Revision+resources

=Revision Resources and Advice=

A good [|checklist] from clickbiology on dos and don'ts
 * Tips on how to revise**

__Six recommended steps__
 * 1) **Use the learning outcomes** to ensure learning is focused.
 * 2) **Read through a topic taking a note of KEYWORDS and DEFINITIONS**. Use the revision sheets to give you an overview of the key ideas (see the green link below the exam dates).
 * 3) **Complete the Revision Questions** provided for that topic. Either print out the questions or answer them in your green books or on paper. Maximum time for questions is indicated in brackets.
 * 4) The Answers are provided - mark your work and add any answers in red as this is what you need to learn as you did not know it first time.
 * 5) Attempt the past papers you are given in class. **Past papers are a great way to revise** and they will let you know what type of questions you are likely to come across.
 * 6) Optional extra: once all sets of Revision Questions have been completed try the three Revision Tests - these are a mix of all topics and should not be attempted until you have revised each individual topic.

**Key terms / Glossary**
There are a lot of key terms and words to learn in Biology. The following websites can be used to make your own flashcards to learn the words and their definitions. I suggest you include not just a definition but a use of the word too. If add to your flashcards week, by week you'll find it an easy and quick resource to build up. Leave it until the end of the course and you'll find it very time consuming.

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Here's a ready made of Biology key terms, though not complete it cover a lot of words you should know and uses language appropriate to IGCSE media type="custom" key="23925512"

**Reviews and quizzes**

 * [|s-cool.co.uk] again doesn't match up completely to the Edexel syllabus, but the notes pages and revision quizzes are often useful and it's easy to find the content you want
 * [|The student room] is often recommended by students as a favoured website for building revision notes you can even ask questions in the forum if you get stuck
 * [|BBC Bitesize] has good resources, but you need to be aware (using your learning outcomes) what you do need to know as this website isn't aimed at Edexel IGCSE
 * The [|naked scientists podcasts] on [|BBC Bitesize] are good summaries, but again make sure you know what is relevant to you

**The Learning outcomes**
Know your syllabus and what topics will be covered and to what level of detail. In tandem with the learning outcomes spreadsheet to the analysis of the learning outcomes enables you to look in detail at the learning outcomes, e.g. what do you need to be able to 'explain' vs. 'describe'.

Structure of the Edexcel Examination Papers
Edexcel Examines IGCSE Biology using two papers:
 * Paper || Marks || Time ||
 * 1 || 120 || 2 hours (120 mins) ||
 * 2 || 60 || 1 hour (60 mins) ||

N.B. You should take no longer than 1 minute to answer 1 mark. Better yet plan to have spare time at the end to review your paper.

Though Paper 2 does have more questions related to investigations. Edexcel says the types of questions in each paper are weighted accordingly:
 * || % marks ||
 * Knowledge and understanding (factual recall) || 45–50 ||
 * Application of knowledge and understanding, analysis and evaluation || 27.5–32.5 ||
 * Experimental skills, analysis and evaluation of data and methods || 20–25 ||

What does this mean for you? It means that:
 * It is not enough to simply learn all the facts
 * Doing past papers and self-marking your answers is very important - it will help you to apply your knowledge
 * Content is still key - if your knowledge is not sound you will find it very difficult to apply your knowledge (the second type of question)

Using Past Papers Effectively
Past papers are a great way to build certain skills :
 * question reading
 * effective communication (and concise answers)
 * application of knowledge
 * data analysis

To do this however you should approach the past papers in the right way :
 * Close your books and notes (you are testing yourself)
 * Work in a quiet room and put up a do not disturb sign (for however long the paper is supposed to take)
 * Use an alarm clock - watch the time, learn to use your time allowance effectively
 * Use the advice in the section titled answering examination questions

Marking is most important part of a past paper:
 * Use a different colour pen
 * Be tough on yourself - if it's just close don't give the mark
 * Annotate your answers to show how you could have constructed a perfect answer
 * %s and grades are good to know (especially if you do well), but are only useful for setting targets
 * DON'T STOP HERE - use your learning from the paper to improve your revision notes

Answering Examination Questions

 * Answer the questions you find easiest first, don't waste your time.
 * Don't write too much - answers must fit in the space provided.
 * Don't leave blanks - a wrong answer get the same number of marks as a blank, you are losing nothing by guessing.
 * If it's a 3 mark question write 4 things - that way if you get one part wrong you can still get full marks.
 * Review ALL the questions and ALL the answers in the time you have remaining at the end - avoid silly mistakes.

Helpful documents

 * Revision tips from Miss B
 * Test your understanding of the outcomes - here they are listed as questions
 * Examiners tips for students (not the easiest document to read, but there is helpful advice in there)

Skills Questions
Paper 2 has a lot of these types of question, but some you will find in Paper 1 too. Skill questions can be thought of as:
 * CORMS (design an investigation)
 * SLAPU (draw an effective graph)
 * Experiments (you are required to understand certain methods and interpret the results)
 * Data analysis (you are given results and are asked to analyse them and draw conclusions)
 * Reading scientific information (you are given a passage of information and are asked to answer questions based on it)

Edexcel requires you to be aware of certain experimental methods. These notes on suggested labs detail the expectations. Learn both the method and how to interpret the results. They are as provided by Edexcel, in future they will be edited to be clearer to students. Use the quizlet cards to make sure you correctly use terminology associated with variables and experiments.
 * Experiments **

Design your own investigations. Read the advice on how to best approach design questions Look at the responses others have generated to design questions try to mark each student's work using the markscheme Try these sample questions
 * CORMS **

Review the CORMs criteria by using the quizlet flashcards

Drawing an effective graph is something you should be good at by now. Despite that read the advice and check whether your graphs would achieve full marks. Try these sample questions
 * SLAPU **

Approach these type of questions as you would writing up an investigation. Key points:
 * Data Analysis **
 * ALWAYS show workings when carrying out a calculation.
 * Describe questions are asking you to comment on the changes or evidence given in the results. NO EXPLANATION needed.
 * EXPLAIN questions are usually found after describe questions and these are asking for the scientific reasons behind the results.

The first question on paper two begins with a passage of writing on a particular piece of scientific information. You are expected to use the information to answer the following parts of the question. the following steps are designed to help you effectively approach answer the question:
 * Reading scientific information **
 * 1) carefully read the questions first, don't answer them yet
 * 2) now read the passage slowly underlining the key pieces of information
 * 3) go back to the questions and answer them whilst constantly referring back to the passage

//Any others that you find useful and want to share? Email or add them to the discussion page please//