so i got a h u g e grade in our bio subject that was absolutely unexpected. i got a wopping 100 !!! ikr, freaky, but then our grades are transmuted so maybe my real grade percentage is 98 or 99. regardless, iâve never had this high of a grade before ever so itâs a huge huge deal for me who doesnât really aim for the top. here are some things i did last sem that may have led to this unexpectedly good grade
l e c t u r e / d i s c u s s i o n Â
pay attention to how the teacher mentions words and concepts. take down terms and concepts that he/she repeats or clarifies during the lecture. i suggest doing this on paper instead of your proper notebook/binder. i do this so iâll get forced to read the material again when i transfer it in my binder, allowing me to clarify and better understand the material.Â
take notes. seriously, take notes. this is my saving grace in bio class. i may not be one for aiming to be a top student but i write notes. use abbreviations and symbols. if your teacher talks too fast, donât write the whole word and skip bits, go back and complete them immediately after writing the sentence/phrase to avoid forgetting
take note of questions the teacher asks in class. this may be an important concept and has saved my ass in exam essays.
if your teacher/class is using one textbook as reference, use it, and know which chapters/topics the teacher is discussing in order to know which parts to study and not study. sometimes, teachers skip over some stuff. write in the sides of the book as needed.
if you think you canât handle paying attention to the class, or having a bad day, use your phone to record what the teacher is saying so you can listen to it later.
d u r i n g  l a b  a c t i v i t i e sÂ
make sure you know the procedures and are familiar with the concepts behind them. donât be that guy in the group whoâs just at the sidelines then asks what happened and copies answers. nonono.
 take pictures or videos of chemicals before and after, or as they are happening, if allowed by your teacher of course
take pictures or take note of the content in your lab report/experiment paper in order to have a reference in case the teacher doesnât return them before an exam
m i s c e l l a n e o u s  s t u f f  t o  r e m e m b e rÂ
google is just a type away, use it. sometimes, the books you have isnât enough (or most of the time in my case). donât just guess a concept. look it up.Â
use flashcards for memorizing terms and definitions. i suggest using quizlet for this one. thereâs an app and a website. itâs free. this has been my savior and buddy when it comes to cramming for quizzes and exams.
when the teacher gives you a reading assignment, READ IT. it will give you an opportunity to know which things to clarify and youâll be able to participate in classÂ
on the day of a bio class, when you can, rewrite notes as needed, then make flashcards of them in quizlet so you can easily review stuff during your down time. highly recommend downloading the phone app
search for videos if you canât clearly visualize a concept involving processes.Â
learn from your mistakes. when the teacher returns papers from quizzes, activities, etc., know what should have been the right answers to your wrong answers.
put summaries at the end part of your notes so youâll have an overviewÂ
when cramming a day before an exam, use flashcards. when cramming 3 hours before an exam, which i donât recommend despite doing it myself, familiarize and imagine the processes and concepts. give the terms funny appearances in your head. visualize.Â
donât wait for the deadline to be tomorrow before making an assignment or project. you donât just have this one class. thereâs no telling what stuff other classes might make you do
above all, donât forget to take breaks. know your limits. a good grade is not much when your head feels like a warzone. avoid pushing yourself too much to the point of breaking just to get that certain grade
whew, okay, thatâs it. maybe iâll add other stuff if i remember more. thanks for reading :D