Biology Boot Camp: Study Skills
Dr. Judith Solti
Prior to the First Day of Class:
o Set/write down goals
o Organize the items you will need for class and at home
o Pack your carrier
o Start a day planner
o Organize your study space
Learning Styles:
 Visual learners: learn best by seeing
o Sit close to the professor
o Take detailed notes
o Draw pictures
o Make flash cards
o Focus on figures, charts, captions
o Use coloring books or atlases
o Use mental visualization

Auditory learners: learn best by hearing
o Listen to professor’s voice
o Read textbook and flash cards out loud
o Tape record lectures and listen to them later
o Listen during class instead of writing notes
o Work in study groups

Tactile learners: learn best by doing
o Highlight while reading
o Write your own notes
o Transfer your notes or type into a computer
o Use flash cards
o Use biology coloring books
Outside of Class:
o You should study at least 2-3 hours for every hour of class time.
o For a full-time 15 credit semester, that means that class time and study time should be
like a full-time job
o Every day you should:
o Do specific assignments
o Go over that day’s notes
o Read the corresponding sections in the textbook
o Quiz yourself
o Review your notes again
o Preview the next day’s material
o Research has shown that studying right before you go to sleep puts the material into your
subconscious
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Biology Boot Camp: Study Skills
Dr. Judith Solti
How to Read a Texbook: SQR3
o Survey
o Question
o Read
o Recite
o Review
Test and Quizzes:
o Best preparation is practice, practice, practice…..
o It is always better to study in small amounts regularly, than all at once the night before
o You won’t get extremely nervous before a test if you study well!
o If you have studied well, keep reminding yourself:
o I have prepared well for this test
o I know this material very well
o I can and will do well on this test
o I refuse to get nervous about one silly test
o I am ready and relaxed. Let’s do it!
o During the test:
o Read the question and all answer choices carefully
o If one of the answer choices is something you have never heard of, it can’t
possibly be the correct answer!
o Usually only 2 answers are even remotely appropriate
o Pick the best of those two answers…….go with your gut.
o Try to avoid going back and changing answers…..you’re overthinking and may
change a correct answer to an incorrect.
Three Undeniable Facts:
o You, and only you, chose to pursue this academic path
o You, and only you, are responsible for attaining the success you desire
o You, and only you, earn the grades you get.
Don’t forget: For your brain to be kind to you, you have to be kind to its home.
o You must take care of yourself physically---eat, sleep, exercise, and RELAX.
Dream big…………..Work hard!
August, 2012
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