How best to revise for Biology

Review your notes after each lesson. Make sure that you fully understand each topic by reviewing your notes, consolidate the information by referring to textbooks and online resources and condense the information down as flashcards and revision summaries.

Use your flash cards for key words and definitions as key words score marks in examinations. Check your recall frequently even for five or ten minutes a day as the more times that you revisit a subject even for a short time, the more firmly it will be embedded in your long-term memory.

Use mind maps as an alternative way to summarise course content; a variety of approach helps to maintain focus and reduces boredom and an ability to summarise topics concisely will improve your time management in examinations.

Draw summary diagrams particularly if you are a visual learner.

Use different coloured pens and highlighters in your notes as research has shown that using colour enhances recall.

Revise core practical exercises thoroughly with particular emphasis on critical evaluation of methodology as this frequently comes up in examination questions.

Teach someone else. Pair up with a friend and choose a difficult topic to teach. You cannot achieve this unless you know and understand the topic thoroughly.

Practise applying knowledge to different and unfamiliar scenarios by completing past examination questions. Do not just look at exam questions, commit to writing down an answer as you would in an examination and pay close attention to the mark scheme to make sure that you have included everything required for full marks.

Pay attention to critical analysis of data including application of statistics for higher level marks.

Use mark schemes rigorously as exact wording and use of key terminology is important.

Read examiner reports as these summarise common errors and omissions and some include model answers.

Do not ignore calculations. Make sure you are totally familiar with unit conversions, that you understand simple statistical interpretation and can calculate percentage change as each of these come up regularly in examination questions.

Ask a teacher or tutor to mark longer answer questions as mark schemes for these questions can be quite complex.

Include wider reading to link your knowledge to the real world. You will find relevant articles in the New Scientist for example and useful podcasts produced by the BBC. This will help you to remain engaged and motivated and is important if you aspire to achieving an A* grade.

Make sure that you get enough sleep and eat nutritious meals. Take time to relax between revision sessions.