The Brain Structure
Chapter 3 Form 5
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Chapter 3 : Movement of Substances Across the Plasma Membrane
A. Passive Transport
i) Simple Diffusion
- not selective: lipid-soluble molecules, gases and water.
- not control by cell.
- movement of the molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.
- Factors affecting the rate of diffusion are temperature, size of molecules/ions, diffusion gradient, surface area and diffusion medium.
- example: diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the alveolus.
ii) Osmosis:
- only water molecules.
- not control by cell.
- movement of water from a region of higher concentration to one of lower concentration and often occurs across a semipermeable membrane.
- strong sucrose solution = less water molecule = low water potential.
- weak sucrose solution = more water molecule = high water potential.
- example: absorption of water by root hairs.
iii) Facilitated Diffusion:
- very specific: glucose, nucleic aicds, amino acids, protein and mineral ions.
- control by cell.
- transport of molecules (only certain molecules) across the outer membrane of living cell by a process of carrier protein (hydrophilic group) / channel protein (Ions: Na+, Ca2+, K+) within the cell membrane.
- normally take place from a region with higher concentration of molecules to a region of lower concentration.
- example: absorption of digested food in the villus.
B. Process of Active Transport
- very specific: minerals ions and amino acids.
- control by cell.
- This process needs carrier proteins and energy (due to against concentration gradient) from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration).
- Cell must expend energy that derived from ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
- example: human nerve cells (sodium ions are constantly transport out of the cell) / ions intake by root hairs of a plant.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Chapter 2 : Cell Structure and Cell Organisation
Unicellular – A single cell performs all the basic life process. Example: Amoeba sp., Paramecium sp.,
Multi cellular – An organism consists of more than one cell. Each group of cell specialized to carry our life processes. Example: Homo sapien (human), animals and plants. It has five levels of organisation
Cells: basic units of structure and function.
Example: Red blood cells and xylem vessel cells.
Example: Red blood cells and xylem vessel cells.
Tissues: made up of cells with similar in structure and function.
Example: Epithelial tissues and vascular tissues.
Example: Epithelial tissues and vascular tissues.
Organs: made up of tissues that perform a specific function.
Example: Heart and flower.
Example: Heart and flower.
System: two of more organs that perform a specific function.
Example: Digestive system and root system.
Example: Digestive system and root system.
Organisms: whole living thing that carry out all the basic life processes.
Example: Human and durian tree.
Example: Human and durian tree.
Cell Organisation (Unicellular) in Amoeba sp. (lives in freshwater ponds) and Paramecium sp. (lives in soil and moist area)
1. Cell structure
Amoeba sp.: plasma membrane, food vacuole, contractile vacuole, pseudopodia, nucleus, ectoplasm, endoplasm.
Paramecium sp.: food vacuole, posterior contractile vacuole, cytostome, gullet, oral groove, cilia, macronucleus, micronucleus, anterior contractile vacuole.
2. Locomotion
Amoeba sp.: Pseudopodium (false foot) helps it to move forward slowly and it is known as amoeboid movement.
Paramecium sp.: Hair-like cilia to beat against water. It beats its cilia backwards diagonally (swim forward) and it rotates on its axis. It beats its cilia forward (swim backwards).
3. Feeding
Amoeba sp.: Omnivore. Eat bacteria, plant cells, algae and other microscopic organisms.
Entrapment – extend pseudopodium.
Engulfment – engulf tiny food (phagocytosis) with its pseudopodia.
Digestion – food enclosed in food vacuole
Absorption – enzyme digests the bacteria
Egesting – expel indigestible material.
~Paramecium sp.: Eat bacteria, organic material and other microscopic organisms.
Sweeping – movement of cilia. Food moves along the oral groove into the gullet and cytostome.
Digestion – food vacuole circulates round the cell.
Elimination – undigested food is eliminated at the anal pore.
4. Reproduction
Amoeba sp.: two types of reproduction.
Binary Fission – nucleus divides (favourable condition) and then follows by division of cytoplasm. Two daughter cells are formed (mitotic division).
Spore Formation – spores form (bad condition) and germinate into new amoeba under favourable condition.
Paramecium sp.: two types of reproduction.
Binary Fission – micronucleus undergoes mitosis (favourable condition). Macronucleus begins to elongation and form two. Cell content divide and two daughter cells are formed.
Conjugation (Sexual reproduction) – two same species parent paramecia exchange genetic material of their micronuclei. Each parent divides and forms four daughter cells.
5. Osmoregulation
Amoeba sp.: water moves into the cell by osmosis and prevention of bursting, it has a contractile vacuole.
Paramecium sp.: water moves into the cell by osmosis and prevention of bursting, it has two contractile vacuoles.
6. Respiration
Amoeba sp. and Paramecium sp. (both): exchange gases throughout the whole cell membrane
7. Excretion
Amoeba sp. and Paramecium sp. (both): waste products are ammonia and carbon dioxide by diffusion. Solid waste in paramecium is expelled through its anal pore.
Cell Organisation (Multicellular) in Human
Cells: Epithelial cells, muscle cells, white blood cells, red blood cells, sperm, nerve cells.
