Molecular biology is one of the big topics of upper sec biology, and a topic that many students struggle with. Not only is it a big jump going from more ‘macro’ levels of biology to the molecular level, it is also content-heavy with a lot of processes and definitions to remember.
But with it being a sure topic to come out in the year end exams or O Level bio exams, there’s no running away from it. So how can you learn and revise the topic of molecular genetics more effectively?
Students who have done excellently well in biology have used these tips to conquer difficult topics in biology. Try them out for yourself!
1. Link it back to the big picture
Molecular biology consists of several layers of structures, starting from the building blocks of DNA, which forms gene sequences, and finally chromosomes. At each level, there are important processes to learn and remember. It can get confusing really quickly if you don’t have the big picture in mind.
One of our favourite ways to understand the big picture is to create a mind map. Understand the broad levels of organisation first before you delve into each level and the nitty-gritty processes and definitions. As you gather more information, you can add to your mind map so that you will always be clear about how the various concepts are connected.
2. Get visual
Molecules and cellular structures are not something we can see in our daily lives, although we are made up of them. It’s tough to understand things you may have never seen before, so it helps to have visual aids like diagrams and videos when you are learning the material.
Thankfully, online resources are so readily available these days. If there’s something you have trouble understanding, nothing’s stopping you from searching up videos of it on Youtube. We also recommend drawing out your own diagrams as the act of doing so helps you internalise the different parts and processes better!
3. Try fun ways to memorise information
Unfortunately, molecular biology at O Level or IP Sec 4 level is very content heavy and there’s no escaping that some things just need to be memorised. Understanding the concepts is not enough. You need to know which are the key points that are required for the answers in the exams.
While memorising is a must, you can try to make it more exciting for yourself by using fun ways to learn the information. Some things you can try:
- Create flash cards to test yourself
- Explain the concept to someone else
- Invent funny mnemonics
4. Practice past year papers
If your goal is to do well in the exams, you ought to know what the exam expects of you. Most frequently, there are some common questions that come up every year. Once you do enough past year papers, you will be familiar with them. However, try not to simply memorise the answers, but seek to understand them well! This ensures that you know how to tackle novel questions as well.
A very important part of practising is marking your papers. Make sure you mark your work so that you can see your own mistakes and which areas you are still lacking in. For similar questions, you can compare the answers and highlight the points which are important for answering similar questions.
Conclusion
Everyone has a topic that they struggle with. If yours is molecular genetics, we hope these study ideas could be of help to you! For more help such as structured revision sessions, personalised feedback, and consultations with our tutors, we welcome you to join us at our IP Biology tuition or O Level Biology tuition classes.