AQA Biology Exam Technique

hi!
I usually go into biology exams knowing the syllabus pretty well but end up losing a ridicules number of mark on silly mistakes. My main problem is that i don’t know how to tackle a question and often miss the obvious mark. For example a question about chloroplasts and photosynthesis, i would miss writing 'light strikes chloroplasts' which unbelievably gets you a mark according to the mark scheme.
I desperately need to get almost full UMS this year and I cant afford to lose marks on the questions which I know well.
So any riv/ exam techniques i can try?
:smile:

Reply 1

Laura Lou

13

All I can suggest is practising exam papers and then analysing the mark schemes. They tend to underline/bold any important words/phrases and break up sentences so you can see which points got you the marks.
Other than that, just keep practicing - the more you do the more likely you are to remember it.
Good luck with your exams.
Laura xxx

Reply 2

datr

12

The phrase my teacher uses over and over again is imagine your explaining your answer to a child (albeit a child who understands scientific terms). This is quite a good rule of thumb and would work in the example you gave.

However, doing AQA myself, I know that there are some weird things you get marks for and some things which you should get marks for but you don't. So familiarizing yourself with the mark scheme for the common questions, especially the long ones is always good, I'd give a list but I think your doing AQA A.

Reply 3

tomtheone

2

Remember to write down all the things that are obvious.

Reply 4

Pete2406

You have to flaunt your knowledge, use all the jargon, but make sure you show the examiner you know what the jargon means and havn't just remembered it as a word from a text book. Be precise and get to the point. Put plenty of detail in but don't waffle!

Reply 5

moleo

aqa exams are terrible.
My advice is do lots of exam papers and use the mark schemes to note down the model answers. I think this is (in my opinion) the only way you can learn the aqa buzz words they love so much like "complementary"

Reply 6

jhighmore

I try to logically think through all the steps. Basically, write down what you're thinking.

Reply 7

littleman_08

I know what you mean, I know all the knowledge but lose marks because of the way they've twisted the question. It's mostly a question of them wanting you to apply your knowledge and I just can't seem to do that! I wish they'd just ask you to regurgitate what you've revised :P

Reply 8

Azori

I always seem to lose marks for not stating the obvious first point, like the 'light striking the chlorophyll' example you gave. At the start of most questions, just write down the obvious first point that you don't think you need, and you'll probably end up with 5 marks more :smile:

Reply 9

Whatever9999

littleman_08

I know what you mean, I know all the knowledge but lose marks because of the way they've twisted the question. It's mostly a question of them wanting you to apply your knowledge and I just can't seem to do that! I wish they'd just ask you to regurgitate what you've revised :P

Omggggg thats exactly like my problem i know everything but i just cant explain ,bloody hell i wish they can change the format of the questions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply 10

amy1910

2

Original post by Whatever9999

Omggggg thats exactly like my problem i know everything but i just cant explain ,bloody hell i wish they can change the format of the questions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

im exactly the same! nobody can be taught how to answer their ridiculous questions, my exam is in the morning and i'm so scared. not because i don't know anything, because i do know quite a bit. but because i have no confidence in aswering the questions, it takes 20 mins to decipher the questions and know what you need to apply (or in my case guess). I HATE AQA.

Reply 11

littleprecious

Same my exam is 2moro 9.00 anyone have any revision techniques ??

Reply 12

LifeIsGood

12

This thread is 5 years old...

Reply 13

?!master?!mini?!

16

Original post by LifeIsGood

This thread is 5 years old...

new members. Whaddya expect?

Reply 14

PeridotEyes93

2

This thread is 5 years old..

nobody cares

Reply 15

Whatever9999

Original post by amy1910

im exactly the same! nobody can be taught how to answer their ridiculous questions, my exam is in the morning and i'm so scared. not because i don't know anything, because i do know quite a bit. but because i have no confidence in aswering the questions, it takes 20 mins to decipher the questions and know what you need to apply (or in my case guess). I HATE AQA.

how did it gooooo ?!?!?! that paper was hard ?! why do they have hsw questions goddddd i hate themmm !?!?! :cry2:

Reply 16

amy1910

2

Original post by Whatever9999

how did it gooooo ?!?!?! that paper was hard ?! why do they have hsw questions goddddd i hate themmm !?!?! :cry2:

sorry it took me so long to reply, i'm still trying to work out the website :smile:

i thought the exam was okay, i didn't struggle to answer the questions (miracle). just have to be patient now and sit and wait for the results, i'm feeing a resit for an A :tongue:

Reply 17

Whatever9999

Original post by amy1910

sorry it took me so long to reply, i'm still trying to work out the website :smile:

i thought the exam was okay, i didn't struggle to answer the questions (miracle). just have to be patient now and sit and wait for the results, i'm feeing a resit for an A :tongue:

sorry for the late reply,well done for doing all the questions i'm happy for u ,hope u get ur A :smile:

good luck

Reply 18

msperfectionist

2

I'm having a unit 4 exam on the 13th of june. I seem to think that in AS they tend to repeat the questions more. I hardly find the same kind of answers in the A2 mark schemes because the questions always change in A2!!! (there are a couple but compared to AS, I feel much less confident about it). any help or advice? are you guys experiencing the same thing?

Reply 19

mrscheesecake

5

Why not skip ahead 7 years :smile:

I don't think the marking technique changed for any better, they still love 'complementary'.....

AQA Biology Exam Technique

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