Tissues: Epithelial tissue, smooth muscle tissue, connective tissue, skeletal tissue, nerve tissue.
Organs: Stomach, heart, kidney, lung, liver.
Systems: Circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, excretory system, muscular system, lymphatic system, integumentary system, skeletal system, nervous system, endocrine system, reproductive system.
Organisms: Human.
Cell Organisation in Plant
Cells: Parenchyma cells, collenchyma cells, sclerenchyma cells, epidermal cells.
Tissues: Epidermal tissue, meristem tissue, vascular tissue.
Organs: Leaf organ, flower organ, stem organ, root organ.
Organs: Leaf organ, flower organ, stem organ, root organ.
Systems: Shoot system, root system.
Organisms: Plant.
(Copyright to http://sureshkumarbio.wordpress.com/)
Chapter 1 : Introduction to Biology
Chapter 1: Introduction to Biology
• The word “Biology” comes from Greek words, ‘Bios’ meaning ‘Life’and ‘Logos’ meaning ‘Knowledge’.
• Biology is the study of every aspect of life at a every level of its organization
• Biology is the scientific study of life
Importance of Biology
• Biology has enabled us to understand heredity and the inheritance of genetic abnormalities that cause diseases.
• Many people use biology in their leisure activities, for example, gardening, fishing and cooking.
• Biology teaching us to empathize with living things and this generates awareness of ourselves as biological organisms.
• The fields of study in biology can also be classified according to their scope as follows:
1. Structure and Function
Anatomy, Biochemistry, Cytology, Histology, morphology, physiology
2. Major groupings of organisms
Bacteriology, Botany, Entomology, ichthyology, microbiology, Mycology,Ornithology, Taxonomy, Virology
3. Development of organisms
Embryology, Evolutionary Biology, Genetic, Developmental Biology
4. Organisms and their environment
4. Organisms and their environment
Ecology, Ethnology, Bio-geography
5. Applied Biology
5. Applied Biology
Agriculture, Biotechnology, fisheries, Forestry, Medicine, veterinary medicine, density
The Scientific Method
• The scientific method involves a series of ordered steps:
a) Make an observation
a) Make an observation
b) State the problem
c) Form of hypothesis
d) Identify the variables
e) Design and perform an experiment
f) Record and analyze data
g) State the conclusion
For more information, you can watch this video by IITV
( Chapter 1 The Study of Biology)
(Copyright to hamster-says.blogspot.com/)
Need Help?
These are tips from past year students. Their blogs are linked in the title. Go check these cool people out!
- Read, read and read. Do not attempt reading too many different boks. Stick to one or two books so that you can re-read and understand it better.
- Talk to yourself when reading. There's a lot to memorise so saying it aloud makes it more lively.
- Teach a friend a certain topic then ask your friend to teach you a different one. Interactive learning makes it more fun. My friends, Vinosha and Raihan and I used to stay back after school and discuss on certain topics together. I still remember teaching them Osmoregulation, then having them teaching me about Ultrafiltration in the kidneys ;) It was reallyy fun.
- Write down possible essay questions and list down your points. Memorise them.
- Try to visualise diagrams as you memorise. Memorising becomes easier when you see a picture to help you remember. If you are not sure how dialysis works, watch a YouTube video or google images.
- Do past year questions repeatedly and Trial Papers from other states especially Terengganu, Kelantan, KL and Perak.
2. Daniel Lim
- Studying tips
- When your teacher is teaching in class, pay attention to what your teacher says. Make sure you understand everything taught by your teacher. If you do not understand anything, ask your teacher or friends.
- You need a reference book because the textbook and practical book are not enough. I recommend you to use the Success Biology SPM reference book by Oxford Fajar.
- When studying a chapter, read through all the explanations in the reference book sentence by sentence. Make sure that you truly understand each sentence before moving on to the next sentence. Certain topics may require understanding of earlier topics, so make sure you understand those topics. You should also try to relate them to what your teacher had taught in school.
- You also need to read through all the experiments and activities in the reference book. You have to understand the Aim, Problem Statement, Hypothesis, Variables and List of Materials & Apparatus, Technique, Procedure, Tabulation of Data and Conclusion for all experiments. For the Procedure, read through it step by step. Make sure that you truly understand each step before moving on to the next step. To help you understand, try to imagine that you are carrying out the experiment. Understanding the Procedure will make it very easy for you to remember the List of Materials & Apparatus. You are also advised to be actively involved in all experiments carried out in school because this can help you understand and remember the procedure of experiment.
- Then, you have to remember everything that you understood. You can memorise the sentences in the book, or you can also create your own sentences that have the same meaning and memorise them. If you create your own sentences, make sure that you do not change the original meaning, do not leave out any important points and do not change the important keywords and scientific terms. However, do not just memorise without understanding. Once you have understood, it will be quite easy to remember and you will be unlikely to forget any of the points.
- For certain facts, there may be no explanation for them so it is not possible to understand them. In that case, you have to remember and memorise those facts.
- For the calculations, you need to know how to apply what you have learnt to solve the questions. Go through all the example questions in the revision book. Make sure that you understand how every question is solved.
