I am in the verge of failing in the 3rd week of school. I have had 3 quizzes and my overall average is 67.
I'm usign Campbell and Reece's 6th edition of bio and Barron's AP Biology 2007 book.

What are good ways to study? I read textbook and also barron's but I tend to forget and blank out, A LOT. Any tips guys?

thanks

Edit:

Our teachers does 3 chapters per test. Which is INSANELY A LOT to memorize.

OrderlyChaos

United States1115 Posts

September 20 2007 15:19 GMT

Did your teacher give you the companion workbook for the Campbell and Reece? I had that last year, and it was almost to the point where all I had to do was read the workbook and answer some questions for it and I knew the material.

Otherwise, I'd suggest seeing if you know the material by answering the questions at the end of the chapter. Also, there are outlines (I think) before or after each chapter. Those could help too.

Fen

Australia1848 Posts

September 20 2007 15:45 GMT

With most subjects you must be interested to be able to learn effectively. This holds very true in biology. Just reading (if your not intensely interested in the subject matter) is a really bad way of studying. Your not going to take much in unless your forced to work with the material that your studying.

To study just a book, Go through and write out dot points as you go. Summarising every single thing that your learning. By the end youll have a bunch of pages of dot points that contain all the information thats in the book. Because your forced to summarise, your working with the material and itll stick easier. Also, when you come across every new major concept, write a question for yourself. At the end of the chapter go back and try to answer those questions, looking at your dot points if you cant answer them properely. Another thing to do is whenever you see a word that is not part of normal english (Mitochondria for example). Write it on a seperate piece of paper. Go back at the end and give definitions of the words youve written out.

Just different variations of things like this will help you remmber what you need to know. Just remmber that youve gotta work with the material to remmber it. And that reading by itself is one of the worst forms of study.

bburn

United States1039 Posts

September 20 2007 17:56 GMT

use this method http://www.wvup.edu/academics/learning_center/sq4r_reading_method.htm it may seem like more work in the short term but you will actually end up doing less work in the long run

fanatacist

10319 Posts

September 20 2007 18:50 GMT

Fix the way you study. Just reading the book and hoping you get the knowledge is only good for some people. You have to find your own way.

Specialist

United States803 Posts

September 20 2007 19:09 GMT

I use Campbell's book too, and I have gf's old barrons book. I have not really looked at the barrons, but when I'm reading in the Campbells, I tend to skim and pick out the most important parts. It reduces reading time by a lot. That's what works for me, but every one is different. Maybe going over notes or asking the teacher about major concepts that you are not understanding will help too.

intrigue

Washington, D.C9935 Posts

September 20 2007 19:58 GMT

when you read campbells or any boring bio textbook it can really help to just take a highlighter and mark important things

npnl.fRog

Canada2 Posts

September 20 2007 20:37 GMT

I used the campbell about 4 years ago back in ap. If you do all the questions in the cd and workbook, you should be fine. Another good way is to make flash cards to summarize the chapters. We were forced to do this back then, but I'm still doing it now in 4th year biochem.

TheOvermind77

United States923 Posts

September 20 2007 22:43 GMT

If you haven't had a Pre-AP bio course, it will be rough, but still doable.

Most of biology is strict memorization at this level...and AP Bio is jammed with it. DNA replication, transcription, translation, the Calvin cycle, the Krebs cycle...just make flash cards and try to think of tricks to memorize it.

The good news is that most college lvl 200 bio classes are almost identical to AP Bio, so you are really getting ahead by doing this...just try your best to memorize and somehow connect names with images. It isn't easy.

Radical

United States481 Posts

September 20 2007 22:51 GMT

#10

As other people said, use the CD that came with the book, it really does help. But it really depends on the kinds of questions your teacher uses. If he/she is purposely trying to make really hard questions then the CD may not cut it for you.

rpf

United States2705 Posts

September 20 2007 23:10 GMT

#11

To learn effectively, you need to see the same material in different ways. This could include reading, and taking notes on what you're reading. Forcing yourself to take notes on the major points of what you're reading helps to reinforce the material.

