The task of studying for a biology exam may seem impossible but with this plan it is EASY.
- 6th day before the test: Time to breakdown Biology into categories of subject matter such as Fungi, Plant, Lower Animals, etc. Review your notes and circle any things that you don't understand. Look in the book or ask a professor, TA, or another student to get everything clarified. Now you are ready for the countdown.
- Quick note: This plan is for 4 categories, if you have more than 4 categories, you will need to add days onto this plan and start before 6 days prior to the exam allowing yourself 1 day per category, but follow the same pattern.
- 5th day: Study the 1st category of subject matter on your list. Study as if you have the exam tomorrow. Use note cards for names and examples.
- 4th day: Give yourself a quick quiz on the matter you studied last night or test yourself with a friend. Reward yourself if you pass. Now start the 2nd category of material and finish only when you can pass the test on that subject tomorrow.
- 3rd day: Again, quiz yourself or test yourself with a friend on the first 2 categories of material. Study the 3rd category of material.
- 2nd day: Do the test thing again today. If there is a 4th category, learn that today. If not, test yourself on all categories.
- A good thing to do on the 2nd day is get together with a friend for a question-and-answer session. The night before the test may not be a good time to do this because the other person may hinder your progress or not concentrate on what YOU need to know (when you teach biology to a friend you learn a lot).
- Highlight in your notes everything you still do not know or are unsure of.
- Day before the exam: Make a list of all the highlighted information you still don't know. STUDY those and the little details you may have overlooked before. Review the notes one last time. By now you should know everything like the back of your hand. SIT BACK AND RELAX!! YOU ARE PREPARED!! Go to bed early and reward yourself for not having to cram.
TIMING: For each category, it should take about 2-3 hours. That leaves lots of time for other things. Also, days 1 & 2 can be combined if time is a problem.
From: http://www.eop.mu.edu/study/BiologyExam.html
