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Most students worry about their last-minute preparation for A-level biology exams. As the subject is quite tough, it is hard to manage your time and steer your way through all the subjects a few weeks before exams.
With some tried and tested tips and tricks, you can improve your grades exceptionally well. Read on to learn more!
The first step is to download the syllabus and course material you must study for your A-level exams. To stay on top of things, print the document and make an effective revision plan that fits your needs.
You must be thinking that you can just look at the specifications on your phone instead of printing them. But why is it recommended that you print them out?
According to psychology, it's satisfying to mark things as learned. Notes that will help you stay on track should also be used.
As you concentrate, holding something tangible will assist you mainly because looking at the digital copy on your phone can lead to a lot of distractions. You might be checking Instagram or scrolling other social media while looking at your syllabus.
Never forget that the hardest thing about A-Level Biology is that the material is so lengthy and detailed. You need a sheet that you can find later to see which ones require extra effort and which only require a glance to better plan your study.
You may have heard this way of revision more than once, and obviously, for a good reason. Looking at past papers better prepares you for your exams instead of constant revision and rote memorization.
The best way to do it is:
Let me tell you something: knowing what kinds of questions you think will be on the test is not enough. You should also know how well you're likely to do and which areas you need to work harder on to make sure you get that A*!
This is why looking at old papers is so important, as feedback is the most important thing here. When you solve the test on your own, check it without any biases.
Now, answer this question, "What went wrong with that question?"
The reason for answering a question wrong should be known because it is the gateway to your improvement. Did the question not make sense to you? You might not have been as clear with your language as you could have been. Was there any problem with your memorization or you lacked understanding?
Answer this question first and then direct your learning towards it.
Biology is a tough A-level study, even though it's becoming more and more popular. Did you know that only 12.8% get an A* and only 21% get an A out of all the people who take the A-Level biology exam? Let's compare it with math, which was the most popular A-Level course in 2022.
A whopping 22.8% got an A* in math, and 24.3% got an A. Those scores are much better than Biology's. So, there is a shred of clear evidence that Math, even after being notorious for its difficulty level, has a higher pass rate.
The question arises: is biology a harder subject than math? No. But, it can be tricky because of the marking scheme. It doesn't matter how well you explained the answer, but if you haven’t used the right words that the examiner was looking for, then you will not get any marks.
For instance, one AQA board’s A-level biology question looks like this:
Name two ways in which the structure of a tRNA molecule is different from that of an mRNA molecule.
The right answer to this question will earn you 5 points.
What words or phrases does the mark scheme look for?
You cannot just answer this question in a one-liner describing the cloverleaf shape of tRNA and the straight nature of mRNA. Instead, you will have to describe the differences in every aspect and use these keywords in your answer:
Learn the mark schemes by analyzing past papers and repeating them as much as you can.
When you're studying, flashcards are your best friend, especially for A-Level Biology. As we know, there is a lot to cover due to the vastness of the syllabus, and you can't remember everything in the textbook.
That's why you need to summarize and remember the most important information using flashcards.
Here are some important tips on how to use flashcards to study Biology:
The goal is to sum up lengthy and tough questions and processes into manageable chunks so that you can go over them again without being overwhelmed.
There are two types of readings:
To make proper notes on what you read, you have to do active reading.
Sure, it's easy to lean toward casual reading since it takes less effort to ask yourself what you just read. Scribbling helps you read better in a way that you are using two of your senses. Write important points and make notes of what you are reading so that you don’t lose concentration.
When you're done reading a page or piece of your textbook, put it away. After that, get a pen and paper and write down everything you can remember.
Not every sentence has to be spelt out word-for-word. What matters is that you remember important facts. You can begin by writing down important words and phrases. As you remember more, start to define and explain what you mean.
Don't freak out if you hit a wall of nothing. Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and let the facts you just read come to you. When you've thought of everything you can remember, open the book again and check what you missed.
Read the text again and after that, put the book down and start writing. But this time, just write down the parts that are missing.
Read more : Biology Breakthroughs: Exploring Life Sciences
This next way of revising goes well with the drawing method. When you're done reading the chapter, get some questions from the guide.
Define words and describe diagrams. These are two of the best ideas you can use. Let's say the part is called Introduction to Enzymes, and below is the part called Mechanism of Enzymes.
There are different ways that enzymes work to speed up a chemical reaction. Now, instead of writing down every reaction you can just draw the diagrams of processes and flowcharts of the mechanism.
After you’re done, pick up your book and check your answers. Regularly using this method will help you figure out what ideas you didn't remember or get. If you are not comfortable with paper, you can always use your iPad or Laptop to draw the diagrams digitally.
