[SPM] Sharings about Biology

[sion]

is biology difficult to study? as i know, we need to use 3-4 hours to study in 1 day. and any hints to study better? and any1 got difficult in using english?

[iQing]

I face the most problem in Biology in my SPM year.
IMO, it is much more troublesome than Physics.
I bought one Biology pelangi and read it for my SPM.
need to split a lot of infos into many lists...
like I have to make a list for all experiments,
another lists for all graphs..
more for definitions,
mathematical formula,
diagram and drawings etc.

what a troublesome subject.

[pandaboy]

But nothing is easy, man.

Biology..I think the best is by drawing mind maps ....and also...mnemonics?

[DecentMerson]

is biology difficult to study? as i know, we need to use 3-4 hours to study in 1 day. and any hints to study better? and any1 got difficult in using english?

just want to know which level of biology are we talking about... if it is SPM...

in my opinion, all the sciences are not that hard... just get a Pelangi, then, past years, then u are good to go...

mind maps are good... like for each chapter, just a simple 1 A4 page mindmap will be good... do the recalling of details in ur mind... and it really helps...

if it is STPM, then it gets much more complicated... and I'm in no place to give comments since i didn't take it.

[kucingbiru]

is biology difficult to study? as i know, we need to use 3-4 hours to study in 1 day. and any hints to study better? and any1 got difficult in using english?

hmm, i donno if it's difficult to study. because i never did. not because i'm too smart to study. i just didn't have the book. not because i'm too poor to buy it, but because it's boring. and i got C7 for my bio. :P

[vseehua]

for anything we study, including all the science subjects, we need to access our attitudes...are we study to learn or study for exam...when we study for exam, the atttitude is not right d, hence, we won't get the desired results...

but if we study to learn, in my humble opinion, we can remember it till anytime the concepts and even some of the minor details...

i have never encountered any major difficulties studying bio, cz i put my interest into it...it's really interesting to know how our body and the whole of nature in general works..and facilitates our own understanding of life...if we really look at bio this way, even if the huge number of terms will not be much of a problem for ya....

hmm, btw, organizing info the visual way will help out a lot in your quest, like mind maps or thing like that...and understanding what every word in each of the terms will help out too...for example, the work felinis in scientific terms of the cat family means cats in latin:)..

hope that helps :D

[day_dreamer]

i do agree with vseehua..
interest is another important factor...
and if interest turn into craze, i do recommend you to go to your library
and look around for the encyclopedia, i helps you understand better,
since the authors are mostly professors. :wink:

[iQing]

i do agree with vseehua..
interest is another important factor...
and if interest turn into craze, i do recommend you to go to your library
and look around for the encyclopedia, i helps you understand better,
since the authors are mostly professors. :wink:

download encyclopedia britannica

[taufiq]

it is difficult for me..
i used to go see my teacher a lot to ask question and go over things that i don't understand..
well that helps a lot
for people who are really interested in the biology stuff
i think it's easier for them..
personal interest does help..

[vseehua]

asking the teacher does help out mos tof the times....but i'm quite a diy person, so i'll go find out the answers myself..helped a lot in terms of understanding..only when i'm exhausted of options will i go ask my teacher:p...

[jaX]

i absolutely LOVE bio, so i see no difficulty in studying for it. hehe.

bio is an extremely sleep-inducing subject, even for a bio-lover like me. but that's because bio text books and reference books are very wordy. so...

1. summarise points on post-its.

i love post-its even more than i love bio, so i buy tonnes of post-its and write only the main points from each page of my text book/reference book/lecture notes on the post-its, stick the post-it on the page i summarised, and study only whatever is on the post-it. if i need extra details, only then do i refer to the actual text.

*do the same for sejarah spm. post-its do wonders!

2. draw flow charts.

most of the difficult bits in bio involve lots of different things which are connected to each other by hormones, nerves, whatever. i'm hopeless at memorising things. so i draw lots of charts, connecting each process to another with arrows. you can even develop a colour scheme. i find using colours is a good way of helping you memorise stuff. don't be stingy with the coloured pens and the highlighters.

*do the same for chemistry, esp organic chemistry. it's the same thing. everything is connected.

3. don't even TRY studying bio for more than 1 hr in one go.

actually, don't try studying anything for more than 1 hr in one go. it's far more condusive to take a break every 45mins and resume 15mins later. it's a study method recommended in lots of study guides and i find it works especially well when it comes to bio because there is alot of information to be digested. give yourself a break. i find i remember things much easier after munching on a cookie or reading a newspaper in between topics.

in the end, bio isn't all about memorising. if you memorise without understanding, you'll have a very tough time with bio. so make your teachers your FIRST resort and not your last. be sure to understand concepts and processes first before attempting to memorise them.

once you understand what's going on with the translocation or the homeostasis, you'll have less difficulty remembering what is involved. and you'll also find that alot of processes are very very similar and involve the same things.

bio isn't hard at all! good luck!

[byzhanii_bogn]

agreed, biology isn't hard at all, all u need is ur INTEREST. it comes first in everything.

sometimes, if the teacher suxx, u find it suxx too. but still, ur interest should not be affected. u should love it to score in it... so LOVE it.

biology is not hard! it's pretty easy

[vseehua]

if you find that your teacher 's not good, then do your own research go to the library or use the net to get answers to whatever questions that you don't understand..then there's an old but popular way of forming study groups..even if you guys end up chatting, you'l still find that you understand more if you did talk about bio topics :)

[kevinkhoo1986]

actually, don't try studying anything for more than 1 hr in one go. it's far more condusive to take a break every 45mins and resume 15mins later. it's a study method recommended in lots of study guides and i find it works especially well when it comes to bio because there is alot of information to be digested. give yourself a break. i find i remember things much easier after munching on a cookie or reading a newspaper in between topics.



bio isn't hard at all! good luck!

Yupe... i agree with that. If i study for more than an hour, i will lost my concentration. Usually i will study for an hour and then rest for half an hour. I will take a short nap during that time.

[awesomeming]

How do you guys actually recall facts that you've studied since you have other subjects to memorise. My problem is that I may study every subject that requires memorising consistently, but I may not recall every single detail when the exam approaches. I always need to memorise it again one day before the exam. Anyone can help me with that? By the way, my teachers always tell us that our textbook is insufficient for our exam and we should refer to other reference books for more details. The thing is some reference books especially fajar bakti provide too many details that are not relevant to our syllabus. How are we suppose to study and discern which details that should be taken note of? Thanks

[juventus]

How do you guys actually recall facts that you've studied since you have other subjects to memorise. My problem is that I may study every subject that requires memorising consistently, but I may not recall every single detail when the exam approaches. I always need to memorise it again one day before the exam. Anyone can help me with that? By the way, my teachers always tell us that our textbook is insufficient for our exam and we should refer to other reference books for more details. The thing is some reference books especially fajar bakti provide too many details that are not relevant to our syllabus. How are we suppose to study and discern which details that should be taken note of? Thanks

Well, for me, the best way to know what are the things to note for is doing lots and lots of exercises. Read answers to subjective questions, do more objective questions.

Just reading a buku rujukan for ages ain't gona get you anywhere. And it's boring! So, it's best you read (glance thru i mean), then do the exercises. Then if you come upon questions you can't answer, look thru the buku rujukan. This way, u learn faster and it's not so boring.

Or you can enlist help from a friend who just passed his/her Form 5. Make sure he/she is an A student. That way, he/she can pinpoint to you about the important facts in each chapter.

That's what I'm doing to a friend. I teach him once a week. I can finish a chapter in a week or two. But the most important is your own effort. Don't just depend on others. It's you and only you.

[awesomeming]

Wow! That's very good of you! You friend is lucky to have you around!

[ohmygod]

How do you guys actually recall facts that you've studied since you have other subjects to memorise. My problem is that I may study every subject that requires memorising consistently, but I may not recall every single detail when the exam approaches. I always need to memorise it again one day before the exam. Anyone can help me with that? By the way, my teachers always tell us that our textbook is insufficient for our exam and we should refer to other reference books for more details. The thing is some reference books especially fajar bakti provide too many details that are not relevant to our syllabus. How are we suppose to study and discern which details that should be taken note of? Thanks

I think, understanding the facts is important. You don't have to recall every single detail, but you do have to recall every single main point.

hey...I think fajara bakti is good for preparing biology...some details may not relevant, but its standard a little bit higher. If you have no problem doing fajar bakti, there should be no problem for you to take SPM. But i din really do the exercises, I just highlighted the answer at the back for subjective part(I hate bio!!!)

For physics and chemistry, I think pelangi is good enough. And these two subjects are for you to understand. You don't have to memorise a lot.

*I'm talking about SPM, I have no place to talk about STPM since I don't have experience on it!!!

Well, if you do(see) enough exercise, you would notice that certain kinds of questions are very likely to come out. Then you would be able to know which one you should take note.

But well...interest is important...Try to love your books before the exam!!!

[leng_cyl]

as other said, interest is the most important. So, to learn biology better, one must be interested in it.
If you ask me, physics and biology, which is harder to study, I will say it's physics! haha.. :lol:
It's because I don't have interest in it, I prefer biology.
For STPM, it's really hard, there are many many things to study if compared to SPM.

I don't really rely on teacher, during classes, his voice is hypnotic, I did try to listen as much as possible, or if I am really very sleepy, I prefer to study the book on my own, while he's talking in front 8)
but of course, teacher plays quite an important role to introduce a chapter to us.
for form 6, I bought Longman & Fajar Bakti as main books to study, and an additional one as reference (campbell is not bad, but I bought the another one as I didn't know that time..)
[either SPM or STPM, Fajar Bakti provides more information, extra's... ]
Longman is compact (and we use it as main one) but sometimes hard to understand especially for the first time, so we must refer to other books for extra informations and to understand better.
Like other said, it's a must to understand first before you memorize it! Many people think biology doesn't need understanding and just memorize it blindly, that's why it is hard.
After understanding and making connections to other topics too, and make some imaginations, you could remember better.
That's my opinion~

[James_Padfoot]

i love post-its even more than i love bio,
*do the same for sejarah spm. post-its do wonders!


*grins* Brilliant advice! *scurries off* Thank you everyone!!!

[crapzzz]

as other said, interest is the most important. So, to learn biology better, one must be interested in it.
If you ask me, physics and biology, which is harder to study, I will say it's physics! haha.. :lol:
It's because I don't have interest in it, I prefer biology.
For STPM, it's really hard, there are many many things to study if compared to SPM.

