How to Revise for (Human) Biology?

Basically, I'm panicking. I missed a year of Science (left school, did a year of AS Levels in Humanity subjects, and now doing AS H.Bio.), and even after six months of the subject, I'm feeling so out of touch and full of dread. I've tried revising for it but it's weird - for Sociology and Psychology, I can easily do mindmaps, etc., but I've tried doing so for Human Biology and it doesn't seem to work (I imagine it won't do).

Just simply reading and writing notes doesn't seem to work either. I've tried revision cards and there's too much information to condense into a smaller amount.

Any tips/tricks? Thanks so much!

Reply 1

A Shining Light

I think all of my class finds Biology hard to revise, including me, so you're not the only one. I'm also in the process of working out how I should revise. I'm a bit worried as I need an A to get into Manchester uni and I'm currently on a B (tho it won't be the end of the world if I don't...). I have yet to try this properly with Biology but how I've revised for my other subjects is answering questions that you are likely to be asked (usually past papers) and the more times I have to look at my notes to remember what to do, the more likely that I do remember it. I also tend to reread my notes and make questions that I could be asked from them. If it's something that I'm less likely to remember then I type the notes up (one sentence per paragraph), cut them up, rearrange them and use them to answer questions about it. A bit like a cut and stick exercise.

Oh and don't forget to start revising early, as it appears you are doing, but don't stop revising otherwise you may forget it all again. I better my own advice...

Reply 2

silent ninja

19

I find Collins student guides very useful instead of a binder full of sheets and handouts. They dont have EVERYTHING, but about 90%. They leave sufficient space to add your own notes. So when it comes to revision, you only have to revise about 30 small-ish pages. Makes life a hell of a lot easier. Only available for AQA and Edexcel though.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0003277127/qid=1141932175/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_3_7/202-6117271-7143824

Reply 3

*Princess*

go on microsoft powerpoint and type up the main facts
then sit down and watch ur slideshow in action!

Reply 4

lostinfantasies

OP

2

Thanks so much!

Is March early to start revision then? I always thought I left it a bit late! It doesn't seem like I've got a lot of time left until my June 5 exams for Human Biology! We had a rubbish teacher for the first few months and haven't covered at least half of what we should have covered by now (we've still got the heart, circulation, and respiration to do, alongside immunology, gene technology, etc. etc.)

So...yeah! I'm slightly panicking. There doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day!

Reply 5

A Shining Light

lostinfantasies

Thanks so much!

Is March early to start revision then? I always thought I left it a bit late! It doesn't seem like I've got a lot of time left until my June 5 exams for Human Biology! We had a rubbish teacher for the first few months and haven't covered at least half of what we should have covered by now (we've still got the heart, circulation, and respiration to do, alongside immunology, gene technology, etc. etc.)

So...yeah! I'm slightly panicking. There doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day!

No, I don't think March is early...if you're finding it difficult then start as early as you can, so that you can keep practising again and again (you're more likely to remember it then). Except I kinda haven't got round to restarting my Biology revision yet...

Reply 6

lostinfantasies

OP

2

Well I've got other exams to revise for so I guess I do need to make headway now.

Reply 7

danni_bella

17

I've got two exams coming up in April so understand what you're talking about :wink:

Hope this is not too late:

Ok, what I do before a biology exam is to divide subjects up into *units* if you get what I mean. So I do this, and for about 45 mins each, or half hour, I look over notes and WRITE IMPORTANT STUFF DOWN.

Then after each 'studying session' I briefly read notes at my leisure, then start on the next lot.

After it's all done, I quiz myself!!! :biggrin:

If you're studying human bio you've gotta get your hands on Marieb's Human Anatomy and Physiology it's really helpful with their quizes! :smile:

If not, similar with quizes/test yourself type exams.

This is because you prepare yourself for the real deal, so I always advise people to quiz themselves, oh and feel free to have a study session with any of us here if you want.

DB_XxX

How to Revise for (Human) Biology?

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