50 Study Tips for Biology Students

50 Study Tips for Biology Students

Be MOTIVATED, Be organized, and use your time wisely

1.       USE FLASH CARDS. Flashcards are available online for you to use. Go to quizlet.com/jfranks662/folders/spbio and study the current unit’s terms and study guide.

2.       TAKE GOOD NOTES. The completed notes for each unit are online at  
sites.google.com/a/pcsd.k12.ms.us/spbio/home/units

3.       PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS. To ensure that you understand the material well, pay attention in class. This is the first step in memory.

4.       REVIEW YOUR NOTES THE SAME DAY YOU GET THEM. It is best to review the material right after class when it's still fresh in your memory.

5.       DON’T CRAM. Don't try to do all your studying the night before the test. Instead space out your studying, review class materials at least several times a week, focusing on one topic at a time. You'll learn more by studying a little every day instead of waiting to cram at the last minute.

6.       HAVE ALL OF YOUR MATERIALS READY. Have all of your study material in front of you: lecture notes, course textbooks, study guides and any other relevant material.

7.       SUMMARIZE YOUR NOTES. Take notes and write down a summary of the important ideas as you read through your study material.

8.       SET UP A SCHEDULE. For classes that are harder, make sure you give yourself more time to study or do homework. 

9.        START STUDYING FOR 10-15 MINUTES AT A TIME AND THEN BUILD UP TO LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. Start reading/studying for 10-15 minutes.  Then build on that by 10 minutes once you become comfortable studying for at least an hour at a time.  So work hard, but be realistic.  If you can no longer concentrate or remember what you have read, stop.  Do not waste valuable time.

10.   TAKE BREAKS. Take breaks when studying.  Do not attempt to cram!  Study small portions of material, take a break and then study some more.  You will retain more information when you break it down into smaller portions that you can manage.  You do not want to get burned out.

11.   REWARD YOURSELF. Reward yourself for studying, learning a difficult topic, or completing a project.  Go to a movie, spend time with your friends, or do the things you put off in order to study.  You are more likely to study again and concentrate if you know there is a reward at the end of completing a task.

12.   FIND A GOOD LOCATION. Where you study can determine how much concentrate.  Make sure the place is comfortable, but not too comfortable.  Sitting at a desk or table is best.  Avoid lying across the bed.  You want to try to study in the same type of situation that you will be testing.  This helps with remembering the things you studied for the test.

13.   USE THE SAME PLACE FOR STUDYING. This will help you with your memory when it is time for a test.  It will also help you to concentrate better, because you will be in a routine or habit of studying in the same place.

14.   MAKE SURE IT IS A QUIET PLACE. Having a quiet place to study is also important.  Playing your favorite CD, or radio station, or even the TV will get in the way of you concentrating on your studies.

15.   ELIMINATE THE OBVIOUS DISTRACTIONS. Talking on the telephone is a major distraction when you are trying to study.  Other distractions that you should look out for are the radio, TV, video games, family talking around your study area.  Even seeing your books for another class can distract you.  So put them away until you are ready to study for the next class.  Once you get rid of, as many distractions as you can you will improve you study skills.

If you want to improve you memory, here are some tricks you can learn

16.   Acronyms: Acronyms is when you make a word from the first letter of each word to be memorized is used.  For example, HOMES for the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior).

17.   Acrostics: Acrostics are phases or poems in which the first letter of each word or line functions as a cue to help you recall the words that you are trying to remember.  For example, “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” is used to remember the order of operations in Math.

18.   Narrative: Make up a story with the list of words throughout the narrative helps with memorizing.

19.   Rhymes: Rhyming can help retention of information.  Remember the phrase “I after E except after C”?

20.   Imagery: Draw or imagine a picture of what’s being studied, or find one in a book.  Mentally refer to the picture when you are testing.

21.   Visualization:  Use graphic organizers to help organize and remember information.

22.   Flash Cards:  When information is written out on cards you have access to studying at any time.

General Study Hints – Motivation, organization, and time management

23.   BE AWARE WITH CLASS MATERIAL INTERFERING WITH EACH OTHER. When memorizing information, be careful of class material interfering with each other.  What happens is that you may forget the old material while trying to learn the new material.  Try memorizing material for each class on different days.  Review the night before, or a few hours before, the test. (time management).