I don't really rely on teacher, during classes, his voice is hypnotic, I did try to listen as much as possible, or if I am really very sleepy, I prefer to study the book on my own, while he's talking in front 8)
but of course, teacher plays quite an important role to introduce a chapter to us.
for form 6, I bought Longman & Fajar Bakti as main books to study, and an additional one as reference (campbell is not bad, but I bought the another one as I didn't know that time..)
[either SPM or STPM, Fajar Bakti provides more information, extra's... ]
Longman is compact (and we use it as main one) but sometimes hard to understand especially for the first time, so we must refer to other books for extra informations and to understand better.
Like other said, it's a must to understand first before you memorize it! Many people think biology doesn't need understanding and just memorize it blindly, that's why it is hard.
After understanding and making connections to other topics too, and make some imaginations, you could remember better.
That's my opinion~

Hey!! Physics rox!!! while bio sux!!!!! :x

[leng_cyl]

as other said, interest is the most important. So, to learn biology better, one must be interested in it.
If you ask me, physics and biology, which is harder to study, I will say it's physics! haha.. :lol:
It's because I don't have interest in it, I prefer biology.
For STPM, it's really hard, there are many many things to study if compared to SPM.

I don't really rely on teacher, during classes, his voice is hypnotic, I did try to listen as much as possible, or if I am really very sleepy, I prefer to study the book on my own, while he's talking in front 8)
but of course, teacher plays quite an important role to introduce a chapter to us.
for form 6, I bought Longman & Fajar Bakti as main books to study, and an additional one as reference (campbell is not bad, but I bought the another one as I didn't know that time..)
[either SPM or STPM, Fajar Bakti provides more information, extra's... ]
Longman is compact (and we use it as main one) but sometimes hard to understand especially for the first time, so we must refer to other books for extra informations and to understand better.
Like other said, it's a must to understand first before you memorize it! Many people think biology doesn't need understanding and just memorize it blindly, that's why it is hard.
After understanding and making connections to other topics too, and make some imaginations, you could remember better.
That's my opinion~

Hey!! Physics rox!!! while bio sux!!!!! :x

ok, well, do u mean all doctors sux? do u mean only engineers rox? hmm...

[syahrul]

i do agree with vseehua..
interest is another important factor...
and if interest turn into craze, i do recommend you to go to your library
and look around for the encyclopedia, i helps you understand better,
since the authors are mostly professors. :wink:

well, i do intersted on this subject... but sometimes, there's too many things that i should memorise, even in one page only.. 8O. plus my techer sometimes sound like jamie oliver *very2 british*, and i can't understand what she's talking about!!! :? that's annoying...

[yeithau]

when i was a form four student, my 1st impression for this biology subject is a bad impression,

but it change when my teacher tell me the method to tackle the problem.

the 1st thing is we must have a good impression to the subject. for example, don't set in your mind that biology is a very hard subject to score A. and some people say that we have to read Biology text book at least 2 to 3 hours a day...... that is a wrong method.... we cannot force ourself to do something that we think is difficult since that we are just wanna study......

Read biology when u have mood to do it..... when u r reading the book, try to understand the process of biology....

actually biology is all about process of life..... once u can understand the process , biology is just like A B C......

[Sillyboy]

Aiyah, just memorize and do lots of percubaan papers from other states. Memorize answers from reference books. i can only say memorize because that is what the current syllabus want us to do.

[Remnant]

Yeah, studying biology 3 hours a day doesn't guarantee that you'll do well. Sheer memory doesn't work wonders for STPM biology. If it works, you'd sure be stuffing yourself with books all day long.

The best is to open the book whenever you feel like it. If your brain is jammed on that very day, skip studying.. go out, relax, play some games or something. hehe

Here's how i studied for last year's STPM. but first, don't tell yourself that "STPM Biology is tough..." give yourself some hope.. if your will is broken, you're an easy target for the enemy.. ;)

Understand the process first. Then try to get the logic behind it (i.e. the starch sugar hypothesis, how the guardcell bend? why does it bend? when does it happen?)

Then to help you remember, find some certain links..
Like for the Kreb's cycle, water comes in at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions.
Succinate becomes Fumarate thanks to FAD.. (Note the letter F)

If there aren't any common links. Try using mnemonics...
i.e part of the Kreb's cycle
'6pm Susy Fu mali ok'
for Succinate, Fumarate, Malate and Oxaloacetate which starts from roughly 6 o' clock of the cycle..

When all of the above isn't applicable... then.. memory work kicks in!!! hehe

And also, try to read up those past year essay answers, so you'd get a picture on how to answer them well. They're good reference notes too!

Hope that helps :)

[sunshine88]

Just bump into this thread...

Who says biology needs 3-4 hours to study..?go and knock that person's head..!hehe...

If u ask me..reading biology books is like reading a story book to me..Understanding is the key importance to master biology.Get rid of the 'study-for-exam mentality'...and cultivate interest..I find this hard when i was doing form 4 and form 5.Bio is next to sejarah at that time for me..Boring!..The teacher i had was so like...'duh'...what to say..?She only know to read direactly from a textbook..My curious questions went unanswered..and that makes bio a totally crap subject to me..eventhough i realise deep in my heart..that subject is interesting to learn..
When i was in form 6,my interest for biology skyrocketted! Seriously!..i should thank my bio teacher for this..She herself has a passion for bio..and that is a fact i realised when i listen to her lectures.When i go to her place in the staff room..i can see thick books of biological science..biochemistry..and all sorts of bio books neatly arranged on her desk.
And it is that interest which drives me to learn more..I've always make sure that i renew my borrowing period for the Biological Science latest edition..haha..I couldnt resist that book.For me, the teacher is the one who made all the difference at how i look biology.

Like somebody who has stated before, don't just cling on those local published books...If u have interest,then the next thing u'll be thinking is 'i should find that campbell and thomson'....^^PAnd not only that...u would link the knowledge of biology with the environment u r leaving in......There's a reason..A bio student's mentality greatly differs from that of layman's.Not say a difference of intelligence...but the difference in how both parties look at stuffs.
Not many people prefer bio...cuz they don't actually find that correct kick-start...I'm sure if they do find one,they'll be a fan of biology in a jiffy...I'm a true fan of bio..I even bring that thick biological scince book to school even if i dont have bio periods at that day..That's how much i'm keen of bio.

What my teacher used to say is that biology students need to be hardworking and memorise a lot..and while she said that, she also claimed that if students understand,then it's half-way memorised..That's really true.Of course u need to do practices to learn how to answer the essay questions.Essay questions can be tricky and blur..and students often lose marks for this section.And that what makes biology not a scoring subject unlike physics.

What we are doing now is answering worksheets while we are learning a topic and then sit for a short test at the end of the topic.2 relevant essay questions, base on past year papers and students choose one.The other question should be made as homework.And before my teacher starts to give another test on another topic,she would comment on the test done previously.It is always impossible to identify the weaknesses unless u ask...I ask from my teacher even if i got the full mark...I still remember that i got 19/15 for the translation and transcription essay..and i asked my teacher in what way i can improve my essay.She told me that my essay lacks organisation..and so for the next test, i made sure my essay is well-organised.

there's no point if u drag yourself to like something...Interest plays a very important role.

The next thing my teacher told me is to follow our own study technique.My teacher used to provide her notes to us to refer everytime she make power-point presentation base on those notes...but it proves no good..Students not only get lazier but the grades weren't of any improvement.So, she stopped giving us notes...cuz personnaly she feels that every students has his/her studying techniques...What she finds is easy,might be baffling to others...
So as for me..i just jot down any extra notes..I don't do my own notes or anything...but in terms of comparisons i chart out my own comparison tables..to remember better.U don't have to memorise words by words..First u should understand..and next remembering important key words..is enough for those with poor memories..haha...There are people with photographic memory...they can write out an essay base on the pictures they remember..while some people can remember words...So, it depends on the individuals..on which method is easy-made for them.
Topics like biodiversity...It involves lots of kingdom..and under that kingdom there are lots of phylunms..and under phylums is classes.Different characteristics for different kingdoms,pjylums,classes,etc.For this u've got to be smart..U can classify the chracteristics into a comparison table..Maybe u can separate out comparison table for kingdom,phylum and classes each...This is just an example.U have to ask yourself which is better for u to remember.
Don't read blindly what have been printed on books...U should also pay attention to why it happens..What reasons that make it logically happens...That improves your understanding, u know.

If u are rajin enough try searching online for animation of biological processes...Just insert the key word..say 'Calvin Cycle,animation'..andu'll have a row of links.Those animation helps u to understand the sequence of the processes and those animations alsways comes with the explanation either in the form of text or words of narrator.depends on which u prefer.
For the nglish part...there's nothing bombardstick words u r going to encounter...Just scientific words...I studied science n math subject in malay till form 5...It was a culture chock when i was in lower 6...Bukan apa...Just that is goes against the grain for me..But u get common with it within weeks.

Plain memorising will further demotivate u...This is the only time u would study a subject which u might not study again in university..Why not make best out of if...rather than treating it as a subject for examination..?

In a nutshell,biology aint difficult to study unless u purely study for the sake of exam..The same goes for other subjects.

[dreAmer1388]

Well, I wud say that PASSION really works. BIO is my LIFE, I really love Bio, so i will have the momentum for me to understand and excel in this subject.

I must emphasize that MEMORIZING BIOLOGY will NOT, I repeat, WILL NOT work. Maybe by memorizing the facts they will stick in ya head for just a day (or maybe lesser), you will never remember it after a week or a month. If u are memorizing Biology for SPM, I bet right after SPM u have a hard time recalling the facts of Biology. So, BEST way to excel in BIO is to UNDERSTAND the concept of Biology. Tat'll work well!!!

Take example like the Glycolysis or Kreb's Cycle in the Energetics chapter. U might really struggle if u were to make yourself memorize all the names of the molecules, enzymes for every step, the type of the reaction and the products for every reaction. But, if u really understand what is actually going on in the Kreb Cycle and Glycolysis, U can c tat the names of molecules, enzymes and name of reaction are interrelated, and to understand the whole process will be a breeze!

Do mind maps, draw charts & tables... and check out some animations from the webpages (especially from the Universities) to aid ya understanding and to make ya study more interesting! Well, we live in 21st century, so make good use of d Internet and start searching materials that will help u in understanding Biology!

Most important, u must have ya own initiative and will to improve ya understanding in Biology.

All da best everyone! :D

[4seasonspring]

Just bump into this thread...

Who says biology needs 3-4 hours to study..?go and knock that person's head..!hehe...