I haven't taken AP biology, but from what I gather from the other posts, memorization is important. I'd recommend flashcards. Buy a pack of note cards from a drug store or office supply store, and then write a question or prompt on one side of the card in large, easy to read letters, and then write the answer or response on the other side of the card.

nortorius

Canada1210 Posts

September 20 2007 23:32 GMT

#12

Is AP bio = gr-12 university level bio?

Titusmaster6

United States5937 Posts

September 20 2007 23:50 GMT

#13

I had AP Bio last year and it was with Campbell also but it was the 7th ed. well the class was hell for me although I did get a 5 on the exam. I have to admit that after a month, I was never on par with what we were talking about in class. But what I felt really helped was the CD that came with the book, which your teacher might've not given you. anyway I feel that the teacher has a lot to do with it. Unfortunately, with so many new ideas and terms, there is no easy way around it but just reading it slowly and maybe 2 to 3 times. At least pay attention in class and try to get a friend, preferably a hot girl, to study with you so you stay motivated.

x_woof_x

United States659 Posts

September 21 2007 01:26 GMT

#14

i dont have much to say, except change ur reading habits to what fits you. i dropped out of that class with a D and i read the book like 3 hours a day. haha...

and man... 3 chapters a test. thats insane

il0seonpurpose

Korea (South)5638 Posts

September 21 2007 02:41 GMT

#15

Well thats what being in AP is all about, at my school, theres a quiz everyday on what you read, they go like 5 chatpers a week.

radar14

United States1437 Posts

September 21 2007 03:03 GMT

#16

my bio classes are 3 chapters a day

gg

vstar

Korea (South)693 Posts

September 21 2007 03:26 GMT

#17

3 chapters a day?? What the hell...how long are your classes?

Danzepol

United States211 Posts

September 21 2007 03:27 GMT

#18

Hey I have that book on my desk at this very moment! w00t

I cannot read on my own to study, although highlighting definitely seems to help.

LOcDowN

United States1015 Posts

September 21 2007 04:09 GMT

#19

i'm a pre-dental student and i love biology. i highly recommend that you try to UNDERSTAND the material in which you are reading. you must ask a lot of questions, ask how things connect to one another - you must find the big picture. it is analogous to putting the pieces of puzzles together, for which they are pieces of details in biology. eventually, you will see the details, the pieces of puzzle, all come together to yield a wonderful picture. biology is hardcore memorization, but the understanding comes first.

reading the book is a pain in the ass and not a source to study. that is something you'd do if you had no other options. your professor's lectures are your best source to understand the material, the books give u way too much details sometimes (details that are useless sometimes). good luck with biology, keep in mind it takes a lot of sitting down in order to understand and memorize. if things all connect in the end, and you can see the big pictures, then you'll be more than ready.

Romance_us

Seychelles1806 Posts

September 21 2007 11:45 GMT

#20

If you've had honors biology before or w/e, any standard biology class, it makes AP bio MUCH easier. Personal experience. AP Bio is still a killer though. At my school we have 2 days, each with 4 periods, but AP Bio is EVERY day. The only class like that...

You chose a sucky AP class :D

Daranee

338 Posts

September 21 2007 18:52 GMT

#21

Your book was written by a former professor of mine.

As a biomajor, I think the best way to study bio is to diagram systems and write the relevent chemical processes associated with the systems. For example Glycolysis has 10 steps, diagram what is physically going on in a system while writing the chemical formulas and structures.

Other than that, it is straight memory and practice. Pay attention to what your teacher finds is important and study those HARD. Reading the book is a bit of a bore and I've always managed on lecture notes and diagrams. I think you have to understand what's going on and apply what you've learned to something you can use in life. For example, trans fats are bad for you because of the double bond at the polar end. You can apply this statement to your arteries and say the double bond allows the arteries to become clogged because of their ability to line up and remain solid at room temperature. I skipped a lot of steps to make my point with the fatty acid, but I hope it helps

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