- You have to regularly revise every topics again and again. When revising, go through all the explanation, facts, experiments and examples for calculation questions in the book. Make sure that you do not forget anything that you have understood previously. Regular and repeated revision will help you to remember all the explanation and facts for a long time.
- Then, you have to do exercises. Buy exercise books from the bookshop. You can start by doing topical questions topic by topic. When you have understood all topics, proceed with doing SPM model test papers, past year SPM trial questions and past year actual SPM questions. They should be available from bookshops. After doing the exercises, refer to the suggested answer or mark scheme and do self marking.
- You should sometimes refer to the mark scheme of past year SPM trial papers to find out how every question is marked and which points need to be included in the answers for every question. Usually, the same types of questions will have similar mark scheme, so this can help you when answering exam questions.
- For Biology Paper 3, the pattern of questions set is similar for every year. You should familiarise yourself with the pattern by looking at past year questions.
- When doing revision before exam, you should first go through the subtopics and experiments that you think is more difficult or that you may have forgotten. Then, go through other topics as well if possible.
- Paper 1
- Paper 2 Section A & B
- When answering, read the question and all information given carefully. Make sure that you know what the question is asking for. Answer the questions based on your knowledge and understanding on the relevant topic in Biology. Certain questions may test you on more than one topics. For some questions, you may have to apply what you have learnt in Biology in order to answer them. You have to think carefully and relate the question to what you have learnt. You may also be asked to give your own opinions.
- When writing your answer, you can use the same or similar words or sentences as those in revision books if possible. However, sometimes you may need to make some changes in order to suit the question. You can also answer in your own sentences that have the same meaning. If the question asks on something that is not in revision books (the question requires you to apply what you have learnt in Biology or give your own opinion), then you have to answer in your own sentences. For all questions, your answer must be specific and not too general. Give the most suitable answer according to the question.
- You should use the correct Biological terms in your answer. Do not replace them with other terms that are inappropriate, even if their meaning are the same. The spelling for all Biological terms must also be correct, otherwise marks may be deducted. For other non-Biological terms, marks is not deducted for wrong spelling. If your make grammatical errors in your answer, marks will not be deducted as long as the examiner can understand what you are writing. Do not use any short forms in your answer, except when writing units for quantities. For all chemical substances, you should write the complete name and do not write only the chemical formula.
- It is not compulsory to answer in continuous writing form. You are allowed to answer in table form or other suitable forms. In suitable cases, you can also use diagrams, equations or graphs in your answer. However, you are not advised to answer in point form. There is not penalty for answering in point form, but some inexperienced examiners may deduct your marks if you do so.
- When answering questions on calculation, you must show all workings. You should not skip any important steps, otherwise marks may be deducted. You must also write the correct unit for the final answer. The number of marks allocated for the question usually shows the amount of working needed. 1 mark will be given for each important step and the final answer. You are not allowed to write extra solutions or answers. If you do so and any of the answers or solutions is wrong, marks will be deducted.
- If the question says 'Explain', 'Describe', 'Discuss', 'Justify', 'Give reasons' or something similar, you should give facts and elaborations in your answer. Your answer must be very detailed. You are advised to answer in complete sentences so that your answer can be easily understood. The number of marks allocated for the question usually shows the number of points needed in your answer. 1 mark is given for each correct point. Do not miss out any important points in your answer. You are allowed to write extra points in your answer, but you must be careful not to write points that contradict one another. Marks will only be given for the correct points. For points that are not acceptable, whether they contain wrong facts or not, no mark will be given or deducted. However, for points that contradict one another, no mark will be given for both the points, even if one of them is correct. You are advised to write extra points if you are not completely sure of what the question is asking for.
- If the question says 'State', 'Give', 'Name' or something similar, you only need to write facts without elaboration. Write the answer straight away. You need not answer in complete sentences. The number of marks allocated for the question usually shows the number of answers needed. If the question states the number of answers you have to write, then you are not allowed to write extra answers. If you do so and any of them is wrong, marks can be deducted. If the question does not state the number of answers you have to write, you are allowed to write extra answers, but you must be careful not to write answers that contradict one another. Marks will only be given for the correct answers. For answers that are not acceptable, whether they contain wrong facts or not, no mark will be given or deducted. However, for answers that contradict one another, no mark will be given for both the answers, even if one of them is correct.
- When plotting graph, draw both the horizontal and vertical axis on the graph paper correctly. Label both axis correctly and state the unit (if any). Use a suitable scale for both axis. Plot all points on the graph accurately. Then, if it is possible to draw a curve or straight line that passes through all points on the graph, you should do so. If it is not possible, you can just use straight lines to join them point-to-point. The graph should cover at least half of the graph paper.
- When drawing diagrams, make sure that all important details are included in the diagram you draw. You have to label correctly all parts in the diagram. Your diagram should be clear and neat.
- Paper 3 Question 1
- You should use the correct Biological and experimental terms in your answer. Do not replace them with other terms that are inappropriate, even if their meaning are the same. The spelling for all Biological and experimental terms must also be correct, otherwise marks may be deducted. For other terms, marks is not deducted for wrong spelling. If your make grammatical errors in your answer, marks will not be deducted as long as the examiner can understand what you are writing. Do not use any short forms in your answer, except when writing units for quantities. For all chemical substances, you should write the complete name and do not write only the chemical formula.