Photosynthesis and respiration are two topics that are mostly read and understood using flowcharts and relevant diagrams.
Want a new way to memorize what you just learned? Watch movies that explain biology! Remember, biology videos that explain things can never take the place of reading your textbook and notes. The videos are a great way to visualize complex topics that are hard to digest from textbooks.
Again, you need to stick to your mark schemes and grade plans, which are a big part of what’s written in your textbook and the methodology your teachers use to explain things. So, never rely only on your videos, leaving your textbooks before exams.
Some YouTube videos explain things using animations and fun mnemonics. These are great for simplifying difficult concepts, and some students prefer them over textual reading.
Let's say you want to get that A* in your A-Level biology exam. That being the case, you'll need to demonstrate in your answers that you understand all of the course content in a way that makes sense.
How? By combining ideas and lessons from different parts of your book, you can come up with a single answer that is full of helpful information.
Also, to make things clear, if you don't understand the first few chapters, the later ones will probably be even harder for you. For example, you will not understand DNA if you don't know a lot about biological molecules, nucleic acids, and phosphate bonds.
Mind Maps are useful because they help you see how everything fits together. After you’re done with your lessons, make sure you know how to link everything together. Practice making mind maps for each of your classes. Then, as you go through the course, make links between the mindmaps you already have.
Talk to your teacher about the exam and ask them to give you some questions or topics to practice. Next, you'll do this:
Make sure that your essays not only go into detail about the question but also cover a lot of ground by using ideas and examples from different parts. You can do the following things:
Why is it important to use a lot of different examples and subjects in your essay? To show that you understand most of the specifications.
A lot of the time, students get carried away when they see a topic (like photosynthesis) and have to describe it without first figuring out what the question wants.
Do you need to compare things for this essay? Then, just drawing a whole map of how photosynthesis and respiration differ won’t do any good. Describe the whole process using equations and process diagrams, and it’ll be good to go.
Suppose the question entails how photosynthesis and respiration differ from each other. In that case, It's not enough to say that both of them are important biological processes and never start writing a note on them separately.
You need to explain what makes photosynthesis different from cellular respiration. For example, you could say that photosynthesis takes in carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen. During cellular respiration, oxygen is used, and carbon dioxide is released.
What if someone asks you to describe an idea, like how DNA copies itself? Then, get into specifics. You should write as if you are a teacher telling a student about DNA replication.
More: Biodiversity | Importance, Threats, and Conservation Strategies
Reading more things, like newspapers and journal pieces, will help you learn new information about biology. Listening to talks about biology also keeps you up to date on how it is used in real life while giving you a new perspective on the topics you're learning.
It helps you remember that the ideas you're studying are not just words that you can read and forget. Not all of them, no! Scientists and doctors use biology to solve the tough problems our society faces today.
So, reading more helps you stay interested and driven. By reading different articles and updates about the subject, you can keep your interest in it alive and be motivated to study and review the course topics.
Not only does reading more widely motivate you to revise for your exam, but it also helps you understand the ideas you are learning more fully. This can help you remember things better when you are studying for tests.
Critical analysis is the key to getting the most out of what you know.
How? By reading news stories and cross-checking to see if what the authors say is true. Ask yourself these questions:
Do their results make sense?
What do these things mean?
Reading not only improves your grip on the subject, but it also has other benefits. Thorough and active reading helps you communicate better. Read and listen to different things to expand your knowledge and improve your ability to express your thoughts clearly and easily.
This will help you when you have to write articles if you’re pursuing biology for higher studies.
A lot of students ask, "How do you study biology at the last minute?" No, you don't. A "Last Minute Review Sheet" can help you go over things right before your exam.
A last-minute review sheet doesn't mean that you have to study the whole syllabus at once the day before the test. Certainly not! Why? Because you get stressed out when you cram. It's already difficult enough that you don't need to add to it.
A review sheet is meant to help you remember things like definitions and equations (if any) that you tend to forget. So, write these things down on your review sheet so you don't forget them when you're going over your work again and again.
Remember to go over everything you can calmly at the last minute. Look down the page. Reading the words slowly will help you remember them. Don't get too scared.
If you know you did your best, you can make it. Have faith in yourself! Feel relaxed, and be sure as you walk into that room you'll do great.
If you are still worried about your preparation and there is time before your exams, an expert tutor is your best option.
Our school and college teachers fail to understand our shortcomings and do not have enough time to cater to our needs timely. Students also face issues communicating with teachers after class time and during it because of peer pressure. In this situation, a private tutor can work towards meeting your personalized goals.
Hire a biology expert to improve your grades in no time!
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