biol+2+exam+advice

Here you will find some tips about studying for the exam and coping under exam conditions.

biol 2 study techniques

Check over the three main tests you have done this semester. Read over questions you got wrong and make sure you improve your understanding of this area. Remember that you will be assessed on knowledge, understanding and application. Focus on the key general ideas: adaptations, homeostasis, behaviour, interactions b/n organisms, feeding relationships, population dynamics, human impact, energy flow and nutrient cycles. Also, biological skills are examinable. Do you understand experimental procedure? Can you interpet graphs and tables, suggest explanations and make relevant conclusions?

Exam skills Obviously read questions carefully, highlight or underline key words and phrases. Avoid writing vague responses, remember you are trying to show knowledge and understanding. read you response and ask yourself
 * Does it answer the question?
 * Could I include a relevant term?
 * Have I done what the question has asked, in terms of the question type (see table below).
 * Is my repsonse relevant and does it link to the context of the question (if there is one)


 * Define || Write a definition of a term or process or biological concept ||
 * State/list/name || involves writing a relevant term or phrase, your response doesn't need to show understanding or require an explanation ||
 * Describe || the response needs to show some understanding (no explanation required) and will ususally involve you incorporating key terms and relevant information, this can also be in the context of a graph where you are asked to describe the relationship between... ||
 * Outline || point form is a good way to go here, detail is not the key but rather the main ideas put succintly and logically together ||
 * Explain || statements need to be supported with an understanding of the relevant terms and concepts, more detailed repsonse required compared to 'describe' ||
 * Compare || important that you include information about both the 'factors' you are comparing, don't just say process A is quicker, include reference to process B in your statement as well ||
 * Suggest || you may need to draw on your general biological background to come up with a plausible answer (usually there will be several possibilities) and often there will be a 'clue' in the information to direct your thinking ||
 * Conclude || in relation to results you need to be able to extract some pertinent trend or pattern, there is no need to provide an explanation ||

Finally, if a question says use information from or use evidence/values, you MUST do so in your repsonse.

For the multiple chocie section spend a maximum of 30min, preferably 25min or less. Remember 50 of the marks are in the short answer section. Use your reading time fully. Determine which section you are going to start with. Always answer the question you are confident with FIRST. If you are struggling with a question move on quickly and come back to it later.