- When answering parts of the question on calculation, you must show all workings. You should not skip any important steps, otherwise marks can be deducted. You must also write the correct unit for the final answer. You are not allowed to write extra solutions or answers. If you do so and any of the answers or solutions is wrong, marks will be deducted.
- When answering parts of the question that require explanation or description, your answer must be very detailed. You are advised to answer in complete sentences so that your answer can be easily understood. The number of marks allocated for each part of the question is always 3. The marks are given based on the quality of your answer, so it does actually depend on the number of points in your answer. However, you should not miss out any important points in your answer. You are allowed to write extra points in your answer, but you must be careful not to write any points with wrong facts or points that contradict one another. Marks will only be given for the correct points. For points that are not acceptable but does not contain wrong facts, no mark will be given or deducted. However, for points that contain wrong facts or points that contradict one another, marks may be deducted.
- When answering parts of the question that do not require explanation or description, write the answer straight away. You need not answer in complete sentences. You are not allowed to write extra answers. If you do so and any of them is wrong, marks can be deducted. For the Constant Variable, you only need to write one answer, although there may be many.
- When recording numerical data from an instrument used in the experiment, the number of decimal places used should be equal to the smallest division of scale of the instrument, unless if there is special instruction in the question. (For example, if the instrument's smallest division of scale is 0.1, you should record the data to the nearest 0.1, which is 1 decimal place.) Do not give more or less number of decimal places. You must also write the correct units.
- When plotting graph, draw both the horizontal and vertical axis on the graph paper correctly. Label both axis correctly and state the unit (if any). Use a suitable scale for both axis. Plot all points on the graph accurately. Then, if it is possible to draw a curve or straight line that passes through all points on the graph, you should do so. If it is not possible, you can just use straight lines to join them point-to-point. The graph should cover at least half of the graph paper.
- Paper 3 Question 2
- When writing the procedure, you must include all the steps to set up the apparatus, steps to handle the manipulated, responding & fixed variable and the precautionary steps. You should state the amount and concentration of the substances used. You are advised to answer in complete sentences so that your answer can be easily understood. You do not need to draw the diagram of set-up apparatus.
- When tabulating the data of experiment, you should include all the manipulated variables and the header for the manipulated & responding variable, and you can leave blank for the results of the experiment (responding variable).
- You can use the same or similar words or sentences as those in revision books if possible. However, sometimes you may need to make some changes in order to suit the question. You can also answer in your own sentences that have the same meaning. You are not allowed to write extra answers. If you do so and any of them is wrong, marks can be deducted. For the Constant Variable, you only need to write one answer, even though there may be many.
- You should use the correct experimental terms in your answer. Do not replace them with other terms that are inappropriate, even if their meaning are the same. The spelling for all experimental terms must also be correct, otherwise marks may be deducted. For other terms, marks is not deducted for wrong spelling. If your make grammatical errors in your answer, marks will not be deducted as long as the examiner can understand what you are writing. Do not use any short forms in your answer. For all chemical substances, you should write the complete name and do not write only the chemical formula.
How to Score A(s) in SPM Biology (3 Berry Berry Easy Level) : MMM
“In Biology, the MMM method will be needed to score A. What is the MMM method that Berry Berry Teacher recommends? To use this method to score A in SPM Biology, you will be needing a high memory capacity and passion towards this Berry Berry Easy subject. With Berry Berry teacher’s tips, you will definitely score A in SPM Biology. Biology is a subject that needs a lot of memorisation in the structures, processes and concepts. Berry Berry big memory capacity!“ – Berry Berry Teacher
M – Memory level : You must memorise the structures and mechanisms, from a simple cell structure to the most complicated anatomy structure. Besides that, the heart structure and blood circulation are important topic that you must memorise too! Try to visualize the process (or you can try to find some interesting video online).This will help you in paper 2 (essay) which requires you to explain the processes and methods.
M – Maintained level: You must maintain your memory level at the highest level by writing out important data and keywords repeatedly (as many time as possible). The best method would be to get more sample essays and start to memorise it everyday. Try to get few friends to prepare important notes. It will save a lot of time in the preparation of Biology notes and free up more time for your revision.
M – Mastery level: You must find important keywords. Start practicing from keywords for the essays (P2). Write essays regularly. If possible, an essay per day. You will definitely score an A in SPM Biology. Besides that, you must also master the food testing experiment, respiration mechanisms, blood circulation and digestion. The aforementioned topics are the few Berry Berry Important Topics that you must master.
1. Please SELECT ONE reference book only as your primary reference (apart from your textbook).
2. Please DON’T DUMP YOUR TEXTBOOK although we may think GOSH, THE TEXTBOOK SAYS RELATIVELY LESS THAN THE REFERENCE BOOK because IT IS THE MAIN OUTLINE FOR YOUR SYLLABUS
3. AFTER OBEYING THE TOP 2 RULES ABOVE:
(i) Read the textbook first- 2 rounds
(ii) Then read your reference book. MAKE IT A HABIT TO POINT OUT THE FACTS WHICH ARE NOT MENTIONED IN YOUR TEXTBOOK BUT ARE STATED IN YOUR REFERENCE BOOK! HIGHLIGHT THEM.
