GCSE revision can be stressful and overwhelming, and since no two subjects are the same, the way to revise for them has to be different as well. A biology tutor can help you prepare for exams by going through the content, exam technique and how to use the markscheme to your advantage, the same skills we focus on in SmartX’s sessions!
To really push for the highest grades in GCSE Biology there are a few key steps:
Understanding Content
Using the Markscheme to Your Advantage
Application of Knowledge
Get the Most out of a Past Paper
1. Understanding the Content
Complex content and multiple steps in processes make biological topics really difficult to remember. Learning your own unique ways to remember helps a lot, as your brain likes to make associations for memory.
For example, the reflex arc. It is a very common topic that comes up in the exam and easy to gain 3-4 marks if you know how:
The Reflex Arc
What is the Reflex Arc?
The arc shows the path of an automated nerve impulse in response to an external stimulus such as pricking your finger on a nail or touching a hot plate
Let’s say you touch an extremely hot plate. The receptors in your skin will detect the stimulus (the plate) and send an impulse down the sensory neuron to the relay neuron. The relay neuron is housed in the spinal cord and passes this impulse to the motor neuron, which is connected to an effector (usually a muscle cell). The effector brings about a response such as pulling your hand away immediately.
What is the Central Nervous System?
The Central Nervous System is made up of the Brain and Spinal Cord
Importantly, your brain isn’t involved in coordinating the response as it takes far too long to reach there. However, another impulse is sent to the brain notifying it about the reflex.
Techniques to remember the Reflex Arc?
A mnemonic such as: Silly Rabbits See Really Massive Elephants can really help to destress trying to remember the order!
How does the impulse jump between the neruones?
Gaps, called synapses, are present between the neurons. The impulse is changed to a chemical signal that diffuses between the neurons where it is converted back to an electrical impulse.
2. Using the Markscheme to your advantage
It’s the keywords! You have to use the reflex arc’s components in that order.
After completing some past papers you may have looked at the markscheme and looked and some words have been underlined
These words are necessary to get the marks. No matter how much you write, if it isn’t for these words, then you won’t be able to get the marks.
An experienced GCSE tutor can help students learn how to ‘think like an examiner’ and phrase their answers with precision.
The reflex arc’s order is also very necessary to get the marks.
3. Application of Knowledge
Recalling facts will only get you so far in GCSE Biology. The real challenge – and where the top marks come from – is from applying what you know to new and unfamiliar scenarios
To improve applicaiton skills:
Use practice questions regularly – ‘Explain why’ and ‘Suggest how’ questions require you to link knowledge from different topics together
Breakdown processes – identify what is happening, why it is happening and how is it happening.
Example Application Question:
A student accidentally touches a thorn on a rose bush. Explain how their nervous system responds to this. (4 marks)
The thorn acts as a stimulus, and the receptors within the skin detect the pain and send an electrical impulse through the sensory neuron to the relay neuron within the spinalcord. The impulse is then passed to a motorneuron, which carries it to an effector (muscle). The muscle contracts and pulls the hand away from the thorn. (4)
4. How to get the most out of a past paper:
Past papers are your best friends. The best way to make sure you know how to apply your knowledge is through past papers. They can also give you a lot of information on what to revise next. This is how you should do every past paper:
Complete a past paper in timed conditions
Make sure it is strictly timed, without any distractions. Pretend you are in your GCSE exam hall.
Mark your work using the markscheme but do NOT write the correct answers
When marking, use categories for lost marks, such as Silly Mistakes, Lack of Content, Not enough working out.
Go over the wrong answers and reattempt them in a differnet coloured pen
Mark your work again.
Use the markscheme to correct yourself and find any final lost marks.
This method is something SmartX Tutors use with students to help make a curated exam prep programme that can be used to build accuracy, confidence and exam timing.
