biology a level aqa

Hello, this is for students who have previously studied a level biology. aqa in particular would be useful.

What are some tips you wish you know before you did the a level. As I am starting in September and not the most confident about it, please share your advice and knowledge. Thank you.

Reply 1

X.243llie

Okay o say this everytime i give biology tips but itll be a lot.

Revision techniques:
Draw biology as its processes and it doesnt matter how bad and messy as its revision so as long as its functional it dont matter but it can help to see it visually

Revise not in spec order trust me spec order is random and doesnt link well. Revise so topics link together which youll be able to do later in the course. For example revise protiens, enzymes, atp, haemoglobin, glucose, respiration and finallu muscle contraction as it all links well into eachother. Why revise this way? It helps with answering exam questions but most importantly helps with your AO2 in the essay

Resources to use
PMT for past paper questions by topics is amazing ans should use these after revisinh content per topic
Biology with olivia books i rave about as honestly changed my hrade from stubborn C to a B in mocks and A in practice papers from easter to just before the exams. They cost money but well worth it imo as it cut my revision time down in half, uses exam language and has the best practical notes ive ever seen and it beats PMT notes by miles and beats textbooks and miss estruchs youtuve videos imo.

Reply 2

X.243llie

Heres some free stuff as well:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XOYgY-AxDndzfcPr1dN-sKabPlho0EEr

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15c3CMA0HRvAJtL6T2xZc_1IJ72JOp_5S/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=112001129076215379937&rtpof=true&sd=true

Reply 3

thrivingfrog

Volunteer Team

Aqa biology markschemes are really strict so make sure when you're revising you're looking at the textbook definitions because if you miss one word you could get 0

Physics and maths tutor will save you

Also please know you will have to write a 25 mark essay on paper 3. Nobody in my class knew about this until we started the course

I just finished alevel bio this year so if you have any questions lmk!

Reply 4

s1enn5

Original post by X.243llie

Heres some free stuff as well:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XOYgY-AxDndzfcPr1dN-sKabPlho0EEr
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15c3CMA0HRvAJtL6T2xZc_1IJ72JOp_5S/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=112001129076215379937&rtpof=true&sd=true

thank you so much, you're an angel!

Reply 5

s1enn5

Original post by thrivingfrog

Aqa biology markschemes are really strict so make sure when you're revising you're looking at the textbook definitions because if you miss one word you could get 0
Physics and maths tutor will save you
Also please know you will have to write a 25 mark essay on paper 3. Nobody in my class knew about this until we started the course
I just finished alevel bio this year so if you have any questions lmk!

Thank you, this is very helpful! Did you struggle a bit when you started as it was new? Im quite worried and my classmates are so smart at biology and i feel as though i will get left behind. I take a bit more time to learn things than others

Reply 6

thrivingfrog

Volunteer Team

Original post by s1enn5

I didn't really struggle in the first term as the content starts off with the more basic stuff so like carbohydrates, lipids etc. However by January I was getting Ds and Es so don't worry, everyone will struggle at some point. I ended up predicted an A* so even if you do struggle, you'll still have the time to improve!

Reply 7

X.243llie

To add to the person above i had Es in AS all the way to february where literally no word of a lie i went to bed, woke up and the next day and had one of those light bulb moments and biology made sense to me and next mock i got C