(iii) Remember, when you read your reference book for the first time, observe which facts are already in your textbook and which facts aren’t. For facts which you can find in the textbook but are not stated in the reference, please scribble them in your reference book. Then HIGHLIGHT IT.
(iv) Read/skim through the reference book of your choice once through (for that particular unit/chapter). You CAN’T remember most of what you read at this stage. BUT, take note of the main topics covered in the chapter, the WHOLE outline of the chapter and ALL the definitions involved.
(v) Then, read for the SECOND TIME, SLOWLY AND INTELLIGENTLY. (Intelligent here means ‘To question every fact you read’. E.g. Why is photosynthesis called ‘photosynthesis’? Why? What is involved? How? What are the factors affecting photosynthesis? If possible, after reading a certain paragraph/section/unit, you BETTER make diagrams to help you remember.)
(vi) Whilst reading for the second time, it is better to have highlighters with you. Highlight the phrases which are striking to you (striking means, which you know you’ll surely forget). After highlighting, please READ THROUGH THE CHAPTER/UNIT/SECTION again, and start UNDERSTANDING EVERY WORD YOU READ.
(vii) Remember, DON’T MEMORIZE, instead UNDERSTAND. Really know what mechanisms/processes/factors/inferences and how they apply/work. Don’t go about blindly memorizing (and please refer to a dictionary is you don’t understand any words).
E.g. of ‘memorizing’ cases:
Teacher: please define what Eutrophication is?
Student: (after blindly memorizing) Erm, it is the artificial nutrient enrichment of the aquatic system with organic material or inorganic nutrients causing an excessive growth of aquatic life.
Teacher: Good. Can you explain what you have just said?
Student: I just memorize, but I don’t know what I am saying.
4. Start to make short notes RIGHT AFTER YOU HAVE READ THE REFERENCE. Close the book, chuck it away and then to test yourself how much you remember, for example you have just studied ‘The Process of Mitosis’, scribble on palm-sized cards what Mitosis is about. Please write in POINT FORM and KEY WORDS. USE UNDERSTANDABLE SHORTFORMS.
E.g. MITOTIC CELL DIVISION
Interphase: G1-gap-synthesize new matl.- MetaRa high-crucial- decision- divide/not- chrom fine- x-visible-
still chromatin
S-synthesis- replicate- 2 ident. Sis. Chromatids- iden. Copy of chrom orig. DNA
G2-gap- cont. grow- MetaRa still high- accum E- compl. Final prep. 4 div.
(doesn’t matter whether your friends understand it or not, this IS your system of remembering)
If you can’t remember, just move on to other point s you still recall. Then refer back. After that, jot them on your short-notes-palm-cards. Highlight those points you failed to remember on your palm cards.
5. Read through your palm cards. Connect IN YOUR HEAD the words you have written to form the COMPLETE idea. Scan through the cards a few times until you are SO FAMILIAR WITH THE WORDS YOU HAVE JOTTED UNTIL YOU CAN EVEN FORM WHOLE PARAGRAPHS BY JUST LOOKING AT THOSE SCRIBBLED WORDS/SHORT FORMS.
6. READ them aloud to YOURSELF.
7. Question yourself and test yourself based on your palm cards.
8. Once you have mastered your palm cards, read the reference book again. See which information still sounds ‘foreign’ to you. (‘Foreign’ meaning you seem to be unable to remember them easily. Jot then on a piece of paper labeled ‘Points to remember’. Read this after you have read your palm cards.)
9. Once you have exhausted your reference book, you are PERMITTED to REPEAT this process (steps 3 to 8) on ANOTHER reference book of your choice. Add whatever points that are NEW to you to your palm cards. Points/Definitions which you find difficult to memorize MUST be written on the ‘Points To Remember’ paper. Please use separate palm cards for separate units. After finishing the entire syllabus, you’ll have a THICK stack of palm cards, but the entire reference book in your head.
10. Now that you have roughly the Textbook, Reference book and possibly another reference book in your head, YOU MUST START TEACHING. Start with yourself. Lecture yourself on the unit you have just studied and made notes on. If it doesn’t sound right to you, re-check and then re-lecture yourself. You may repeat to yourself as many times as you want until you’re comfortable (meaning very very familiar) with your subject matter. Lecture yourself till you’ve finished the entire unit/section of that chapter.
11. If you’re still jerky, you may refer to your reference book .
12. If you have an audience (a parent at home/sibling), you may ‘preach’ what you have studied to him/her. If she/he can understand what you are saying, then you have just become a reference book. Good!
13. If you haven’t, then you may want to lecture yourself again.
14. Now you have already had roughly 70% of the unit/section in your head. You may think you a;ready know it well enough but we need to really test it. DO QUESTIONS FROM ALL THE EXERCISE BOOKS. Good publishers you should must at least finish: Pelangi, Arah Pendidikan, Sasbadi, Longman. If you don’t know, REFER BACK to your notes. If the ‘answer’ can’t be found there, REFER to your REFERENCE book. If you find it there, PLEASE WRITE YOUR ANSWER USING RED INK. No point CHEATING. And based on my observation, you tend to remember your mistakes better with red ink. (LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES OK).
