How I passed A-Level Biology
This is for the anon who was feeling a bit let-down by their AS level biology mark, and asked how I revised. Prepare for an essay…
First off, a D isn’t far off a C, especially considering the harsh marking this year and the fact that you may have just had an off-day. There is plenty of scope to make up marks next year in your A2, and in your re-sit. Ask your teachers to help you do some UMS calculations to see how far you are off each grade. I had similar results in my AS year and easily made it up with practicals and whatnot. It sounds like you worked really hard, and the first thing you need to do is recognise that; I’m certainly proud of you!
However, if you want my advice (as you probably do because you, erm, asked for it), this is what I would recommend you do from here on in. This is because I learn by writing; actually producing words in my own format, repetitively, then reading my own materials. It’s a lot of work, and I have no idea if it’ll work for you, but it was worth it for me. I got a high A in the end. ~ go through the specification for your exam board. Write it out in your own words. Know what you need to know, inside out.
~ divide the spec into understandable chunks - your textbook will help with this e.g. “genetics”. For each section, RE-CREATE all the following materials, (using your pre-existing notes and extra textbooks if you need them): ~ baseline, detailed notes. Typed or handwritten, whatever you prefer. Think of it as writing a textbook, for you. Explain everything to a depth that someone at GCSE could understand it. Add photos, diagrams, highlighted words - anything that helps. Spend time on these, as everything else kinda depends on them.
~ quiz. Every fact you have written in your baselines notes, write a question for. On a separate sheet, write the answers out in full (these are great for bus journeys). For example, your notes might say “human somatic cells have 46 chromosomes, organised into 23 pairs.” Your quiz would ask, “How many chromosomes does a human somatic cell have, and how are they organised?” Your answer sheet would read the same as your notes, “human somatic cells have 46 chromosomes, organised into 23 pairs.” (See what I mean about repetition now?!)
~ put your specification notes and baselines notes side-by-side. Create revision cards by withdrawing the knowledge that the spec asks for, from your baselines notes. Don’t bother writing full sentences or even words; abbreviation like “ind.” for “individual” are handy. Your brain still reads individual, which is the main thing; but it also sees a much smaller section of writing and thinks “woohoo! Achievable.” Use different colour pens, different colour cards for each spec section; again, whatever helps you. (Wilkos is a great place to shop for revision cards, and here in Exeter they do 10% student discount!)
~ do all of the above for every section. That will cement FACTS into your mind. Facts are important, but unfortunately at A Level it’s all about the application. Play the game. Learn how to pass an exam, by doing the following:
~ try to find past exam questions organised into topics. Depending on your exam board (and how helpful your school is), topic question packs may be very easy or very hard to find. If so, do the steps below using those question packs. If not, just do what I’ve written below.
~ print off three copies of each past paper you can find (if your exam board is really new, go back to the old spec and use their papers; just be aware of spec differences), and one copy of each mark scheme.
~ firstly, use the mark scheme to answer each question to your fullest capability. Write more than you need to. You literally have all the answers in front of you. Think WHY the answer is the answer; DON’T just copy the mark-scheme. If you don’t understand anything, consult all your materials (including quizzes), and then ask your teacher for some help in a break time or at the end of class.
~ do the SAME exam paper, using just your notes and revision cards but no mark scheme. Mark it using your paper copy and the mark scheme if you still need it. Write out model answers if your actual answer was anything but.
~ thirdly, do your last copy of the same paper, using just your memory. Mark it and write out the model answers. If you don’t feel like you know the paper inside out, repeat whichever step you like.
~ if you did the above using topic question packs, repeat it using the actual mixed up exam papers.
I’m not gonna lie, that is a huge amount of work. The most important final step is: DON’T follow my advice unless you think it would be helpful!! I have friends who only learn things through reading it out loud, recording themselves saying it and listening back – writing does nothing for them, and the above would be a waste of time. Only you know how you learn best, and if you’re not sure there are plenty of time-wasting quizzes on the internet to find out.
(Also, environmentalist caveat, please don’t use more paper than you need. Try printing two pages to a sheet, or double-sided, and recycling anything you don’t need!)
If there’s anything you don’t understand, or if I haven’t explained anything quite right, please get back to me. As I said, I’m not good with this account but I’ll try to get back to you. If anyone has any other tips, feel free to send them in!
I wish you – and everyone who reads this – all the best in your studies :)
Love, Becca