If u ask me..reading biology books is like reading a story book to me..Understanding is the key importance to master biology.Get rid of the 'study-for-exam mentality'...and cultivate interest..I find this hard when i was doing form 4 and form 5.Bio is next to sejarah at that time for me..Boring!..The teacher i had was so like...'duh'...what to say..?She only know to read direactly from a textbook..My curious questions went unanswered..and that makes bio a totally crap subject to me..eventhough i realise deep in my heart..that subject is interesting to learn..
When i was in form 6,my interest for biology skyrocketted! Seriously!..i should thank my bio teacher for this..She herself has a passion for bio..and that is a fact i realised when i listen to her lectures.When i go to her place in the staff room..i can see thick books of biological science..biochemistry..and all sorts of bio books neatly arranged on her desk.
And it is that interest which drives me to learn more..I've always make sure that i renew my borrowing period for the Biological Science latest edition..haha..I couldnt resist that book.For me, the teacher is the one who made all the difference at how i look biology.

Like somebody who has stated before, don't just cling on those local published books...If u have interest,then the next thing u'll be thinking is 'i should find that campbell and thomson'....^^PAnd not only that...u would link the knowledge of biology with the environment u r leaving in......There's a reason..A bio student's mentality greatly differs from that of layman's.Not say a difference of intelligence...but the difference in how both parties look at stuffs.
Not many people prefer bio...cuz they don't actually find that correct kick-start...I'm sure if they do find one,they'll be a fan of biology in a jiffy...I'm a true fan of bio..I even bring that thick biological scince book to school even if i dont have bio periods at that day..That's how much i'm keen of bio.

What my teacher used to say is that biology students need to be hardworking and memorise a lot..and while she said that, she also claimed that if students understand,then it's half-way memorised..That's really true.Of course u need to do practices to learn how to answer the essay questions.Essay questions can be tricky and blur..and students often lose marks for this section.And that what makes biology not a scoring subject unlike physics.

What we are doing now is answering worksheets while we are learning a topic and then sit for a short test at the end of the topic.2 relevant essay questions, base on past year papers and students choose one.The other question should be made as homework.And before my teacher starts to give another test on another topic,she would comment on the test done previously.It is always impossible to identify the weaknesses unless u ask...I ask from my teacher even if i got the full mark...I still remember that i got 19/15 for the translation and transcription essay..and i asked my teacher in what way i can improve my essay.She told me that my essay lacks organisation..and so for the next test, i made sure my essay is well-organised.

there's no point if u drag yourself to like something...Interest plays a very important role.

The next thing my teacher told me is to follow our own study technique.My teacher used to provide her notes to us to refer everytime she make power-point presentation base on those notes...but it proves no good..Students not only get lazier but the grades weren't of any improvement.So, she stopped giving us notes...cuz personnaly she feels that every students has his/her studying techniques...What she finds is easy,might be baffling to others...
So as for me..i just jot down any extra notes..I don't do my own notes or anything...but in terms of comparisons i chart out my own comparison tables..to remember better.U don't have to memorise words by words..First u should understand..and next remembering important key words..is enough for those with poor memories..haha...There are people with photographic memory...they can write out an essay base on the pictures they remember..while some people can remember words...So, it depends on the individuals..on which method is easy-made for them.
Topics like biodiversity...It involves lots of kingdom..and under that kingdom there are lots of phylunms..and under phylums is classes.Different characteristics for different kingdoms,pjylums,classes,etc.For this u've got to be smart..U can classify the chracteristics into a comparison table..Maybe u can separate out comparison table for kingdom,phylum and classes each...This is just an example.U have to ask yourself which is better for u to remember.
Don't read blindly what have been printed on books...U should also pay attention to why it happens..What reasons that make it logically happens...That improves your understanding, u know.

If u are rajin enough try searching online for animation of biological processes...Just insert the key word..say 'Calvin Cycle,animation'..andu'll have a row of links.Those animation helps u to understand the sequence of the processes and those animations alsways comes with the explanation either in the form of text or words of narrator.depends on which u prefer.
For the nglish part...there's nothing bombardstick words u r going to encounter...Just scientific words...I studied science n math subject in malay till form 5...It was a culture chock when i was in lower 6...Bukan apa...Just that is goes against the grain for me..But u get common with it within weeks.

Plain memorising will further demotivate u...This is the only time u would study a subject which u might not study again in university..Why not make best out of if...rather than treating it as a subject for examination..?

In a nutshell,biology aint difficult to study unless u purely study for the sake of exam..The same goes for other subjects.

Great sharing. :wink:

Well.....For me, other than my own interest towards bio(tat's why I pick up Bio for STPM),teacher plays an important role as well......I hv a great Biology teacher here....too bad he's going to retire very soon.... :cry:

[crosshair]

My first post here..so hello..yeah, about Bio; you'll love it.. just use your imagination while studying, n u'll convince urself it not boring, n it becomes almost fun..Pay attntion in class of course n colour ur notes.. n bfore ur SPM exam make sure u cover absolutely everything, or you'll find urself cursimg 'oh, sh*t.' at the qstns..

its nvr difficult if u enjoy it, make sure you enjoy it. 2 test urself gut a dead fish n see if u like it. 8O

[lc_lian]

actually i never really like bio be4 entering form 4...coz i heard tat it needs a lot of memorising and it's boring!!
however, after my first exam, i began to LOVE bio... coz i scored one of the top in the whole form...heee....
actually i am a really really, extremely lazy person...sleep in every single bio, physics, sej and bm class..hee...
but i think the teacher is very important...althought i din listen..but they will help u understand better and easier...really..
as for me, i never really study until the exam comes, so sometimes it may be a hard time for me
interest is an important factor.. do not force urself to memorise all the facts...no use de... must understand all the concepts...
i think fajar bakti is a very good reference book.... at least betta than pelangi ( for me at least )... more informations and more details... no harm reading extra info mah..heee....

[lawteoh]

Just bump into this thread...

Who says biology needs 3-4 hours to study..?go and knock that person's head..!hehe...

If u ask me..reading biology books is like reading a story book to me..Understanding is the key importance to master biology.Get rid of the 'study-for-exam mentality'...and cultivate interest..I find this hard when i was doing form 4 and form 5.Bio is next to sejarah at that time for me..Boring!..The teacher i had was so like...'duh'...what to say..?She only know to read direactly from a textbook..My curious questions went unanswered..and that makes bio a totally crap subject to me..eventhough i realise deep in my heart..that subject is interesting to learn..
When i was in form 6,my interest for biology skyrocketted! Seriously!..i should thank my bio teacher for this..She herself has a passion for bio..and that is a fact i realised when i listen to her lectures.When i go to her place in the staff room..i can see thick books of biological science..biochemistry..and all sorts of bio books neatly arranged on her desk.
And it is that interest which drives me to learn more..I've always make sure that i renew my borrowing period for the Biological Science latest edition..haha..I couldnt resist that book.For me, the teacher is the one who made all the difference at how i look biology.

Like somebody who has stated before, don't just cling on those local published books...If u have interest,then the next thing u'll be thinking is 'i should find that campbell and thomson'....^^PAnd not only that...u would link the knowledge of biology with the environment u r leaving in......There's a reason..A bio student's mentality greatly differs from that of layman's.Not say a difference of intelligence...but the difference in how both parties look at stuffs.
Not many people prefer bio...cuz they don't actually find that correct kick-start...I'm sure if they do find one,they'll be a fan of biology in a jiffy...I'm a true fan of bio..I even bring that thick biological scince book to school even if i dont have bio periods at that day..That's how much i'm keen of bio.

What my teacher used to say is that biology students need to be hardworking and memorise a lot..and while she said that, she also claimed that if students understand,then it's half-way memorised..That's really true.Of course u need to do practices to learn how to answer the essay questions.Essay questions can be tricky and blur..and students often lose marks for this section.And that what makes biology not a scoring subject unlike physics.

What we are doing now is answering worksheets while we are learning a topic and then sit for a short test at the end of the topic.2 relevant essay questions, base on past year papers and students choose one.The other question should be made as homework.And before my teacher starts to give another test on another topic,she would comment on the test done previously.It is always impossible to identify the weaknesses unless u ask...I ask from my teacher even if i got the full mark...I still remember that i got 19/15 for the translation and transcription essay..and i asked my teacher in what way i can improve my essay.She told me that my essay lacks organisation..and so for the next test, i made sure my essay is well-organised.

there's no point if u drag yourself to like something...Interest plays a very important role.

The next thing my teacher told me is to follow our own study technique.My teacher used to provide her notes to us to refer everytime she make power-point presentation base on those notes...but it proves no good..Students not only get lazier but the grades weren't of any improvement.So, she stopped giving us notes...cuz personnaly she feels that every students has his/her studying techniques...What she finds is easy,might be baffling to others...
So as for me..i just jot down any extra notes..I don't do my own notes or anything...but in terms of comparisons i chart out my own comparison tables..to remember better.U don't have to memorise words by words..First u should understand..and next remembering important key words..is enough for those with poor memories..haha...There are people with photographic memory...they can write out an essay base on the pictures they remember..while some people can remember words...So, it depends on the individuals..on which method is easy-made for them.
Topics like biodiversity...It involves lots of kingdom..and under that kingdom there are lots of phylunms..and under phylums is classes.Different characteristics for different kingdoms,pjylums,classes,etc.For this u've got to be smart..U can classify the chracteristics into a comparison table..Maybe u can separate out comparison table for kingdom,phylum and classes each...This is just an example.U have to ask yourself which is better for u to remember.
Don't read blindly what have been printed on books...U should also pay attention to why it happens..What reasons that make it logically happens...That improves your understanding, u know.

If u are rajin enough try searching online for animation of biological processes...Just insert the key word..say 'Calvin Cycle,animation'..andu'll have a row of links.Those animation helps u to understand the sequence of the processes and those animations alsways comes with the explanation either in the form of text or words of narrator.depends on which u prefer.
For the nglish part...there's nothing bombardstick words u r going to encounter...Just scientific words...I studied science n math subject in malay till form 5...It was a culture chock when i was in lower 6...Bukan apa...Just that is goes against the grain for me..But u get common with it within weeks.

Plain memorising will further demotivate u...This is the only time u would study a subject which u might not study again in university..Why not make best out of if...rather than treating it as a subject for examination..?

In a nutshell,biology aint difficult to study unless u purely study for the sake of exam..The same goes for other subjects.

VERY long post.. but definitely worth reading it.. well, I'm still trying to get used to the scientific terms used in English.. Personally, after years of studying in Malay and getting use to their terms, its not really that easy when u start learning that in English... haih..

Btw, abt physics and bio... it depends on individuals la.. dun just simply criticize the other subject by saying it sucks.. both hv its own pro and con also..