15. If the answer can’t be found in any reference book (including the school textbook), DON’T REFER to the answers at the back of the exercise book yet. FINISH ALL THE OTHER QUESTIONS FIRST.
16. Check your answers. DO CORRECTION WITH RED INK (OR ANY WAY YOU WANT, AS LONG AS YOU REMEMBER)
17. Make an ANALYSIS OF YOUR ERRORS. Cross refer with your palm-notes and if your palm-notes lack the answers you were looking for when you were answering the questions, please UPDATE them. Then refer back to your reference book and read up on the sections where errors occurred. UNDERLINE THE FACTS INVOLVED WITH RED-INK.
18. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ATTEMPT QUESTIONS OF ALL EXERCISE BOOKS. DO AND LEARN.
19. After doing the exercise books, I advise you to OPEN YOUR PAST-YEAR QUESTION BOOK. (It is okay to buy your past-year question book in Form 4, you’ll just be short of 1 year’s paper in Form 5)
20. LOOK for all questions PERTAINING TO THE UNIT/SECTION YOU HAVE JUST STUDIED.
21. DO THOSE QUESTIONS AND CHECK YOUR ANSWER. REPEAT STEPS 14-17.
22. It’s ok to SCRIBBLE random short notes/’symbolisms’ all over your exercise books/ reference books to help you remember facts and concepts. You draw use crude pictures to help you remember.
23. NOTE: DO the structured questions first, then check. Then, ATTEMPT the ESSAY QUESTIONS.
24. FOR ESSAY QUESTIONS, apply STEPS 14-17. Write the points you left out in red ink and jot them in your palm notes. Refer to your reference book and highlight the points involved. (Place an * next to the points you forgot to mention in the essay/structured questions. Highlight them as well and underline them in red ink.)
25. For EXPERIMENTS in that particular section/unit you are studying (if any), READ THEM AFTER YOU HAVE MANAGED TO MASTER THE FACTS IN THAT PARTICULAR SECTION/UNIT. Please take note of the:
1-OBJECTIVE
2-HYPOTHESIS
3-VARIABLES
4-APPARATUS/MATERIALS
5-TECHNIQUE
6-PROCEDURES USED TO CONTROL ALL VARIABLES , MEASURE/CALIBRATE RESULTS, AND TO RECORD READINGS (DO REMEMBER THE INSTRUMENTS/FORMULA/METHOD/CONCEPT YOU USED/APPLIED IN YOUR PROCEDURES)
7-PRESENTATION OF DATA/ TABULATION OF DATA/ OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS
8-ANALYSIS OF DATA/ GRAPHS
9-CONCLUSION
10-DISCUSSION AND ALL THE INFERENCES FOR THE OBSERVATIONS
26. MAKE PALM NOTES (again repeat steps 4-8) and ATTEMPT THE QUESTIONS. Repeat steps 14-17.
27. When studying Experiment questions, PAY ATTENTION to the Hypothesis, the Observations/Results and their Inferences, Graphs, and the Discussion section. AND ALSO PAY ATTENTION TO SET-UP OF APPARATUS---understand as to why the apparatus is set up that way (e.g. why the Liebig condenser always has water flowing through the lower nozzle and exiting through the upper nozzle which is the first point of contact between the steam and the glass wall of the Liebig condenser. To help you remember, this is the reason why coolants i.e. water, is flowed flow the lower 'cooler' point to the upper 'warmer' point:To maintain a smooth and correctly directed thermal gradient so as to minimise the risk of thermal shock to adjacent glassware (in other words, to prevent the glass from cracking). Sketch the diagramme of the set-up a few times to be familiar with it and record it on a piece of palm card for your quick reference.
28. When studying experiment questions, do not forget to try to speculate what kind of ‘operational-definition’ questions may be asked in Paper 3. And you may also want to start asking yourself ‘deduction’ questions. (Such as ‘Based on the observations above, what can you deduce about…)
29. Having done all these steps 3-28, you MUST STILL REFER TO YOUR PALM NOTES AT LEAST ONCE DAILY. No last minute work is permitted. And refer to the exercises you’ve done before constantly. A once-daily skimming suffices.
30. WHAT IF you can’t find time to do structured/essay exercises? You may look at the answers at the back of the book and make them your study notes. Treat the answer sheet as your short/express notes. No harm. But of course I’ll still encourage you to attempt the exercises if you can.
31. Concerning Diagrams and Pictures: In the exam they may ask you to draw a diagram/sketch/anatomy, hence you must also take note how to draw those diagrams, e.g. the Anatomy of the Respiratory System of a Frog. You may sketch these diagrams in your palm notes or in your personal exercise book which you may name ‘MY DIAGRAMS FOR BIO’. Don’t forget to label them (in your book and in your exam)
3. AFTER OBEYING THE TOP 2 RULES ABOVE:
(i) Read the textbook first- 2 rounds
(ii) Then read your reference book. MAKE IT A HABIT TO POINT OUT THE FACTS WHICH ARE NOT MENTIONED IN YOUR TEXTBOOK BUT ARE STATED IN YOUR REFERENCE BOOK! HIGHLIGHT THEM.
