GCSE Biology Revision

About Biology

Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary information encoded in genes, which can be transmitted to future generations. Another major theme is evolution, which explains the unity and diversity of life. Energy processing is also important to life as it allows organisms to move, grow, and reproduce. Finally, all organisms are able to regulate their own internal environments.

Biologists are able to study life at multiple levels of organization, from the molecular biology of a cell to the anatomy and physiology of plants and animals, and evolution of populations. Hence, there are multiple subdisciplines within biology, each defined by the nature of their research questions and the tools that they use. Like other scientists, biologists use the scientific method to make observations, pose questions, generate hypotheses, perform experiments, and form conclusions about the world around them.

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Studying Biology

Being successful in a biology class requires time, dedication, and memorization. Even if you don't plan to pursue a career in biology, there are ways you can engage with the material so that you can ace that next test. Start by focusing on being prepared and understanding the concepts of biology to do well in the course.

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Read your biology book ahead of time. Read any relevant chapters before class so that you can understand the lecture better. You will also be aware of any concepts that you have difficulty understanding. You can ask the teacher before class or during class to clarify these concepts.

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Take note of important biology concepts. As you are reading and studying before class, you should take notes. This way, you solidify the material in your mind. You should also scan or redraw any figures or diagrams that are important (e.g. they show up multiple times in the chapter).

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Bring notes to class. For every class, you should bring notes from previous classes. You should also bring your notes from independent studying, including pictures. This can give you an edge on taking notes in class, which will free up more time for you to absorb what the teacher is saying.