[day_dreamer]

I used to spend only 15 minutes a day studying biology back when i'm in my SPM years..

A1 ? No problem la ... :lol:

[capablanca]

Huhu, self praising (cough). But bio is quite simple also if you have a good brain with good memory.

[lawteoh]

I used to spend only 15 minutes a day studying biology back when i'm in my SPM years..

A1 ? No problem la ... :lol:

WAH!!! ur memory muz be pretty good.. try doing this in STPM and see.. lol..

[day_dreamer]

I used to spend only 15 minutes a day studying biology back when i'm in my SPM years..

A1 ? No problem la ... :lol:

WAH!!! ur memory muz be pretty good.. try doing this in STPM and see.. lol..

Do = Suicide .. :lol:

In STPM , it's a different arena .. Which means .. The game must be played the different way ..

And don't forget , most of your opponents are Soya Beans .. No more Belgian Chocolates.. :D

Expect the cutting point for marks to be higher !

[sNaiL0810]

as for me..its really hard to study!!!!
so many verb and definition to memorize...arkksss

[capablanca]

Then, don't memorize them. Understand what they refer to and it will eventually come to you. Bio do not care much about your grammar right?

[CherylSakura]

To me, Bio is also quite easy la, at my school when exam is near, i always open the book in two days also can study it. I always get about A2. If i study serious in it, it will easily get A1. As my opinion, u just need to understand it and try to explain it in the paper whenever the Question wants u to explain. The most easy part is the Essay , always get full marks :o I like it hehe! However, the design experiment is a bit hard if u dun always study practical books. If u still have pro in bio now, i convice u start to study bio now or else there will no help in the SPM when it coming nearer. :roll:

[lawteoh]

To me, Bio is also quite easy la, at my school when exam is near, i always open the book in two days also can study it. I always get about A2. If i study serious in it, it will easily get A1. As my opinion, u just need to understand it and try to explain it in the paper whenever the Question wants u to explain. The most easy part is the Essay , always get full marks :o I like it hehe! However, the design experiment is a bit hard if u dun always study practical books. If u still have pro in bio now, i convice u start to study bio now or else there will no help in the SPM when it coming nearer. :roll:

You are in SPM now ah? Well, what do you think about the subjective questions for the SPM paper last year?

Essay, u always get full marks? wow! Wondering how u did that... Even the smartest fellow in my class is weak in essay.. don't know u la.. lol..

[capablanca]

Just blast them with facts for the essay. Usually the mark scheme has some fixed keywords for an appropriate answer. Don't worry about it. You can gain more marks than is allocate in the question because there are more facts that you could write about even when you fulfil your question requirements.

[lawteoh]

Just blast them with facts for the essay. Usually the mark scheme has some fixed keywords for an appropriate answer. Don't worry about it. You can gain more marks than is allocate in the question because there are more facts that you could write about even when you fulfil your question requirements.

Owh.. I could still remember how strict my teacher is.. SHE totally follows the answer scheme. Just one slightly wrong term and the sentence would not be accepted.... OR just a little bit of wrong fact, u can say goodbye to that mark... sigh..

[siawase_tenshi]

For stpm, its better to refer to additional notes from cambridge or campbell. . These are more detailed and certainly need lots of reading but they can help you to understand better. Once you've got the fundamentals correct, the rest aren't difficult. Bio is not just plain memorising, understanding is more important because it helps in just about anything, especially the essay part.

[lawteoh]

Oo.. But don't tell me u could understand the 'biodiversity' chapter? That one ah..... I don't think anybody would know everything.. all those names and characteristics.. fuh..

[jayden]

Biodiversity is linked to the reproduction chapter. If you can handle the stuff in reproduction you should be able to understand biodiversity better.

But in my opinion, not everything in biodiversity needs to be memorized and paid full attention to. Focus on the more main stuff

[lawteoh]

Erm.. but the teacher teach that first.. that's why..

Hmm.. but if the brain could visualize the pictures, then it wouldn't be a problem in writing it out again..

Btw, is taxonomy an important chapter? I dun think the kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species name need to be memorized right?

[jayden]

Taxonomy mostly only appears in paper 1. If you don't know, just tembak

[GuoSheng]

if you really look into the spm biology past essay questions, usually you will get all sorts of ambiguous and they-say-it-all kind of essays. For example essay such as importance of ecosystem, where I think all of us can bullshit so much out of it. But then again, all these questions are derived from the textbook. Most might only use the oxford fajar reference, which is an obvious modified duplicate of the text book. But then the reference, emphasizes more on facts and experiments, and excluded some inane parts. And sadly, i got to know the essay for spm is usually from those shit. So make use of your textbook as well. Read those stupid parts that you think are unimportant especially at the end of every chapter. Perhaps that is what intended, since ambiguous questions usually have a wide scheme which favours weaker students, but obviously hard to score.
________
Mexicocity hotel (http://mexicocityhotel.info)

[AnnDeBlurry]

Erm.. but the teacher teach that first.. that's why..

Hmm.. but if the brain could visualize the pictures, then it wouldn't be a problem in writing it out again..

Btw, is taxonomy an important chapter? I dun think the kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species name need to be memorized right?

My teacher taught me a good and easy way to remember the sequence

SENTENCE = Kementerian Pendidikan Chairman Orders Five Goat Steaks

haha!! wouldn't it be easier ?? U just gotta remember this sentence....and the first word of each word is the first word of the classification order:)

[spongebob]

bio is all bout life, sumthng reallly close to us. d more u xplore d more intrigued u'll be..

[mikeshahsimi]

bio is easy man...... you just have to love it.

[blasturanus]

bio is easy man...... you just have to love it.


well.. wouldn't that be the hardest part of all..!
loving a subject you hated since the first day you were taught of it?
so many facts, facts and facts!!eww~~ im more of a physics person..:)peace

[lawteoh]

Biology is interesting so far.. lol.. Find myself loving it now.. Except the biodiversity chapter.. urgh..

[starlemon]

Bio is very very interesting
Just u nid to inculcate a feeling of love by then..
Dont hate biology! Biology is the study of urselr, ur environment,and our EARTH!

[vseehua]

well.. wouldn't that be the hardest part of all..!
loving a subject you hated since the first day you were taught of it?
so many facts, facts and facts!!eww~~ im more of a physics person..:)peace
There are lots of facts facts and facts in physics as well, actually even more diverse than that of biology. Anyway, i am a physics person as well, but i still like biology...

[nobody]

Biology is interesting! It's about life! You and everyone of us!

Fajar Bakti Oxford is a good reference book! I used it instead of the text book.

You are required to spend some time to understand it instead of memorizing and the facts will just "pop up" in your mind whenever you need it! It helps for EST and english essays ;p

And...authors like to use scientific words in biology...so...don't mind checking on dictionary for their meaning to help you further comprehending it. There are some scientific verbs you can substitute with normal verbs for you to understand before getting into the "scientific" world.

If you can find a word in normal dictionary, try in medical dictionary or http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/

And, Biology...do some "visualisation" and it helps, try to make it fun instead of memorizing word by word will help you absorb the text faster.

Mind-mapping does help some of them, provided you know what to put in and take only the main points, copying the whole bunch of notes won't help...er...not exactly, it helps in memorising...strengthen your memory.

Just as other subjects, biology requires a lotta repititive efforts to master it.

And...one more hint! Biology teacher will have a few discs with animated "biology thingy" distributed by the government. You may try to lend from them.

Biology=Fun!
________
Double eagle m82 airsoft electric (http://airsoft-shop.info/p/double-eagle-m82-airsoft-electric/)

[youngyew]

I have always been a physics person as well, but more I read about biology, the more I like it. It's as fascinating as physics, to say the least.

[skyrainbow]

There are lots of facts facts and facts in physics as well, actually even more diverse than that of biology. Anyway, i am a physics person as well, but i still like biology...

hm...
i'm someone like u,
can u tell whether to choose bio or physics in form6?

i used to like them, but now i'm having science phobia as i heard that they r really very difficult loh.

[vseehua]

You will have to decide on which one is it that you like more. I chose physics during my very short stint in form 6 because i am very very fascinated by the wonders from the world of physics: namely, the very chaotic workings of the world of the small (quantum level) which is in direct contrast to our relatively orderly naked eye world, and also the scale the universe continues to work in unison even in the largest of scales...

What is your interest in?

[kookyshwaty]

another vote casted for bio -)
read it, love it, and practise writing. you will have no prob with essay questions.

[Xon]

i think personal interest means alot. I like biology until a certain extend which the "plant" part cant really trigger my interest. maybe also because i dont like the experiment during my biology class in my F5. Dissecting the frog,fish and so on really drive me to vomit actually. and experimenting on plants is a boring thing to me. aiks. in the end,i reap what i deserve. Xp

hm...
i'm someone like u,
can u tell whether to choose bio or physics in form6?

i used to like them, but now i'm having science phobia as i heard that they r really very difficult loh.

this is the first time in my life,i heard that you got Science-phobia. You're the top for all the pure science subjects for 2 years straight in your high school,dont you?

Ummm,you can choose both biology and physics in F6. the condition of choosing pure science subjects for F6 varies accordingly. with chemistry as compulsory subject for F6 science stream,if i am not wrong.

[Sillyboy]

Biology is very a difficult subject! Hated it so much.

[lindley]

to me, i think interest plays a part loh.
in form 4 i used to think bio was so freaking boring, *it wasnt my area of interest-the topics we were studying*
but in form 5, once we were more into anatomy, i found studying bio so much easier.
i enjoy bio now. esp macromolecules, cells (im doing SAM now) and since i liked those topics so much, i managed to get a 24/25 for two quizzes and an A19 for my test (A20 is the highest) so yeah, interest is important =)

[starlemon]

biology indeed involves lots of experiment conduction .
it is vital that we know how to carry out various experiments while opting for biology in Form 6 or A level.
Experiments planning in Biology do carry lots of marks.Therefore we should master the scientific skills in conducting Bio-related experiments.
Here i am going to share about this imperial skills.

Getting Started
In designing a science fair project, you need to start with research. Then take a "bird?s-eye view" of the whole project before definitely deciding on the project question.

I. Research

"Tinkering" Research or "I Don?t Know What Topic to Choose" Research
Begin your research by reading different printed science materials, performing exploratory investigations, asking questions of knowledgeable people, and checking out information on the Web. From your research information, decide on a topic that you find interesting, such as pigments in plants.

Project Research or "I Have a Topic; Now What Kind of Problem Can I Solve?"
If your topic is plant pigments, find out as much as possible about them:

Check out plant pigments on different Web sites.
Search books for information on plant pigments.
As you research, write down inquiring questions, such as these:
How is chlorophyll produced?
What is chlorosis?
What effect does light have on the production of pigment in plants?
Select one of the inquiry questions that most interests you and proceed to the next step.