(iii) Remember, when you read your reference book for the first time, observe which facts are already in your textbook and which facts aren’t. For facts which you can find in the textbook but are not stated in the reference, please scribble them in your reference book. Then HIGHLIGHT IT.
(iv) Read/skim through the reference book of your choice once through (for that particular unit/chapter). You CAN’T remember most of what you read at this stage. BUT, take note of the main topics covered in the chapter, the WHOLE outline of the chapter and ALL the definitions involved.
(v) Then, read for the SECOND TIME, SLOWLY AND INTELLIGENTLY. (Intelligent here means ‘To question every fact you read’. E.g. Why is photosynthesis called ‘photosynthesis’? Why? What is involved? How? What are the factors affecting photosynthesis? If possible, after reading a certain paragraph/section/unit, you BETTER make diagrams to help you remember.)
(vi) Whilst reading for the second time, it is better to have highlighters with you. Highlight the phrases which are striking to you (striking means, which you know you’ll surely forget). After highlighting, please READ THROUGH THE CHAPTER/UNIT/SECTION again, and start UNDERSTANDING EVERY WORD YOU READ.
(vii) Remember, DON’T MEMORIZE, instead UNDERSTAND. Really know what mechanisms/processes/factors/inferences and how they apply/work. Don’t go about blindly memorizing (and please refer to a dictionary is you don’t understand any words).
E.g. of ‘memorizing’ cases:
Teacher: please define what Eutrophication is?
Student: (after blindly memorizing) Erm, it is the artificial nutrient enrichment of the aquatic system with organic material or inorganic nutrients causing an excessive growth of aquatic life.
Teacher: Good. Can you explain what you have just said?
Student: I just memorize, but I don’t know what I am saying.
4. Start to make short notes RIGHT AFTER YOU HAVE READ THE REFERENCE. Close the book, chuck it away and then to test yourself how much you remember, for example you have just studied ‘The Process of Mitosis’, scribble on palm-sized cards what Mitosis is about. Please write in POINT FORM and KEY WORDS. USE UNDERSTANDABLE SHORTFORMS.
E.g. MITOTIC CELL DIVISION
Interphase: G1-gap-synthesize new matl.- MetaRa high-crucial- decision- divide/not- chrom fine- x-visible-
still chromatin
S-synthesis- replicate- 2 ident. Sis. Chromatids- iden. Copy of chrom orig. DNA
G2-gap- cont. grow- MetaRa still high- accum E- compl. Final prep. 4 div.
(doesn’t matter whether your friends understand it or not, this IS your system of remembering)
If you can’t remember, just move on to other point s you still recall. Then refer back. After that, jot them on your short-notes-palm-cards. Highlight those points you failed to remember on your palm cards.
5. Read through your palm cards. Connect IN YOUR HEAD the words you have written to form the COMPLETE idea. Scan through the cards a few times until you are SO FAMILIAR WITH THE WORDS YOU HAVE JOTTED UNTIL YOU CAN EVEN FORM WHOLE PARAGRAPHS BY JUST LOOKING AT THOSE SCRIBBLED WORDS/SHORT FORMS.
6. READ them aloud to YOURSELF.
7. Question yourself and test yourself based on your palm cards.
8. Once you have mastered your palm cards, read the reference book again. See which information still sounds ‘foreign’ to you. (‘Foreign’ meaning you seem to be unable to remember them easily. Jot then on a piece of paper labeled ‘Points to remember’. Read this after you have read your palm cards.)
9. Once you have exhausted your reference book, you are PERMITTED to REPEAT this process (steps 3 to 8) on ANOTHER reference book of your choice. Add whatever points that are NEW to you to your palm cards. Points/Definitions which you find difficult to memorize MUST be written on the ‘Points To Remember’ paper. Please use separate palm cards for separate units. After finishing the entire syllabus, you’ll have a THICK stack of palm cards, but the entire reference book in your head.
10. Now that you have roughly the Textbook, Reference book and possibly another reference book in your head, YOU MUST START TEACHING. Start with yourself. Lecture yourself on the unit you have just studied and made notes on. If it doesn’t sound right to you, re-check and then re-lecture yourself. You may repeat to yourself as many times as you want until you’re comfortable (meaning very very familiar) with your subject matter. Lecture yourself till you’ve finished the entire unit/section of that chapter.
11. If you’re still jerky, you may refer to your reference book .
12. If you have an audience (a parent at home/sibling), you may ‘preach’ what you have studied to him/her. If she/he can understand what you are saying, then you have just become a reference book. Good!
13. If you haven’t, then you may want to lecture yourself again.
14. Now you have already had roughly 70% of the unit/section in your head. You may think you a;ready know it well enough but we need to really test it. DO QUESTIONS FROM ALL THE EXERCISE BOOKS. Good publishers you should must at least finish: Pelangi, Arah Pendidikan, Sasbadi, Longman. If you don’t know, REFER BACK to your notes. If the ‘answer’ can’t be found there, REFER to your REFERENCE book. If you find it there, PLEASE WRITE YOUR ANSWER USING RED INK. No point CHEATING. And based on my observation, you tend to remember your mistakes better with red ink. (LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES OK).
