GCSE Biology Study Group 2023-2024

Welcome to the GCSE Biology Study Group! :hello:

This is where you can chat with other students studying the same subjects as you and support each other as you head towards your exams :grouphugs:

You can post any useful tips and resources that you come across, offer support to others, share your successes, or just have moan when it gets tough! :yes:

Just remember, it’s against the site rules to ask for or offer any copyrighted papers, or to take conversations off-site to do these things. Posts that break these rules will be removed.

A few possible ice breaker questions are:
What exam board are you with?
What do you enjoy most about this subject/ course?
What area do you struggle with in this subject/ course?

Specifications

Good luck with the next few months. Remember, ask for help, support where you can and together we can do this! :yeah:

Hiiii I do AQA gcse biology- my only science and I genuinely cannot stand the subject. However, I really really want an 8/9 in the exam, pls recommend study tips!!

Reply 21

mza07

1

Original post by erin282888441

Hi guys! A level Biology student here! I achieved 9s across all my science GCSEs, despite being predicted a 4. The biggest piece of advice I have is to FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH EXAM QUESTIONS. The best way to do this is by completing the Physics and Maths tutor questions for each topic and the past papers for your exam board.

To learn the content:

•

Work through the videos and questions on Cognito, this is great for building your understanding, as well as actively recalling the information.

•

Cognito link -> https://cognitoedu.org/home.html

•

Watch the FreeScienceLessons videos. He should cover most of the content for all exam boards.

•

FreeScienceLessons link -> https://www.youtube.com/@Freesciencelessons

•

Invest in a whiteboard and pen, but paper will also work. Read through the specification points for your exam board, and write down on your whiteboard everything you can remember for the point (e.g, specific biological processes). This is active recall and is essential for building your long term memory.

•

Most importantly DO NOT STRESS! GCSEs are a very small part of your life, and in order to achieve the grades you want you must maintain a healthy balance! Make sure to reach out if you are struggling!

I hope this helps! Feel free to message me or reply to this if you have any questions! ☺️

Thank you so much for recommending Cognito - this has made my revision so much easier! At first I was stressing out as I haven't made any flashcards and was wondering if there wasn't enough time as it takes forever, but Cognito gives some really good ones. Also, how is A-Level Biology like - pros and cons?

Reply 22

mastex7

3

Original post by erin282888441

Hi guys! A level Biology student here! I achieved 9s across all my science GCSEs, despite being predicted a 4. The biggest piece of advice I have is to FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH EXAM QUESTIONS. The best way to do this is by completing the Physics and Maths tutor questions for each topic and the past papers for your exam board.

To learn the content:

•

Work through the videos and questions on Cognito, this is great for building your understanding, as well as actively recalling the information.

•

Cognito link -> https://cognitoedu.org/home.html

•

Watch the FreeScienceLessons videos. He should cover most of the content for all exam boards.

•

FreeScienceLessons link -> https://www.youtube.com/@Freesciencelessons

•

Invest in a whiteboard and pen, but paper will also work. Read through the specification points for your exam board, and write down on your whiteboard everything you can remember for the point (e.g, specific biological processes). This is active recall and is essential for building your long term memory.

•

Most importantly DO NOT STRESS! GCSEs are a very small part of your life, and in order to achieve the grades you want you must maintain a healthy balance! Make sure to reach out if you are struggling!

I hope this helps! Feel free to message me or reply to this if you have any questions! ☺️

but PMT's questions are sooo long it takes me a day to go through them for each mini topic lol

Reply 23

AK_007

1

Original post by Pwca

Welcome to the GCSE Biology Study Group! :hello:

This is where you can chat with other students studying the same subjects as you and support each other as you head towards your exams :grouphugs:

You can post any useful tips and resources that you come across, offer support to others, share your successes, or just have moan when it gets tough! :yes:

Just remember, it’s against the site rules to ask for or offer any copyrighted papers, or to take conversations off-site to do these things. Posts that break these rules will be removed.
A few possible ice breaker questions are:
What exam board are you with?
What do you enjoy most about this subject/ course?
What area do you struggle with in this subject/ course?

Specifications

Good luck with the next few months. Remember, ask for help, support where you can and together we can do this! :yeah:

Hi!

AQA
I really enjoy the stuff to do with the body - heart, lungs, digestive system, etc.
I struggle with and am not really a fan of biological molecules and cell stuff.

Reply 24

l3yy

9

Original post by liz.raspberry07

I do aqa too!
I'm kinda stressing rn bc my teacher is teaching us the lessons so slow and idk how we're ever going to finish learning all the topics before gcses start lmao

samee my teacher didn't teach us properly and we're so behind and she literally left a few days ago

Reply 25

erin282888441

12

Original post by mza07

Thank you so much for recommending Cognito - this has made my revision so much easier! At first I was stressing out as I haven't made any flashcards and was wondering if there wasn't enough time as it takes forever, but Cognito gives some really good ones. Also, how is A-Level Biology like - pros and cons?

I’m glad to hear that!
A-level biology is a very useful subject and very interesting however it is so much harder than GCSE. There is a lot of processes with very specific aspects you need to remember in order to actually get any marks. The mark scheme is very specific

Reply 26

Emaaa973978234

2

Original post by Pwca

Welcome to the GCSE Biology Study Group! :hello:

This is where you can chat with other students studying the same subjects as you and support each other as you head towards your exams :grouphugs:

You can post any useful tips and resources that you come across, offer support to others, share your successes, or just have moan when it gets tough! :yes:

Just remember, it’s against the site rules to ask for or offer any copyrighted papers, or to take conversations off-site to do these things. Posts that break these rules will be removed.
A few possible ice breaker questions are:
What exam board are you with?
What do you enjoy most about this subject/ course?
What area do you struggle with in this subject/ course?