II. Project Question

Assume the inquiry question selected is What effect does light have on the production of chlorophyll? Determine whether this can be your science fair question by asking yourself these questions:
Determine whether this can be your science fair question by asking yourself these questions:


Is it about animals? No, it is not. (If the answer had been yes, you would need special permission from your teacher to work with animals.)
Does it compare products? No, it does not. (If the answer had been yes, you would need to check with your teacher to make sure product comparison is an acceptable project. While some local fairs encourage product evaluation, others do not. Often, regional fairs have a special section for product comparisons.)
Can you state a hypothesis for the question? (A hypothesis is a guess about the answer to the question, but the guess must be based on facts. It must be something that is testable with measurable results.) Yes, a hypothesis can be stated for the inquiry question. (If the answer is No, I cannot state a hypothesis for the question, then reword the question or select another one.)
Sample Project Questions
Do choose a question that can be answered experimentally with measurable results. The question What is chlorosis? can be answered by reading about chlorosis (loss of green color in plants) in a science book. It cannot be answered by experimenting.

Do limit your question. The question What effect does light have on the production of pigment in plants? is not specific enough. What kind of light? What specific pigment? The question What effect does duration of sunlight have on chlorosis? is specific and has a measurable result.

III. Hypothesis (A testable and measurable guess as to the answer of the project question, based on facts.)

Is your hypothesis testable and measurable?
A non-testable hypothesis might be Light affects chlorosis. (Affects in what way? There is no clue as to what results are expected.)
A non-measurable hypothesis might be Sunlight is better than incandescent light. (Better at what? You cannot measure whether something is ?better.? You must have something specific to compare and something specific to measure.)
A possible testable and measurable hypothesis might be If a plant does not receive sunlight, then chlorosis occurs increases with time, based on the fact that green grass turns yellow if covered by an opaque object for a time.
Can you think of a way to test your hypothesis experimentally with measurable results? If the answer is no, then you need to reword your hypothesis or select another one.

IV. Project Experiment (Experiment designed to test a hypothesis.)

The project experiment at this stage needs to be only a basic design in your mind, not a step-by-step procedure. Think about the experiment and ask yourself the following questions. If the answer to any of these questions is no, you need to redesign the experiment.
A possible experiment might be the following:

Cover areas of grass with opaque materials, such as opaque plastic cups that can be partially pushed into the ground. Remove a cup after 24 hours and take a photo of the grass that was covered. Do not replace this cup. Repeat this procedure with other cups each 24 hours for 10 days. Compare the photographs to determine how long it takes for chlorosis to occur.

Determine whether this can be your science fair experiment by asking yourself these questions:


Does it have measurable results (results that can be measured with an instrument like a ruler, scale, stopwatch, or other type of scale, such as a dye fading scale)? Yes, while degree of color loss is not an exact measurement, it can be ranked from least to most, and time is an exact measurement.
Does it have an independent variable (variable being changed by the experimenter)? Yes, the duration of light.
Does it have a dependent variable (variable being observed that changes in response to the independent variable)? Yes, the amount of loss of color.
Does it have a control (a test in which the independent variable is kept constant in order to measure changes in the dependent variable, or a reference decided on by the experimenter as a standard for comparison)? Yes, the control could be a clear container that allows full sunlight during the entire investigation. Since the other areas are covered by a container, thus restricting air flow, the control area must also be covered.
Does it have controlled variables (all the variables that will be the same in each experiment?not to be confused with the control)? Yes, controlled variables are such things as the same type of materials used to cover the grass and the same weather conditions, such as temperature and moisture of the soil.

V. Data


Data is the only way that a judge has to determine whether or not you did an experiment. Judges like to see tables, charts, or graphs of the measured results. Any project that has data generally gets an automatic second look by judges. If there is no data, judges start to look for the reason why, and they usually conclude that the student doesn?t understand what an experiment is or how to do one.

VI. The Experiment


Once you have decided on your project question, your hypothesis, and basically how you are going to test your hypothesis experimentally and record your data, then start your project by designing the experiment step by step. Do perform the experiment four or more times. For the chlorosis project, this would be done by having four or more cups for each time segment. Record the results of each test and determine an average for the results.

Do learn up all these scientific skills..not only that, we should possess scientific attitudes while carrying up the bio experiments.
Hopes will help!

[AnnDeBlurry]

well.. wouldn't that be the hardest part of all..!
loving a subject you hated since the first day you were taught of it?
so many facts, facts and facts!!eww~~ im more of a physics person..:)peace

I also used to hate physic , but not getting to like it :)
I think after you try to learn biology , you wouldn't hate it because biology is a subject closely-related to us , it's difficult to hate something that's about yourself and things around you .

[clep]

My 0.02:

Bio is not difficult to study if you don't hate it, and at least give it a try before getting into the 'omg so many facts die la' mode.

Read the textbook. Ask yourself: "Do I understand this? Could I explain it to someone without looking at my notes?" when reading. Pay attention in class, especially during experiments, jot down notes, do any questions you can get your hands on. Due to the way the SPM paper is set, there are only so many questions and ways they can ask you. I didn't have a reference book for Form 4 but I still managed 85+ for the end-year exam.

If you're really conscientious, borrow an A-level Bio book from your school library and look up the chapters related to what you're doing in class for Form 4/5. Also go online and read up O-Level/A-Level study sites, which have animations and pictures as well as questions which may be more stimulating than your standard workbook fare. www.s-cool.co.uk is quite a good site; it has a GCSE (SPM-like) section too. The important thing is to understand what your textbook says first, then reaffirm it (or learn it anew if the textbook fails to be clear) by reading something else. There isn't too big a difference - only a bit more detail in some cases, and sometimes that extra bit will help you understand exactly why something happens. You'll also get extra information which you can use in your essays, for example about pollution, eutrophication, ecosystem, human impact on the world, diseases etc.

Of course, this won't work for everybody, but if you like Bio and have a good to moderate grasp of what your teacher has taught you in class, I would say give it a try. I have my Form 4 bio teacher to thank for sparking my interest in this subject; she lent me a few A-level books over the December holidays to read, which had colour pictures (big difference from the SPM reference books! :P ) and lots of extra facts/world news which I found fascinating. But make sure you cover what is required in the SPM syllabus first!

Also, it might be a good idea to cooperate with your classmates in terms of SPM reference books - not everyone buys the same book. Each of them has good points which the others might not have; so borrow (and be willing to lend) books, compare them with the one you have, and take down notes on the extra bits. I certainly didn't remember all of the facts I read during exams, but I did know more than I would have if I just stuck to the textbook and 1 reference book.

Past papers, model papers help a lot too - again, if you want to save money, share and share alike.

[castle]

i always hated bio.its just too boring...i had the same problems studying bio for spm.too many facts.well,dont worry,if you really hate bio,you wont be taking it anymore after spm right.hehe.just 2 years of suffering only.;P
btw,phy involves more understnding lah.you dont even need to memorise the formulae.most of the time,you need to memorise definitions only.but then again its up to your own interest.phy rox!haha...

[vseehua]

i always hated bio.its just too boring...i had the same problems studying bio for spm.too many facts.well,dont worry,if you really hate bio,you wont be taking it anymore after spm right.hehe.just 2 years of suffering only.;P
btw,phy involves more understnding lah.you dont even need to memorise the formulae.most of the time,you need to memorise definitions only.but then again its up to your own interest.phy rox!haha...
I doubt i memorized the definitions in physics as well... Usually i just derive the definitions from the equations :p

Physics also contains a lot of facts like biology. But, as long as you can find a way to link them together and remember them as an associated block, you will have little trouble tackling biology...

[starlemon]

Bio is not difficult to study if you don't hate it, and at least give it a try before getting into the 'omg so many facts die la' mode.

Read the textbook. Ask yourself: "Do I understand this? Could I explain it to someone without looking at my notes?" when reading. Pay attention in class, especially during experiments, jot down notes, do any questions you can get your hands on. Due to the way the SPM paper is set, there are only so many questions and ways they can ask you. I didn't have a reference book for Form 4 but I still managed 85+ for the end-year exam.
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i do agree with that.Biology is all about us.once u noe how to explain to others without looking at ur notes, i am sure u have known the topics thoroughly.

If you're really conscientious, borrow an A-level Bio book from your school library and look up the chapters related to what you're doing in class for Form 4/5. Also go online and read up O-Level/A-Level study sites, which have animations and pictures as well as questions which may be more stimulating than your standard workbook fare. www.s-cool.co.uk is quite a good site; it has a GCSE (SPM-like) section too. The important thing is to understand what your textbook says first, then reaffirm it (or learn it anew if the textbook fails to be clear) by reading something else. There isn't too big a difference - only a bit more detail in some cases, and sometimes that extra bit will help you understand exactly why something happens. You'll also get extra information which you can use in your essays, for example about pollution, eutrophication, ecosystem, human impact on the world, diseases etc.
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Wow..thx for the useful website.
raed up A level...too tough for me...haha...anyway i am sure ur biology is somehow higher standard than me.

Of course, this won't work for everybody, but if you like Bio and have a good to moderate grasp of what your teacher has taught you in class, I would say give it a try. I have my Form 4 bio teacher to thank for sparking my interest in this subject; she lent me a few A-level books over the December holidays to read, which had colour pictures (big difference from the SPM reference books! ) and lots of extra facts/world news which I found fascinating. But make sure you cover what is required in the SPM syllabus first!

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U r so lucky to have such a good bio teacher..u get the love of bio through ur bio teacher preciouc book...mind borrow me(haha)..i would like to sparkle my interest in bio so..:)


Also, it might be a good idea to cooperate with your classmates in terms of SPM reference books - not everyone buys the same book. Each of them has good points which the others might not have; so borrow (and be willing to lend) books, compare them with the one you have, and take down notes on the extra bits. I certainly didn't remember all of the facts I read during exams, but I did know more than I would have if I just stuck to the textbook and 1 reference book.
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This is wat i did so last year.
Exchanging reference books with my other friends has indeed post benefits to both parties.
Great way to enhance our knowledge and most probably save $$$$..:)

[clep]

My friends and I used to have 'teaching sessions', each one of us would read up on a topic and then 'teach' the others...so you have to make sure you really know your stuff or else everyone will tembak you ;)

I should perhaps clarify that I only started going seriously to A-level books at the end of Form 4 and throughout Form 5, because by then through repeated reading of the textbook/class notes/exercises I understood the basic stuff that had been taught earlier - it took me that long. Doing A-level when starting out in Biology would be suicide, unless you're a genius.

