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 Further duplication is permitied by MEMBER institutions for their own personnel.

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