Biology....yuck

[pattyg]

I am getting ready to flip out. I can barely get past the third chapter in the REA Biology book. I have taken and passed 5 CLEPs already, but this one....grroooooaaann!!! I just ordered the ST videos and I also ordered some book that someone on here recommended.
I thought that I would love Bio, but this stinks.
Any helpful advice?

[Inwe]

I would really suggest looking into the InstantCert flashcards if you have not already done so. Without them I would not have passed! They covered the material very throughly and in a logical, easy to follow manner. Also check out the Peterson practice tests, and the Specific Exam Feedback section. Good Luck!!

[cookderosa]

I am getting ready to flip out. I can barely get past the third chapter in the REA Biology book. I have taken and passed 5 CLEPs already, but this one....grroooooaaann!!! I just ordered the ST videos and I also ordered some book that someone on here recommended.
I thought that I would love Bio, but this stinks.
Any helpful advice?

>>


I am absolutely zero help, only to say I HEAR YA!!!!!!!!
Funny thing is, I thought I loved biology too. HA! Uh, yeah....I don't. I love butterflies and animals and trees and gardens and mountains and stars and oceans and rocks. As it turns out, what I love is called 6th grade science. hilarious
I have a deep appreciation for ANYONE who can major in one of the sciences, I clearly underestimated the brain power necessary to grasp those ideas. I took the class, and while I passed, I have not gotten my grade yet. I am certain it is the hardest class I ever had.

[gus]

Just hang in there, many of us here have gone through the same pain. Trust me, it does get easier towards the end and you'll walk away with loads of credit and hopefully get to enjoy the material.

Stubborn perseverance helped me with this one, others have found it more useful to relax every now and then.

What also helped me put things in perspective was watching a few related videos. I used Campbell's Biology textbook as a reference and the included CD had some interesting videos, very useful in making sense of the myriad of terms involved (especially cell biology). You may also find it helpful to use some mnemonic encoding to take some of the pain out of memorization (with the order of classification for example or the phases that cells go through).

[cookderosa]

Just hang in there, many of us here have gone through the same pain. Trust me, it does get easier towards the end and you'll walk away with loads of credit and hopefully get to enjoy material.

Stubborn perseverance helped me with this one, others have found it more useful to relax every now and then.

What also helped me put things in perspective was watching a few related videos. I used Campbell's Biology textbook as a reference and the included CD had some interesting videos, very useful in making sense of the myriad of terms involved (especially cell biology). You may also find it helpful to use some mnemonic encoding to take some of the pain out of memorization (with the order of classification for example or the phases that cells go through).

>>

I didn't find it got easier, but I did find some tricks. I also used videos (even a few on youtube). I am a fan of mnemonic devices, I won't share mine...they had a few curse words in them :eek: I'll let you make up your own

[knucyt]

Right there with you Pattyg and Cookderosa - just doing the brain, nervous system, eye for Pysch was an eye opnener for me - I too thought I liked learning Biology - loved it in school, got A's...but not anymore - and for a while I was even contemplating a 180 mid-life career switch and looked at nursing....!

As to using mnemonics - that's how I like to do it too, and the more outrageous they are the more memorable they are..including a few choice words not for polite company!

Pattyg - Have you checked out the Biology SparkCharts? Sometimes Sparkcharts help me get over that sense of being swamped with so much to learn on a particular subject. Once I have that framework in place, it helps me place the rest of the information in context more easily and does not seem so overwhelming. One block of info at a time!

[goldpaws]

If you are having so much trouble with the REA book, I advise you go back to the basics. My highschool biology book was just the ticket to pass. I read it from the beginning to the end, all over again. Priceless, and I got 8 credits for it. It's quite easy once you can differeniate a few names (like ocean-type subphylms vs worm subphylms)

P.S. I used the REA Book and my highschool textbook to pass. That's it!

[Danielp248]

I also had a tough time with the biology clep (i used REA only). But if you plan on taking the Natural Science CLEP as well its definitely worth the effort. Nat Sci is 50% biology, I passed the bio clep and then took the nat sci with no additional studying and got a 61. Thats 12 credits for the same biology material! You can do it!

[cookderosa]

Any chance you've got those mnemonics in a study guide format? (I can show ID - I'm definitely old enough for R-rated study material!)

Here, try this
MNEMONIC-DEVICE.EU - BIOLOGY - Searchable collection of assistive mnemonic devices (memory devices). Improve your study skills and memory. Memory aids for memory improvement.

[gus]

Cool site Jennifer, I wish I knew about it earlier.

Edit:
I just went over a few pages, this is so funny. My imagination sucked big time in comparison.