Starlemon: Btw my Bio teacher retired last year when I was Form 5 :( Such a good teacher too...our new one was quite lazy and loved to tell stories in class which had nothing to do with Bio >(

She lent me 'Complete Biology', which I think is not A-level but rather IGCSE, our SPM type: http://www.oup.com.au/content/General.asp?ContentID=1768 , you can see an exerpt here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/0199147396/ref=sib_rdr_ex?ie=UTF8&p=S008&j=0#reader-page (how I miss that book :) ) and this, which I'm still using now: http://www.longman.co.uk/lo_secsci/alevelsc.htm

[p0laris]

i like bio.actually is not difficult as what u think...just pay attention during classes..ask your teacher when there is something that u can`t understand..and do a lot of practises n pass year papers.That`s all..

[yummyummylicious]

my answer will be a NO. Biology is not a difficult subject though. Need less common sense too compare to physics...lol...hehe
just require memorizing and understanding and i think its fun learing biology as we can know more about our ownselves and human anatomy. How's thing in us going on and i do think its a waste students drop biology just because someone said its a difficult subject or what so ever...

[lindley]

lol what!
personally i think that physics uses more common sense than bio LOL

[starlemon]

Biology!Difficult to study? not really!
there must a thorough understanding on Biology..either its job prospect or even usage to society nowadays.

Well, Some may ask what will I learn in Biology?
You will learn to:

~Understand a range of scientific ideas;
~Plan and carry out experiments and investigations;
~Present information clearly;
~Draw conclusions from evidence;
~Understand the importance of health and safety issues.

Even some will ask this basic question :What skills will I gain?
You will be able to:

~Analyse and evaluate evidence;
~Think and plan logically;
~Work effectively with data;
~Support arguements;
~Appreciate the wider effects that Science has on many aspects of our lives.

hmmm...the common question: What sorts of careers need a Biology qualification?

Up to GCSE, lots of schools teach all three science disciplines together. So a lot of careers need you to have a qualification in Science GCSE rather than just Biology. However, you will need to study some Biology in order to get that Science qualification.

Some of the careers that need a Science GCSE are:

a physiotherapist;
a teacher;
a pilot;
a food science technologist;
a midwife;
a merchant navy officer.

...and there are loads more!

It is also helpful to have a Science GCSE if you want to be:

a firefighter;
a beautician;
a nurse.
...to name a few.

A higher qualification in Biology is needed for careers like:

a zoologist;
a veterinary surgeon;
a pharmacist;
a horiculturalist;
a dentist;
a biochemist.
It is also useful for careers like:
a dietician;
a leisure and amenity manager;
a dentist;
or even an administrative manager.
There really are a vast number of careers using Biology. I couldn't put them all here - but this sample will get you started.:)

[lindley]

actually if youre in pure science the range of jobs available is very wide lor. cos you can eventually switch to engineering if you dont like it later on. =)

[HimoYoto]

oh i see ...the range of job is so wide you didn't list here I also didn't know biology have so wide of range of job...anyway,I'm still frustrating about choosing which subject...my biology and physic is not so good when i was form 5...maybe is about me lazy cause I didn't serious ly study when i was in form 5...but my physics always score better than biology...and my maths and add maths is good...but i heard a lot ppl says that physics is more tougher in form 6..so which subj should i choose??Bio we need to operate the frog or whatever ???I didn't like this kind of thing...so is that mean i should choose phyiscs??

[yummyummylicious]

oh i see ...the range of job is so wide you didn't list here I also didn't know biology have so wide of range of job...anyway,I'm still frustrating about choosing which subject...my biology and physic is not so good when i was form 5...maybe is about me lazy cause I didn't serious ly study when i was in form 5...but my physics always score better than biology...and my maths and add maths is good...but i heard a lot ppl says that physics is more tougher in form 6..so which subj should i choose??Bio we need to operate the frog or whatever ???I didn't like this kind of thing...so is that mean i should choose phyiscs??

with physics, there's a wide range of job too...but my problem is what if i love biology more but my physics always score higher marks compare to biology...hehe:))

[HimoYoto]

with physics, there's a wide range of job too...but my problem is what if i love biology more but my physics always score higher marks compare to biology...hehe:))
I don't know I like physics or biology...I only know that I like chemistry...but I don't like physics last time is because the school teacher is sucks...and biology is maybe cause I last minute so i din score good in spm....actually bio is not hard but i really don't know which subj i like better....haizzz:cry

[yummyummylicious]

well, you still have time to think, F6 will start on 12th May, around 1 more month time to think which one you prefer better bcoz this kinda thing you gotta make your own decision...yea, nothing is hard/difficult if you work hard enough...

[HimoYoto]

hey,thanks....I'll consider which one to choose.....so you are a upper six student???

[yummyummylicious]

hey,thanks....I'll consider which one to choose.....so you are a upper six student???

lol...no, not yet and dont wanna do F6 if possible...hehe
i guess i am the same age with you...hehe
SPM leaver...

[HimoYoto]

Oh,I see....SPM leaver..at least you know which path to choose...but me still swimming in an ocean....don't know which direction to go....this few months I'm so sick of the study thing...keep thinking what I want ....which subj I like...wanna go college or form 6..so many things...my head is like gonna bom anytime....haizz....plus my dad put a lot of pressure on me...so...haizzz

[yummyummylicious]

Oh,I see....SPM leaver..at least you know which path to choose...but me still swimming in an ocean....don't know which direction to go....this few months I'm so sick of the study thing...keep thinking what I want ....which subj I like...wanna go college or form 6..so many things...my head is like gonna bom anytime....haizz....plus my dad put a lot of pressure on me...so...haizzz

well i understand that, i have been through those dilemma too like you and about your dad, he's just being caring in another way... parents r like that rite???
frankly speaking, i'm still not 1005 sure on what i wanna be in future, its all depends on which scholarship i secured / which course i'm offered lor...sounds pathetic huh? yea, kinda sad..and of course F6 will be the last option for me...
emmm, did you applied for any scholarship / been to any intervoew so far? if your answer is Yes, then just wait and pray, decide when the results r published...

[HimoYoto]

well i understand that, i have been through those dilemma too like you and about your dad, he's just being caring in another way... parents r like that rite???
frankly speaking, i'm still not 1005 sure on what i wanna be in future, its all depends on which scholarship i secured / which course i'm offered lor...sounds pathetic huh? yea, kinda sad..and of course F6 will be the last option for me...
emmm, did you applied for any scholarship / been to any intervoew so far? if your answer is Yes, then just wait and pray, decide when the results r published...

Haha...speaking about scholarship..i didn't think i have the qualification cause my spm result is sucks...haha...Ya,parents is like that...I agree....actually i register for TAR college in accountancy...and the class is about 4++ people...wow,then my dad just get some information from his frens and they said form 6 better...and my dad suggest me to study form 6.....and he said that acc so much people study so he said engineering not bad...that what he study...so if i wanna be engineering then i have to choose physics in form 6....he said that no problem for me cause my maths is ok...but the pro is i dunno i like physics...or not??haizz..

[lindley]

if you like accountancy then why not go for that? its a good field too

[yummyummylicious]

Haha...speaking about scholarship..i didn't think i have the qualification cause my spm result is sucks...haha...Ya,parents is like that...I agree....actually i register for TAR college in accountancy...and the class is about 4++ people...wow,then my dad just get some information from his frens and they said form 6 better...and my dad suggest me to study form 6.....and he said that acc so much people study so he said engineering not bad...that what he study...so if i wanna be engineering then i have to choose physics in form 6....he said that no problem for me cause my maths is ok...but the pro is i dunno i like physics...or not??haizz..

well, dont get influenced by his friends lar, they are not the one studying, and its always easier to talk than do rite...?if you really wanna study in TAR than go ahead, oh come on, you gotta make your own decision already lar,and not those 'uncles / aunties' help you decide your future...mmm, about acc, its not bad too but too bad i dont have interest in accountancy,and i really force myself to study this subject during spm just to add one more subject in my list...well a lot of ppl study engineerind too but just that engineering is too wide and too much branches lor...well, i once heard boys will have the brain for physics and girls will have the brain for biology, and i dunno how true is this but this concept works on me, i prefer studying biology than physics...hehe...:P

[HimoYoto]

well, dont get influenced by his friends lar, they are not the one studying, and its always easier to talk than do rite...?if you really wanna study in TAR than go ahead, oh come on, you gotta make your own decision already lar,and not those 'uncles / aunties' help you decide your future...mmm, about acc, its not bad too but too bad i dont have interest in accountancy,and i really force myself to study this subject during spm just to add one more subject in my list...well a lot of ppl study engineerind too but just that engineering is too wide and too much branches lor...well, i once heard boys will have the brain for physics and girls will have the brain for biology, and i dunno how true is this but this concept works on me, i prefer studying biology than physics...hehe...:P

I know I have to make my own decision ....thats why i choose to study form 6......ya,many said girl more to biology and guys more to physics.....and acc.. i didn't study b4...only the a little basic during form 2 KH.....haha...many said that acc is only normal maths...but i like add maths and its fun learning add maths....so does physics same like add maths???many many maths??hehe...:)

[starlemon]

I know I have to make my own decision ....thats why i choose to study form 6......ya,many said girl more to biology and guys more to physics.....and acc.. i didn't study b4...only the a little basic during form 2 KH.....haha...many said that acc is only normal maths...but i like add maths and its fun learning add maths....so does physics same like add maths???many many maths??hehe...:)

girl more to bio, boy more to phy?i dont agree with ur statement..i am a guy who like bio very much...:)
phy do lots of concept so..u like maths doesnt mean so u like physics.instead as i say..y not u get the latest form 6 physics and browse through the syllabus..i am sure u will get more insight on phy..

[HimoYoto]

girl more to bio, boy more to phy?i dont agree with ur statement..i am a guy who like bio very much...:)
phy do lots of concept so..u like maths doesnt mean so u like physics.instead as i say..y not u get the latest form 6 physics and browse through the syllabus..i am sure u will get more insight on phy..

haha...i mean most of the guy only....I have a friend a guy like bio too....erm ...ok... do you know which brand of book is better for maths??

[starlemon]

haha...i mean most of the guy only....I have a friend a guy like bio too....erm ...ok... do you know which brand of book is better for maths??

