memorizing bootcamp/DAT destroyer bio

[stag123]

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I'm not sure if anyone else is have/had this problem. But my DAT is in about 10 days and I'm having a problem with Biology. So my two main source for Biology is Destroyer/Bootcamp. I'm more of an active leaner, so I knew reading Cliff's/Kaplan wasn't going to help me remember anything.
Anyways, my problem is that I did about ~200 question of biology Destroyer and I go through them and I've noticed that I'm just memorizing the questions and not really learning.
Even with bootcamp, I take a subject-specific practice test so I can be familiar with each subject, but end up "memorizing" the question and when I take the actual biology practice test I just remember what the answer was and make high scores. I don't know if I'm actually learning anything and might screw up Bio if the DAT ask a question in a different way.


What can I do? I think I'm struggling, but I keep making 25+ on bootcamp and it's throwing me off because I don't think I'm actually learning the material. Btw I'm doing this without writing anything (or keeping note) of anything, so I'm not purposely trying to "remember" the questions. I think I have a slight photographic memory with question banks.

sorry if this is confusing, I'm reallllly freaking out.

 

[Alectrify]

What I did while studying for Bio with the destroyer/BC was to look up the "bigger picture" for anything that was unfamiliar to me.

For example, I came across the term "progesterone" in one of the problems. I had no idea what it was, so I searched it up. It was related to pregnancy and menstruation, so I then looked up the process of both. I ended up knowing the function of many hormones (LH, FSH, estrogen, etc.) through this one term alone. I also learned the steps of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy (which led to learning about nutrient exchange between fetus and mother). Repeat for all unfamiliar terms, including those included in the wrong answer. A little google search, wiki, and possibly khan academy can go a long way. 🙂

 

[DAT Destroyer]

What I did while studying for Bio with the destroyer/BC was to look up the "bigger picture" for anything that was unfamiliar to me.

For example, I came across the term "progesterone" in one of the problems. I had no idea what it was, so I searched it up. It was related to pregnancy and menstruation, so I then looked up the process of both. I ended up knowing the function of many hormones (LH, FSH, estrogen, etc.) through this one term alone. I also learned the steps of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy (which led to learning about nutrient exchange between fetus and mother). Repeat for all unfamiliar terms, including those included in the wrong answer. A little google search, wiki, and possibly khan academy can go a long way. 🙂

Excellent advice Alectrify!

 

[matardug]

If you feel you are memorizing specific questions I would recommend trying to make your own questions from the answer choices. That way there is more practice than just the one question. Also when you are doing problems and you "spot" the right answer from memory, try to EXPLAIN to yourself not only why that answer is right, but why the other choices are wrong. Another method you could use, that I used was trying to bring up biology questions to anyone in conversation. Fair warning, they may want to strangle you when you randomly bring up what develops in the mesoderm, ectoderm and endoderm haha. Good luck to you! I like alectrify's advice too!

 

[cotoncub]

You could try using DAT qvault since that has a large question bank as well and I think the question are representative of the DAT ( if not more so than BootCamp.).

Aside from this, it could behoove you to bite the bullet so to speak and at least skim through Feralis. I wasn't a huge fan of reading and just memorizing so I took notes on these notes and put all of the info into charts. I had the charts from BootCamp for things like Animal Diversity, Angiosperm types, Endocrine organs/messengers/terminal function, all of the organ systems, ecology,etc. I think by summarizing things in my own words and organizing the info into charts helped me indirectly memorize the information better.

Hope this helps.

 

[stag123]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[nickh]

With DAT Destroyer, don't worry about which one is the right answer when you are doing them. Instead, be able to give your reasons as to why the other choices are wrong. And read the answer key, they are like an excellent book on its own.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

With DAT Destroyer, don't worry about which one is the right answer when you are doing them. Instead, be able to give your reasons as to why the other choices are wrong. And read the answer key, they are like an excellent book on its own.

Excellent advice Nick H, the DAT Destroyer is a teaching book...focusing on not only the correct answer but also the incorrect choices, by doing this will will cover a wide range of information.

 

[DentalLonghorn2014]

What I did while studying for Bio with the destroyer/BC was to look up the "bigger picture" for anything that was unfamiliar to me.

For example, I came across the term "progesterone" in one of the problems. I had no idea what it was, so I searched it up. It was related to pregnancy and menstruation, so I then looked up the process of both. I ended up knowing the function of many hormones (LH, FSH, estrogen, etc.) through this one term alone. I also learned the steps of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy (which led to learning about nutrient exchange between fetus and mother). Repeat for all unfamiliar terms, including those included in the wrong answer. A little google search, wiki, and possibly khan academy can go a long way. 🙂

I agree with this. Active learning is the way to go. Confused or lost? Simply google. The act of actually looking something up will def help with recall. It's a little tedious but it's totally worth it! Good luck on your DAT. Be positive and you'll do well!