15. If the answer can’t be found in any reference book (including the school textbook), DON’T REFER to the answers at the back of the exercise book yet. FINISH ALL THE OTHER QUESTIONS FIRST.
16. Check your answers. DO CORRECTION WITH RED INK (OR ANY WAY YOU WANT, AS LONG AS YOU REMEMBER)
17. Make an ANALYSIS OF YOUR ERRORS. Cross refer with your palm-notes and if your palm-notes lack the answers you were looking for when you were answering the questions, please UPDATE them. Then refer back to your reference book and read up on the sections where errors occurred. UNDERLINE THE FACTS INVOLVED WITH RED-INK.
18. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ATTEMPT QUESTIONS OF ALL EXERCISE BOOKS. DO AND LEARN.
19. After doing the exercise books, I advise you to OPEN YOUR PAST-YEAR QUESTION BOOK. (It is okay to buy your past-year question book in Form 4, you’ll just be short of 1 year’s paper in Form 5)
20. LOOK for all questions PERTAINING TO THE UNIT/SECTION YOU HAVE JUST STUDIED.
21. DO THOSE QUESTIONS AND CHECK YOUR ANSWER. REPEAT STEPS 14-17.
22. It’s ok to SCRIBBLE random short notes/’symbolisms’ all over your exercise books/ reference books to help you remember facts and concepts. You draw use crude pictures to help you remember.
23. NOTE: DO the structured questions first, then check. Then, ATTEMPT the ESSAY QUESTIONS.
24. FOR ESSAY QUESTIONS, apply STEPS 14-17. Write the points you left out in red ink and jot them in your palm notes. Refer to your reference book and highlight the points involved. (Place an * next to the points you forgot to mention in the essay/structured questions. Highlight them as well and underline them in red ink.)
25. For EXPERIMENTS in that particular section/unit you are studying (if any), READ THEM AFTER YOU HAVE MANAGED TO MASTER THE FACTS IN THAT PARTICULAR SECTION/UNIT. Please take note of the:
1-OBJECTIVE
2-HYPOTHESIS
3-VARIABLES
4-APPARATUS/MATERIALS
5-TECHNIQUE
6-PROCEDURES USED TO CONTROL ALL VARIABLES , MEASURE/CALIBRATE RESULTS, AND TO RECORD READINGS (DO REMEMBER THE INSTRUMENTS/FORMULA/METHOD/CONCEPT YOU USED/APPLIED IN YOUR PROCEDURES)
7-PRESENTATION OF DATA/ TABULATION OF DATA/ OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS
8-ANALYSIS OF DATA/ GRAPHS
9-CONCLUSION
10-DISCUSSION AND ALL THE INFERENCES FOR THE OBSERVATIONS
26. MAKE PALM NOTES (again repeat steps 4-8) and ATTEMPT THE QUESTIONS. Repeat steps 14-17.
27. When studying Experiment questions, PAY ATTENTION to the Hypothesis, the Observations/Results and their Inferences, Graphs, and the Discussion section. AND ALSO PAY ATTENTION TO SET-UP OF APPARATUS---understand as to why the apparatus is set up that way (e.g. why the Liebig condenser always has water flowing through the lower nozzle and exiting through the upper nozzle which is the first point of contact between the steam and the glass wall of the Liebig condenser. To help you remember, this is the reason why coolants i.e. water, is flowed flow the lower 'cooler' point to the upper 'warmer' point:To maintain a smooth and correctly directed thermal gradient so as to minimise the risk of thermal shock to adjacent glassware (in other words, to prevent the glass from cracking). Sketch the diagramme of the set-up a few times to be familiar with it and record it on a piece of palm card for your quick reference.
28. When studying experiment questions, do not forget to try to speculate what kind of ‘operational-definition’ questions may be asked in Paper 3. And you may also want to start asking yourself ‘deduction’ questions. (Such as ‘Based on the observations above, what can you deduce about…)
29. Having done all these steps 3-28, you MUST STILL REFER TO YOUR PALM NOTES AT LEAST ONCE DAILY. No last minute work is permitted. And refer to the exercises you’ve done before constantly. A once-daily skimming suffices.
30. WHAT IF you can’t find time to do structured/essay exercises? You may look at the answers at the back of the book and make them your study notes. Treat the answer sheet as your short/express notes. No harm. But of course I’ll still encourage you to attempt the exercises if you can.
31. Concerning Diagrams and Pictures: In the exam they may ask you to draw a diagram/sketch/anatomy, hence you must also take note how to draw those diagrams, e.g. the Anatomy of the Respiratory System of a Frog. You may sketch these diagrams in your palm notes or in your personal exercise book which you may name ‘MY DIAGRAMS FOR BIO’. Don’t forget to label them (in your book and in your exam)
*Hope you are in a better understanding with the tips on Biology. If you still do not understand, just go and see Puan Haslida. She knows everything. :P
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