Specifications

Good luck with the next few months. Remember, ask for help, support where you can and together we can do this! :yeah:

Any topic predictions? (Edexcel triple higher)

Reply 27

m3ssageinabottle

4

Original post by Pwca

Welcome to the GCSE Biology Study Group! :hello:

This is where you can chat with other students studying the same subjects as you and support each other as you head towards your exams :grouphugs:

You can post any useful tips and resources that you come across, offer support to others, share your successes, or just have moan when it gets tough! :yes:

Just remember, it’s against the site rules to ask for or offer any copyrighted papers, or to take conversations off-site to do these things. Posts that break these rules will be removed.
A few possible ice breaker questions are:
What exam board are you with?
What do you enjoy most about this subject/ course?
What area do you struggle with in this subject/ course?

Specifications

Good luck with the next few months. Remember, ask for help, support where you can and together we can do this! :yeah:

hiii! i do AQA and i basically use the kerboodle textbooks to create flashcards and what not

Reply 28

Daniboynah

11

How to revise 3 weeks before the first biology paper
The first bio paper is on the 10th of may. Your main focus is getting your content sorted immediately. Then do as many past papers as possible(do this for all sciences). Keep doing this till the end and i will send you guys a good luck message the day before the first biology exam.

Reply 29

Sukhmani22

10

Original post by Lucy_Alice_1

Hi, I do aqa (triple) and I use seneca, cognito and watch free science lessons on YouTube

what grades do you get with those methods?

Reply 30

Hg 07

1

Original post by Sukhmani22

what grades do you get with those methods?

I got a 9 with that method. But also be sure to do the PMT Topic questions in addition. Also mind maps and flash cards ( whatever you think will help you learn content)

Reply 31

Isini.2003

3

does anyone have jananuary 2024 edexcel past papers igcse

Reply 32

agreed-scream

7

Original post by Pwca

Welcome to the GCSE Biology Study Group! :hello:

This is where you can chat with other students studying the same subjects as you and support each other as you head towards your exams :grouphugs:

You can post any useful tips and resources that you come across, offer support to others, share your successes, or just have moan when it gets tough! :yes:

Just remember, it’s against the site rules to ask for or offer any copyrighted papers, or to take conversations off-site to do these things. Posts that break these rules will be removed.
A few possible ice breaker questions are:
What exam board are you with?
What do you enjoy most about this subject/ course?
What area do you struggle with in this subject/ course?

Specifications

Good luck with the next few months. Remember, ask for help, support where you can and together we can do this! :yeah:

hi is there one for ocr biology?

Original post by agreed-scream

hi is there one for ocr biology?

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7456038
Here are the exam discussions and if its not on there you can make one

Reply 34

ioanaingrid18

3

Original post by Pwca

Welcome to the GCSE Biology Study Group! :hello:

This is where you can chat with other students studying the same subjects as you and support each other as you head towards your exams :grouphugs:

You can post any useful tips and resources that you come across, offer support to others, share your successes, or just have moan when it gets tough! :yes:

Just remember, it’s against the site rules to ask for or offer any copyrighted papers, or to take conversations off-site to do these things. Posts that break these rules will be removed.
A few possible ice breaker questions are:
What exam board are you with?
What do you enjoy most about this subject/ course?
What area do you struggle with in this subject/ course?

Specifications

Good luck with the next few months. Remember, ask for help, support where you can and together we can do this! :yeah:

Hi guys! Can somebody explain about the leaf structure, please?

Reply 35

Bobstolen

Original post by ioanaingrid18

Hi guys! Can somebody explain about the leaf structure, please?

Leaf stucture: stomata for gas exchange which is opened and closed by the guard cells, waxy texture on outside to get rid of raindrops on the leaves, Theres a bunch of mesophyll which basically lets it photosynthesise. Oh yeah, theres also chloroplast which makes the actual leaf green.

theres a bit u could mention about the leaf, the stomata closes at night as theres no sunlight for photosynthesis. Water evaporates through the stomata when it's opened, gas exchange happens in the stomata.

Reply 36

azaaaa9000

12

What do you think would be the marking points on a 3 or 4 marker, asking how a digestive enzyme functions?

Reply 37

username6617044

6

does anyone know what substance is used to control co2 level when examining effect of co2 on rate of photosynthesis. in starch tests and in the pondweed (e.g elodea) test. if it helps, my exam board is OCR A (gateway)

Reply 38

azaaaa9000

12

Original post by terumikami

does anyone know what substance is used to control co2 level when examining effect of co2 on rate of photosynthesis. in starch tests and in the pondweed (e.g elodea) test. if it helps, my exam board is OCR A (gateway)

I believe it is sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, if you are referring to the solution that provides CO2 to the pondweed in the required practical (I do AQA but you mentioning pondweed sounds very similar to a practical we have to know). Hope that's useful

(edited 5 months ago)

Reply 39

username6617044

6

Original post by azaaaa9000

I believe it is sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, if you are referring to the solution that provides CO2 to the pondweed in the required practical (I do AQA but you mentioning pondweed sounds very similar to a practical we have to know). Hope that's useful

Oh interesting. I did a little digging in a school textbook and found it says potassium hydrogen carbonate. I searched online and found more results for sodium hydrogen carbonate than for potassium, but I assume either works due to them both having similar chemical properties (being close on the periodic table). Thanks

GCSE Biology Study Group 2023-2024

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