Pelangi is quite good btw..
It includes lots of solution, steps by steps guide as well as appropriate approach to every questions.
well...asking how i access to these form 6 book, i would say i borrow it from library.
will borrow physics reference books this few days.:)

[HimoYoto]

if you like accountancy then why not go for that? its a good field too

I didn't study accountancy b4..so i not sure whether i like it or not..:)

[yummyummylicious]

I didn't study accountancy b4..so i not sure whether i like it or not..:)

try to borrow some F4/F5 account books from anyone who has it to get the rough idea of account...and what you see in those books are only the basic...

[HimoYoto]

Pelangi is quite good btw..
It includes lots of solution, steps by steps guide as well as appropriate approach to every questions.
well...asking how i access to these form 6 book, i would say i borrow it from library.
will borrow physics reference books this few days.:)

library??u mean ur school library??haha....i heard that they said the syllabus gonna change in 2008,is that true??or do u all heard b4??they said will change like A-level...i get this information from frens...but not sure whether is true...

[AnnDeBlurry]

try to borrow some F4/F5 account books from anyone who has it to get the rough idea of account...and what you see i those books are only the basic...

Ya , it's kinda easy . But , I think it would be much more difficult in tertiery study . Personally , I think it takes lots of interest to study accountancy , since you are going to face all the numbers till you retire if you really want to be accountant , better ponder over whether can you stand that kind of work . I couldn't do it for sure :P , because I sort of phobia with that kind of work ~~

[starlemon]

library??u mean ur school library??haha....i heard that they said the syllabus gonna change in 2008,is that true??or do u all heard b4??they said will change like A-level...i get this information from frens...but not sure whether is true...

change syllabus?i think that is impossible.the syllabus had been changed since 2003(the first year of implementation of english in teaching science and maths)..and i suppose the ministry of education wouldnt =change the syllabus again since it stated in black and white that the syllabus of a subject would only be changed after 10 years.

[HimoYoto]

try to borrow some F4/F5 account books from anyone who has it to get the rough idea of account...and what you see in those books are only the basic...

Ya,I'll....many said account kinda boring....haha..i'm a active person..mayb not suitable in accountancy....sitting all day long facing the numbers....and calculate...:))

Ya , it's kinda easy . But , I think it would be much more difficult in tertiery study . Personally , I think it takes lots of interest to study accountancy , since you are going to face all the numbers till you retire if you really want to be accountant , better ponder over whether can you stand that kind of work . I couldn't do it for sure :P , because I sort of phobia with that kind of work ~~

Ya,accountancy....have to rethink of taking that course.....science is more fun than that i think....and more tough...:)

change syllabus?i think that is impossible.the syllabus had been changed since 2003(the first year of implementation of english in teaching science and maths)..and i suppose the ministry of education wouldnt =change the syllabus again since it stated in black and white that the syllabus of a subject would only be changed after 10 years.

Oh,i see...i'm not sure also...cause there is a web like Recom...one of them said so just asking...better didn't change so can borrow book from the senior or buy second hand....haha..:))

[yummyummylicious]

emmm, i thinnk to do accountancy, one must actually have interest in it...well, for me , i dont have any interest in account, and i really forced myself in the 2 hours tuition class every week and do those calculations which i hate...yucksss..
and i suggest you really think properly bcoz not all ppl like this particular field...and many of my friends who learnt it in another word, pick up principle account in spm find it suffering too albeit the sylabbus in F4&f5 is easy and can get A1 easily too...so think properly lar is what i can tell you...emmm, about science, no doubt it is fun , interesting and challenging and if you find it more suitable for you, then go ahead...

[starlemon]

emmm, i thinnk to do accountancy, one must actually have interest in it...well, for me , i dont have any interest in account, and i really forced myself in the 2 hours tuition class every week and do those calculations which i hate...yucksss..
and i suggest you really think properly bcoz not all ppl like this particular field...and many of my friends who learnt it in another word, pick up principle account in spm find it suffering too albeit the sylabbus in F4&f5 is easy and can get A1 easily too...so think properly lar is what i can tell you...emmm, about science, no doubt it is fun , interesting and challenging and if you find it more suitable for you, then go ahead...

Graduaters of accountancy often have more job prospects than graduater of science related field...

[yummyummylicious]

Graduaters of accountancy often have more job prospects than graduater of science related field...

well i disagree bcoz it depends on which science related field one is choosing...imo, your statement is just true for certain fields but not all science related fields

[HimoYoto]

emmm, i thinnk to do accountancy, one must actually have interest in it...well, for me , i dont have any interest in account, and i really forced myself in the 2 hours tuition class every week and do those calculations which i hate...yucksss..
and i suggest you really think properly bcoz not all ppl like this particular field...and many of my friends who learnt it in another word, pick up principle account in spm find it suffering too albeit the sylabbus in F4&f5 is easy and can get A1 easily too...so think properly lar is what i can tell you...emmm, about science, no doubt it is fun , interesting and challenging and if you find it more suitable for you, then go ahead...

Ya,I'll have to consider again....about studying science...one of my friends take the Australia matriculation...b4 that she is sci stream too..but now she take acc subj but she said is kinda boring not like science more intresting and fun in learning too...so she advice me not to take acc....:))

[WinnieH]

umm well i think biology is not hard to study. it's really interesting actually. try to link most of what you read on yourself or what you've seen or such... and then you'll realise that it's not so hard after all. and it feels really goood to know how things work. how our body control our blood sugar level and such. biology actually answers alot of "how did that became this" kind of question. for example, like when you know why the loop of henle in desert rats are longer than usual rats, you'll realise that biology answers a lot of questions that most people don't know or don't care about. but when you know all these, you'll have this feeling like "wow, i know a lot actually"

[youngyew]

Ahh loop of henle longer in desert rats. Save water.

Ingenious.

[yana89]

the problem with bio is u hv to understand and memorise the fact...(which i find it quite hard at times)..to me bio its kinda of sejarah meets nature....u hv to hv intrest in the topics...if not...u can't be saved...

[Sh3ng]

umm well i think biology is not hard to study. it's really interesting actually. try to link most of what you read on yourself or what you've seen or such... and then you'll realise that it's not so hard after all. and it feels really goood to know how things work. how our body control our blood sugar level and such. biology actually answers alot of "how did that became this" kind of question. for example, like when you know why the loop of henle in desert rats are longer than usual rats, you'll realise that biology answers a lot of questions that most people don't know or don't care about. but when you know all these, you'll have this feeling like "wow, i know a lot actually"


for bio, we hav 2 read more, be patient and show our interest in it and remember d important fact... learning bio is actually fun coz u can discover a lot of things regarding nature, body system, plants...............

[Chrisntine]

YES. i think is hard especially when we have to memorize the biology term which is very looooong.=.=" the spelling of the term really hard. but actually quite interesting. after u stdy biology, u will understand how ur body function. ohya, when it comes to plant, i hate the most. very boring. i oways skip plant part. hehe. but if u are interest in it, i think u will find no prob in it. but for me, i hate! choose math instead. hehe

[vseehua]

I think the only biology that all will find interesting is the part about human reproduction :p

[Chrisntine]

ERm... i think biology is not that hard if u hav the intrest...
luckily i hav a good teacher in my school
she guide me a lots
SPM biology i din prepared NOTES
i choose chapters to read
FORM 4 and FORM 5 last 2 chapters i din read and memoriz
i still get A1 in my exam
so i think biology
u mst smart in choosing chapters n points
DO NOT memoriz ALL (not gona to help)

by the way im christine's sis>>>jenifer saw

[lawteoh]

YES. i think is hard especially when we have to memorize the biology term which is very looooong.=.=" the spelling of the term really hard. but actually quite interesting. after u stdy biology, u will understand how ur body function. ohya, when it comes to plant, i hate the most. very boring. i oways skip plant part. hehe. but if u are interest in it, i think u will find no prob in it. but for me, i hate! choose math instead. hehe

actually the terms have some pattern.. all those long names would be hard to remember at first, like Kreb cycle, ornithine cycle.. bla bla bla.. but as time passes, it would be normal to see all those terms..

I think the best way is to visualize the diagram.. then write ur own words according to the diagram (but the terms used must be accurate lah).. cause its not possible to memorize so many chapters.. For form 6, I tink we have 20 over chapters.. swt.. btw, bio is interesting, like what all of u hv discussed above.. :)

[TheArtOfMedicine]

I think the only biology that all will find interesting is the part about human reproduction :p

Ah. I just remembered how the guys giggled in my class when it came to that chapter. Our teacher conveniently skipped certain parts of that chapter at the end.(especially those that involved the description of the organ that's made of spongy muscles situated under the guys' waistline..)

[AlynQq]

Ah. I just remembered how the guys giggled in my class when it came to that chapter. Our teacher conveniently skipped certain parts of that chapter at the end.(especially those that involved the description of the organ that's made of spongy muscles situated under the guys' waistline..)

Omg........y ur teacher behave like tat????It's not a teacher supposed 2 b........She must hv the right attitude in teaching no matter wat the chapter is about instead of skipping tat particular topic............I was lucky 2 hv a gud bio teacher..........she taught everything in patience n details...........she explained 2 us briefly about the process n all those stuff solemnly(i mean about the reproduction part,actually she's a fun teacher,her way of teaching........)Tat's y i lov bio n i respect my bio teacher vy much!!!!!!!!Bio is a vy interesting subject indeed!!!!:)

[phoenix1892]

Ah. I just remembered how the guys giggled in my class when it came to that chapter. Our teacher conveniently skipped certain parts of that chapter at the end.(especially those that involved the description of the organ that's made of spongy muscles situated under the guys' waistline..)


My teacher always said what she wanted. Once she even said s*** to explain defecation...haha...I miss her straightforwardness. She was a really good teacher. Anyway I think I manage to score biology because I have some degree of photographic memory. But u still need interest in biology so that u can remember what u read.

[clep]

Well, this is what happened in my Form 4 class:

Teacher: Can you explain what we've just covered?
Boy: Er...well, the s**t goes -
Teacher: Young man, I expect you to have the nescessary scientific knowledge and to use it. What is the scientific term for that?
Boy: Faeces.
Teacher: Good. I don't want to hear the word s**t in my class ever again.

[Shoblast]

"nescessary scientific knowledge". heh heh heh. heh.

I have it on good authority that, at the level where science is conducted (ie, in research labs), they revert back to using "shit".

I shit you not.

seriously though, you won't find researchers being that stuffy. I'm doing some research work on cancer and quail embryos now, and its a nerve wracking procedure where you fiddle with tiny cell clumps in a tiny hole you made in this tiny embryo in a small egg. all under the microscope. I was generally making noise and swearing in cantonese, hokkien, english, and what have you just to get rid of the nervous tension.