24.   GO TO CLASS. If you want to do well in school, attendance is important.  If you miss class, you miss what the teacher thinks is important; hence, what is most likely to end up on the test.  (motivation)

25.   PARTICIPATE IN CLASS. In order to learn more in class it helps to participate in class discussions.  Asking questions to clarify and maintain eye contact with your professor can increase your participation and your focus during the class discussion.  Listen to your teacher and then try to guess what he or she is going to say next.  If the material is difficult, it helps to read the material before you go to class.  This helps you follow along in class.  (motivation)

26.   IF YOU NEED TO MISS A CLASS. If you have to miss class, let your teacher know.  It is very helpful to have a reliable classmate from whom you can get the notes.  Exchange telephone numbers (with someone who is passing the class) in case of an emergency.  (organization)

27.   TAKE GOOD NOTES. Try not to write down everything.  All you need are the main points and put in your own words.  Write unfamiliar terms.  Review your notes as soon after class as possible.  You can fill in details that you missed and review the material while it is still fresh on your mind. (organization)

28.   USE YOUR TEXTBOOK. Some teachers follow the book closely.  In this case it is helpful to take the book with you to class and write down topics or terms and write notes from the book. (organization)

29.   TALK TO YOUR TEACHER. If you are struggling in class, talk to your teacher.  He or she may be able to give you more help or tutor you before or after class.  Most teachers have little sympathy for students who become concerned about failing during the last few weeks of the grading period.  (motivation)

30.   FORM STUDY GROUPS. Get students together who are motivated to do well in the class.  Make sure that everyone is familiar with the material, because you do not want to spend time re-teaching material to people who do not understand.  Be careful!  Sometimes group session can become chatting sessions.  Set yourselves on a goal and then once completed, then have your chatting session. (motivation)

31.   FOCUS. If you choose to study in a group, only study with others who are serious about the test.

32.   START AT THE BEGINNING. Start studying; from the first day you make the change or better yet, the first day of school.  It’s never too late, but you have to make the decision to make the change. (motivation)

33.   KEEP ORGANIZED. Try to keep your backpack, folders, and locker neat.  You should be able to locate papers at any moment when a teacher requests them.  Also, keep in mind that some classes require more effort than others.  For example, Math and foreign languages are subjects, which require daily work.  These subjects build on materials from the day before, so you have to keep up in these classes.  (organization)

34.   STUDY AT THE RIGHT TIME. Don't study later than the time you usually go to sleep, you may fall asleep or be tempted to go to sleep, instead try studying in the afternoon or early evening. If you are a morning person try studying in the morning.

REDUCING TEST ANXIETY

35.  Being well prepared for the test is the best way to reduce test taking anxiety.

36.  Space out your studying over a few days or weeks and continually review class material. Don't try to learn everything the night before.

37.  Try to maintain a positive attitude while preparing for the test and during the test.

38.  Exercising for a few days before the test will help reduce stress.

39.  Get a good night's sleep before the test.

40.  Show up to class early so you won't have to worry about being late.

41.  Stay relaxed, if you begin to get nervous take a few deep breaths slowly to relax yourself and then get back to work.

42.  Read the directions slowly and carefully.

43.  If you don't understand the directions on the test, ask the teacher to explain it to you.

44.  Skim through the test so that you have a good idea how to pace yourself.

45.  Write down important formulas, facts, definitions and/or keywords in the margin first so you won't worry about forgetting them.

46.  Do the simple questions first to help build up your confidence for the harder questions.

47.  Don't worry about how fast other people finish their test; just concentrate on your own test.

48.  If you don't know an answer to a question skip it for the time being (come back to it later if you have time), and remember that you don't have to always get every question right to do well on the test.

49.  Focus on the question at hand. Don't let your mind wander on other things.

50.  If you're still experiencing extreme test anxiety after following these tips, seek help from your school counselor.