time because I will rarely look back on my note cards. I'll work for hours on the cards then move on to the next chapter and never do the memorizing work.

EDIT: I should say that i'm not trying for a 30 in bio. Instead I've been very very dilligent in chem, o-chem and QR.

 

I read to get a basic idea and then I go over it again and DRAW DIAGRAMS. I think Cliff's is good for this especially for systems because they put it in sequential order (UNLIKE KBB!!) Then, I do bio questions in destroyer and whatever I get wrong, or get right for reasons I don't know why, I make flashcards just for those answer choices (usually definitions, etc). Instead of reading up on those things I didn't know, I just wiki it and the first paragraph usually gives me enough overview (remember: breadth not depth!)
By the end of the day, I have my little sister test me on each flashcard until I know each one--and she's a tough one!

hope that helps. my scores in the sciences have really gone up after i started employing this method. I say about 3 weeks before the test, drop all your books and get to questions / flashcards.

 

yea i made 1800 flashcards with Anki. biology was my weakest science so it was more of an all or nothing attempt kinda like an action potential in the nervous system (yep i just said that lol), anyways i went from a 14 Bio ---> 20 Bio so I was very happy with my improvement

 

dude great question lol.

yappy made a great point tho, a lot of ppl dont take the time to memorize the info. So whatever helps a person retain and recall the info the best is the best method...

now. If I could only figure out what that is.

 

Bottom line is do whatever helps you understand the information. Don't just memorize facts because there are questions on the test that require you to apply your knowledge. Good luck!!!