Preparing for Biology Exams

Several of my former students have shared with me
how they successfully prepared for their exams. I
share these successful study methods, at the beginning
of each semester, with my newest students.

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I hope that you have already established a successful
method of study in your previous classes. I also hope
you will quickly establish a new method of preparation
if you have been dissatisfied with your performance in
a science class or feel you will need a new method for
this class. [Note: If you have a method to add to this
list, please feel free to inform your instructor.]

1. Read over your class notes on a regular basis. Once
a day, seven days a week, spend time reading all
notes taken to date. [Variations: once a day, five
days or three days a week]

2. Copy over your class notes on a regular basis. After
each class or before the next class, copy your class
notes. Make corrections on the notes and add any
information previously omitted. Recopy again as
needed.

3. Borrow the class notes from a classmate on a
regular basis. Copy these notes and make compari-
sons with your own. Make a new set of notes that
combines the two. Recopy again as needed.

4. Record the lecture and play back the tape as a
means of review. Replay as needed. Makea
complete transcript of the taped lecture by which to
study.

5. Read the textbook chapter(s) that cover(s) the
lecture(s) before the material is presented in the
lecture. Or read the textbook chapter(s) that
cover(s) the lecture topic(s) after the material is
presented in the lecture. Or read both before and
after the lecture.

6. Transfer your lecture notes to 3" x 5" cards. Each
card represents a single topic or concept. Read over
the cards on a regular basis—perhaps once a day.

7. Read the lecture notes aloud.

8. Explain the material to someone else.

9, Have someone read aloud the important words that
must be defined and check your responses (defini-
tion and example).

10. Make physical models that represent the concepts—
e.g., a model of an atom, compound, or cell. Make a
drawing to represent the concepts.

11. Take the test objectives and check to make certain
the review material covers the test objectives.

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While the methods varied, they all involved a
regular time commitment outside of class and the reali-
zation that course material should be understood, not
just memorized.

Lloyd L. Willis, Associate Professor, Biology
For further information, contact the author at Piedmont

Virginia Community College, Route 6, Box 1-A,
Charlottesville, VA 22901-8714.

 

Suanne D. Roueche, Editor

March 24, 1989, Vol. XI, No. 10

©The University of Texas at Austin, 1989
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