Best Ways to Study Biology

Introduction:

When people think of biology, the first thing that comes to mind is heavy memorization, whether that be vocabular or cellular processes. Does aerobic cellular respiration, glycolysis, and oxidative phosphorylation ring a bell? After having taken biology IB courses in high school, and planning to pursue a career in this field, I do agree that it can certainly be daunting sometimes. But what I realized last January when I was studying for my Biology 20 final exam, was that when concepts actually clicked in my head, I found topics that would otherwise have been boring for me to be quite interesting. So here are some quick tips!

Flashcards (but make them yourself):

The biggest mistake I made with biology was using passive study techniques. All of junior high, and even during early high school, I would usually get away with merely reading and re-reading my notes over and over again, sometimes even cramming to read that one sentence at the end of the note that somehow might make its way onto the test. And it worked for me. However, when you advance in your biology course, it becomes really hard to memorize info just by reading the textbook or the notes.

My favourite method of active recall is using flashcards, whether that be online ones (eg. Quizlet or Anki), or physical ones. That way, when you actually write (or type) out the terms/definition to make your flashcards, and you revise them periodically, you get double the amount of studying done! Of course, if you’re cramming, you might not have time to make your own flashcards. Some apps, like Quizlet, have software that has AI to create flashcards if you upload your notes. I still suggesting going over these flashcards and editing them yourself so it’s customized for you!

Focus on understanding, not memorization:

I know that this is easier said than done. The reality is, there is no way around the memorization in biology. But unlike common opinion, biology is not about memorizing random vocab, or cramming in the different stages of a biochemical process which you’re probably going to forget in the next few days. Taking IB biology, I’ve come to realize that much of this course is based on data analysis, and using data analysis to make inferences or predictions. Critical thinking is more important than rote memorization.

When I’ve got the time, I like to flip to the end of each chapter in my biology textbook, and do the unit review questions. Even if they’re not assigned by my teachers. Most of these questions are aimed at helping you make connections between the concepts learnt in classes to the real world. That way, you’re giving everyday life context to seemingly meaningless (although I don’t think so) bodily processes.

Who cares about how oxygen is used in our muscles? I know I would if I’m gasping for breath in the middle of a marathon.

Ask Questions:

This is an obvious one, and probably advice your parents or teachers have been giving you since elementary school. And you might not even struggle with so. If that’s the case, give yourself a pat on the back and move on.

But for people like me, it can be difficult approaching teachers, especially new ones, every time we don’t understand something. However, I don’t think there’s an easy way around with this. But most often than not, teachers love it when students ask questions. The reason they chose teaching as a profession is because of their dedication towards education and student well being.

So just take a deep breath, walk up to your teacher’s desk and ask your question. You will thank yourself later when you’re at home studying.

TL;DR:

Biology’s hard, but it can also be quite interesting if you find the best ways to study for it. The tips above can help!