You know the feeling that you get when you try to put thread into the eye of the needle, and you keep failing? you feel increasingly destructive.

Well, i realize my supervisor was in the room, and i turn around to apologize. He told me to swear as much as i want as long as it helps getting the work done. Apparently he knew this french guy doing something similar, and he'd be sitting at his workspace uttering an unbreaking string of curses all the while doing his work. It was quite entertaining. Swearing is therapeutic. You should try it sometime. :p

[WinnieH]

actually the terms have some pattern.. all those long names would be hard to remember at first, like Kreb cycle, ornithine cycle.. bla bla bla.. but as time passes, it would be normal to see all those terms..

I think the best way is to visualize the diagram.. then write ur own words according to the diagram (but the terms used must be accurate lah).. cause its not possible to memorize so many chapters.. For form 6, I tink we have 20 over chapters.. swt.. btw, bio is interesting, like what all of u hv discussed above.. :)

yeah true. for all the cycles, you gotta memorise and DRAW YOUR OWN BLOODY DIAGRAM. not just once. you gotta draw them over and over again until you know it by heart. the same goes to the biodiversity thing. god. how i hate those life cycles of marchantia, etc..... you have no choice but to memorise that as well. but always keep in mind that "it's interesting and fun and enjoyable".

[newney]

Can any seniors recommend reference books for Biology STPM?

[WinnieH]

Can any seniors recommend reference books for Biology STPM?

i would say longman. but actually i read a few different biology books including A level biology book... but i depended most on my teacher's note.

[Vaan]

i would say longman. but actually i read a few different biology books including A level biology book... but i depended most on my teacher's note.

That's the problem how good is your teacher's note and if it's good will it be able to get you an A not an A- in your STPM? I mean you are just going to depend most on teacher's notes. That's risky unless your teacher is damn good in teaching Biology.

[WinnieH]

That's the problem how good is your teacher's note and if it's good will it be able to get you an A not an A- in your STPM? I mean you are just going to depend most on teacher's notes. That's risky unless your teacher is damn good in teaching Biology.
yep my teacher's good enough, imo. she had more than 30 years of experience and was the marker. but i'm not saying i'm depending 100% on them. you gotta refer them to those revision books as well, and see if there's any new info you can add or something. but i think getting an A in biology, depends on your own self. if you work smart + hard enough, and with god's blessing... you'll get it.

[jayden]

Can any seniors recommend reference books for Biology STPM?

Apart from Longman, as Winnie suggested, I suggest you try the Fajar Bakti one as well because it has longer explanations and has certain extra stuff (for example in the photosynthesis chapter).

But if you don't like reading long paragraphs of explanations, then Longman is better because it's more compact.

[yummyummylicious]

I always have a question on Biology which i always forget to ask my Biology teacher or i always play truant so i dont have a chance:P...whateva...
So the question is : Is abstinence included as one of the contraceptive methods? because its not stated in the text book and reference books too...hmmm...i wonder the examiners will accept this answer in SPM if students give the answer...
I do think its a logic answer...

[Sillyboy]

I always have a question on Biology which i always forget to ask my Biology teacher or i always play truant so i dont have a chance:P...whateva...
So the question is : Is abstinence included as one of the contraceptive methods? because its not stated in the text book and reference books too...hmmm...i wonder the examiners will accept this answer in SPM if students give the answer...
I do think its a logic answer...

Abstinence is one of the very basic contraceptive methods. =)

[yummyummylicious]

Abstinence is one of the very basic contraceptive methods. =)

yeah, i know...but i was just wondering if this answer can be accepted in exams especially SPM since its not in the sylabbus...and i wonder how can those so called 'professional and experienced' authors missed out this method when they write those text books or reference books...shame...shame...:P
i think its 100% effective...

[chenjun1128]

Biology is difficult for me..lotz to memorise..I just bought the Success book by Fajar Bakti and totally relied on it..

[Gabrielle90]

my school teacher asked us to buy theA-level biology book... she said it is more informative...

[sugarspice]

Any seniors here can recommend some good Biology reference and exercise books besides A level books?

[vseehua]

I always have a question on Biology which i always forget to ask my Biology teacher or i always play truant so i dont have a chance:P...whateva...
So the question is : Is abstinence included as one of the contraceptive methods? because its not stated in the text book and reference books too...hmmm...i wonder the examiners will accept this answer in SPM if students give the answer...
I do think its a logic answer...

yeah, i know...but i was just wondering if this answer can be accepted in exams especially SPM since its not in the sylabbus...and i wonder how can those so called 'professional and experienced' authors missed out this method when they write those text books or reference books...shame...shame...:P
i think its 100% effective...Just write it in and you will see for yourself :P Anyway, playing truant isn't the ultimate way of insult for the teacher. Going there and sleep in front of her for 2 years long is (that's me)

Biology is difficult for me..lotz to memorise..I just bought the Success book by Fajar Bakti and totally relied on it..memorize? naa... understanding still serves better for my brain :P When i can understand it, i can remember it...

[jayden]

Any seniors here can recommend some good Biology reference and exercise books besides A level books?

I suggest Longman if you want quick and simpler explanations. Fajar Bakti is more long winded but more informatic. Depends on what type of style you like. But I heard that using the Fajar Bakti volume 2 is better.

[sugarspice]

I suggest Longman if you want quick and simpler explanations. Fajar Bakti is more long winded but more informatic. Depends on what type of style you like. But I heard that using the Fajar Bakti volume 2 is better.

Actually is Vol1 for lower 6 and Vol2 for upper six?

Fajar Bakti Vol1 no good?

[jayden]

Actually is Vol1 for lower 6 and Vol2 for upper six?

Fajar Bakti Vol1 no good?

No no, you can't say that volume 1 is for lower 6 and volume 2 is for upper. It all depends on your teacher and how she wants to teach you all.

Fajar Bakti volume 1 is good too. As I said, Fajar Bakti just tends to be long winded. According to some people Fajar Bakti volume 2 is better than Longman volume 2.

[cuteranger]

many ppl prefer fajar bakti or longman... for me i prefer pelangi fokus hehe dunno why i feel its thinner less to read:laugh

[sugarspice]

The Fajar Bakti is like so dull, no colour so hard to get my brain stimulated....when I look at it I wan to sleep d.....

[jayden]

Well, people usually say that bio is a rather 'dry' subject..

[fazlyn]

Just write it in and you will see for yourself :P Anyway, playing truant isn't the ultimate way of insult for the teacher. Going there and sleep in front of her for 2 years long is (that's me)...

lol.thats exactly what i did for the past 2 yrs.it cant b help. biology is also known as the "sleeping pill" besides sleep-inducing subject.. :laugh

but, i do love biology.its an interesting subject to learn although there's a lot that u have to know. what i did was understand n then memorise. n yea, in the previous post by a recommer, post-it notes do help a lot. because u cant pratically remember every single word in the thick bio reference book.

[WinnieH]

lol.thats exactly what i did for the past 2 yrs.it cant b help. biology is also known as the "sleeping pill" besides sleep-inducing subject.. :laugh

but, i do love biology.its an interesting subject to learn although there's a lot that u have to know. what i did was understand n then memorise. n yea, in the previous post by a recommer, post-it notes do help a lot. because u cant pratically remember every single word in the thick bio reference book.

lol yeah... i think the problem lies with the teacher. if the teacher approach the topics in an interesting way, i won't fall asleep. but when the teacher keeps on explaining and explaining sebiji macam buku... then i will doze off. i feel really bad when the teacher saw my half-dropped eyelids. my friend, always sleep in bio class. well, she faced the teacher but her eyes are closed. lol. and i don't think the teacher ever notice that 'cause she sat straight up.

[newney]

Biology is difficult to score...

[sugarspice]

:offtopic

Regarding Experiment 19 (Practical No.31(b)) : Collection of 25 species of plant

Seniors, please tell me in detail how we are supposed to dry the leaves we collected. Help me.....I am afraid the leaves might break....and crack....or worse.....decompose, then my marks will decompose also....

[jayden]

:offtopic

Regarding Experiment 19 (Practical No.31(b)) : Collection of 25 species of plant

Seniors, please tell me in detail how we are supposed to dry the leaves we collected. Help me.....I am afraid the leaves might break....and crack....or worse.....decompose, then my marks will decompose also....

I used those big fat yellow pages telephone book. Insert the leaves carefully between the pages at random intervals. It's better if you have a few pieces of the same kind of leaf, so just in case one doesn't turn out well you'll still have backups. After that, put a whole bunch of newspapers (as much as you want) on top of the telephone book. Keep the stuff in a dry area and try not to move it until a few months later.

Make sure you smooth down the leaves before closing the book and if you had washed the leaves before that, make sure it is completely dry before you insert it between the pages. Leaves that will break are usually those thin types. You need to be careful when you remove it cause they bend easily and next thing you know, *crack* and "argh" :laugh

I don't think the leaves will decompose so easily, unless it's kept in a damp environment. No one in my class had decomposed leaves, but the decomposed insects for the other project... That's a different story.

[nicky_chin]

Biology is difficult to score...
You are awfully wrong, I know that to get excellent score(95+) in Biology one must have a passion for it but to get excellent grade(1A), just pure studying, remembering and some practice would do.

[vaanbalthier]

walao, bio is actually very interesting. if u like bio then it'll be gud lor.
i slept in front of my teachers n snore too. the teacher ignored me but then after da class she'll go to da staff room n tells my mum. my mum teaches in da same school i studied in. so after getting nagged for like 1 year +, i decided nt to play anymore. surprisingly, i made myself interested in bio by reading my bro's medic book. still, chemi n physics are WAY more interesting than bio.
tips for bio student, dun read textbook, it's useless. try reading longman de book, i find it rather interesting as there's only points in it, no craps.
and oh, dun sleep for in bio class lar, nt gud. if u dun wan to hurt ur teacher's feeling, do like me. sleep for the first one year +, then 6 months b4 spm really concentrate, then ur teacher will be happy, wakakakkaka

[nicky_chin]

You're really good to ur teacher vaan, I missed bio classes for sports, slept in every session and even ponteng:P But I still manage to surprise her with my scores:)

[Xon]

i edited the title of this thread to make it newbie-friendly. this thread shall be a general sharing thread about Biology. Bear in mind,there is still "STPM Biology" thread and "SPM Biology" thread.

[music_freak28]

To me Bio isn't difficult. But it requires continuous studying. It's good to read before class then go back and study up on that chapter on that day itself. Doing that makes it less of a burden. Bio may be difficult to remember, but if you re-study it about 2-3 times, the facts come out almost automatically during exams.

And drawing tables and flowcharts help to simplify some human processes in Bio=)