Biology is a subject that is studied in high school. The key thing when dealing with it is to understand the basic concepts before moving on to the more complex ones. It is also important to learn their specific terminology and study as much as possible, to improve understanding of the topics and be ready for any exam.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Learning the Matter
Step 1. Have a positive attitude towards the subject
Biology can be complicated, but it is also very interesting if you take a step back to think about what you are studying. Having the right attitude can make studying more fun. It will always be difficult, but if you are interested in what you are learning the weight will lighten.
- It can be helpful to link concepts from biology to real-world situations and events.
- Think about how your body works. How do your muscles work together to allow you to move? How does the brain communicate with those muscles to tell your body to take a step? It's very complex, but all the cells in your body work together to keep you healthy.
- Biology teaches you everything you need to know about these processes and how they work. It is quite fascinating, if you think about it.
Step 2. Break complex words down into their roots
You may find the technical vocabulary of biology complicated and difficult to grasp. However, most of the words you will come across are derived from Greek or Latin and have a prefix or suffix. Knowing these elements can help you grasp the meaning of the most difficult words and spell them correctly.
- For example, the word "glucose" can be separated into two parts, "gluc" meaning "sweet" and "osio" meaning "sugar". At this point, you can deduce that maltose, sucrose and lactose are also sugars.
- The expression "endoplasmic reticulum" may seem difficult; however, if you know that "endo" means "inside" and "plasmatic" means the cytoplasm, you can easily understand that it is a network structure within the cytoplasm.
Step 3. Create cards for the more difficult words
Making cards is an excellent way to learn the meanings of words you will come across as you study biology. You can take them around with you and review them at any time, for example in the car or on the bus on your way to school. The card making process is a great study method in general, but the cards themselves are even more useful when you actually use them to study.
- At the beginning of each new unit, identify the words you don't know and make cards.
- Review these cards as you study the whole unit, and when the time comes to take a test, you will know them perfectly!
Step 4. Create diagrams
Drawing a diagram of a biological process can be an easier way to learn the concept than normal reading. If you really understand the subject, you should be able to outline the entire process and label all the important aspects. Also study the diagrams in your textbook. Read the captions, truly understand what the diagram represents and how it relates to the concept you are studying.
- Many biology courses begin with the cell and the various parts that compose it. Being able to draw a cell and write the name of all its components is very important.
- The same is true for many cell cycles, such as the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate and the Krebs cycle. Practice drawing them several times a week to make sure you have learned them before the exam.
Step 5. Read the textbook before class
Biology is not a subject that can be absorbed in the short period of time spent in the classroom. Reading the material before it is treated in class will give you an advantage in understanding what the teacher is about to explain. The text will introduce you to the topics and you will get much more out of the lesson if you are ready to ask questions based on your previous reading.
- Refer to the schedule to find out which parts of the book to read before class.
- Take notes and arrive in class with the questions ready.
Step 6. Learn the concepts going from general to specific
Understanding biology requires a general understanding of the larger concepts before we can really go into the particular. Master the general topics before trying to understand the ins and outs of how they work.
- You need to understand that proteins are made from DNA before you can understand how DNA is read and then transcribed into these proteins.
- Creating outlines is a great way to organize your notes from general to specific.
Part 2 of 2: Studying the Matter
Step 1. Answer the questions you find at the end of each chapter
Biology textbooks almost always have a questionnaire at the end of each chapter for you to review the concepts just explained. Check how many questions you can answer and make a note of the ones you think are the most difficult, then review your notes on these topics and / or reread part of the relevant chapter.
If you have a lot of trouble answering these questions, ask your classmates or teacher for help
Step 2. Review your notes within one day of each lesson
Avoid leaving class forgetting everything you just learned - reviewing your notes the same evening or the next day can help you memorize what you have studied. When reviewing, always try to make sense of what you study.
If there is something you do not understand, reread the pages relating to that concept in the textbook. If you still don't understand it, ask your teacher about it the next time you see it
Step 3. Reserve specific time for the study of biology
Many students find this subject particularly difficult, so you need to give it the right amount of time to get results. If you set aside time every evening (or every two) for biology, you will acquire the good habit of studying frequently; at the time of the exam you will thank yourself for not having to go through the whole program in one go!
- Stick to your study schedule and establish a routine. If you skip one day, be sure to get back on track on the next and avoid not studying multiple days in a row.
- Even if you're busy, plan to spend 15 minutes a day reviewing your notes - it can make a big difference!
Step 4. Use mnemonic devices
Creating mnemonic devices can be really useful when studying biology, for example to help you remember the order of substrates in the Krebs cycle.
For example, these seven life processes are used to determine whether an organism is living or non-living: movement, breathing, sensation, growth, reproduction, excretion, nutrition. You will be able to memorize them better if you use the acronym "Mrs Cren"
Step 5. Study old quizzes and exams before classwork
If you have access to exams from previous years, try to take them and check the result. If this is not possible, study your previous assignments and tests to get an idea of the questions you will be asked.
- Answering the old test questions will give you an idea of what you will need to know to continue studying and what topics you have already learned.
- You could also create tests yourself to challenge yourself on the program. Focus on the concepts you have the most difficulty with. This way you will be able to process the information in a conversational way instead of simply trying to memorize it.
Advice
- Use serious and educational websites to study on.
- Paying attention to current events can help you get a general idea of the latest inventions in technology, increasing your interest in the subject.
- Watching the news and reading scientific journals and journals can help you study biology. New discoveries are made every day (for example in cloning technology) and these are all topics that can become questions in your exams.
- Explain the concepts of biology aloud to your friends, parents or siblings: this way, you will be able to memorize the information better and recall it later (without peeking at the notes, however!).
