A level biology

Hi guys, I started A level recently and everything seems to be going smoothly, However biology is a bit of a weird one. Some of the stuff i get taught in class e.g certain key words, or small processes in a topic aren't mentioned in my textbook or specification at all. does this mean i still have to know these things or do i not because they're not in my textbook as well the specification.

Reply 1

Cocochdy

If they are not linked to the spec in any way then no

Reply 2

molerer

is there not I the spec why do you need it know, it aint coming into the exam

Reply 3

Safwanislam

Original post by molerer

is there not I the spec why do you need it know, it aint coming into the exam

thats exactly what i was thinking, but sometimes the key-words he teaches are mentioned in the textbook, but it does not go into very deep detail like my teacher does???

Reply 4

Safwanislam

Original post by Cocochdy

If they are not linked to the spec in any way then no

some of these words are linked, however he sometimes goes into very deep detail about them, but in the textbook its mentions it very briefly. so this confuses if i should learn the long way he teaches us or just learn from what the textbook does which is short

Reply 5

Cocochdy

Original post by Safwanislam

My teacher does that too tbh, they tend to go in excessive detail so I think you should stick to your textbook. Also, a good indicator of how much detail you need are past papers - you might want to look at some questions and mark schemes :smile:

Reply 6

Safwanislam

Original post by Cocochdy

ok thanks! do you do A level biology as well? if so, how are you finding it?

Reply 7

Cocochdy

Original post by Safwanislam

ok thanks! do you do A level biology as well? if so, how are you finding it?

Yes, I'm in year 13 doing edexcel bio. It's going so-so as there are some concepts that are just soo confusing (immunity...ugh :s-smilie:

). Also, presuming you are still in year 12 right now and doing edexcel: beware of the photosynthesis topic next year

Reply 8

Safwanislam

Original post by Cocochdy

Yes, I'm in year 13 doing edexcel bio. It's going so-so as there are some concepts that are just soo confusing (immunity...ugh :s-smilie:

). Also, presuming you are still in year 12 right now and doing edexcel: beware of the photosynthesis topic next year

haha i have heard from some friends in yr 13 that photosynthesis is tricky, how was the transition from yr 12 to 13 was it quite big or is the difficulty still similar?

Reply 9

Cocochdy

Original post by Safwanislam

haha i have heard from some friends in yr 13 that photosynthesis is tricky, how was the transition from yr 12 to 13 was it quite big or is the difficulty still similar?

It's not as scary as people tend to portray it. However you need to put in much more work into it than for year 12 because year 12 includes concepts from GCSE, whilst year 13 is all new stuff (unless you are a biology geek i guess)