Skip to content 
How To Study H2 Biology in JC Like a Pro:
Super Tutor’s Advices from Sophia Education
Biology’s content can be dense and dry at times, and requires a lot of memory work. Learning biology can be daunting, but with the right approach, it can be manageable and even interesting. This article shall discuss some tips for students to study and do well in this H2 Biology subject.
How To Study H2 Biology In JC Like a Pro
Firstly, let’s take a look at the A Level H2 Biology syllabus.
There will be 4 papers that students will sit for.
| Assessment | Content | Marks | Weighting / % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (1 h) | 30 compulsory multiple choice questions (MCQs), each MCQ will have 4 options to choose from. | 30 | 15 |
| Paper 2 (2 h) | A variable number of compulsory structured questions including data-based questions or comprehension-type questions. | 100 | 30 |
| Paper 3 (2 h) |
| 75 | 35 |
| Paper 4 (2 h 30 min) | Areas of assessment:
| 55 | 20 |
Topics
| Core Ideas | Extension Topics |
|---|---|
The Cell and Biomolecules of Life
Genetics and Inheritance Energy and Equilibrium
Biological Evolution |
|
Scoring well in this H2 Biology subject is crucial as many university courses require this subject as a prerequisite, such as biological sciences courses or even bioengineering! (Though it is specified as a Pass in H2 Chemistry or H2 Biology) Anyways, here are some tips on how to study H2 Biology like a pro, from our very own Super Tutors at Sophia Education:
1. Set some time aside everyday to memorise
There’s a lot to memorise for Biology, so there is definitely no escape from memory work. You need to devote a good amount of time doing so before your examinations. It would be wise to set aside specific times and sessions to memorise your biology content, long before your exam season. Memorising the content over a long period of time, as opposed to in short bursts days, or hours before your exams, is way more effective in the long run as your brain is able to better retain the information that you learnt. What memorisation technique works for you largely depends on the type of learner you are. If you’re a visual learner, making colourful and succinct cue cards might be helpful. For auditory, you might find trying to speak your content aloud more beneficial. Either way, you want to find ample time and the right memorising technique to overcome this huge hurdle in Biology.
There are many techniques of memorisation, so you should experiment with a few to see which works better for you. Some popular techniques are:
– Creating mnemonics: This involves creating short, catchy phrases or words to help you remember a certain concept or process. For example, the mnemonic H2O = H–O–H can be used to remember that water is a polar molecule because it contains a hydrogen bond.
– Writing out notes: This is a rather old-fashioned way of learning, but it definitely works for some people! Handwritten notes have been proven to be more effective in helping people remember information, as opposed to typing them out on a computer. If you’re someone who prefers this method, get a good quality notebook and start taking down notes!
– Drawing mind maps: Mind maps are a great tool for visualising complex concepts and organising information in an easily comprehensible manner. You can use them to break down the different topics in H2 Chemistry, and map out the relationships between different concepts. This will make revising for your examinations a lot easier as you’ll be able to see the bigger picture and remember everything in the right context.
– Repeat, repeat, repeat: This is probably the most common way that students learn. Reading through your notes multiple times will help embed the information in your brain, and before you know it, you’ll be able to recite them in your sleep!
2. Get plenty of practice.
One of the most important things that you can do when it comes to biology is to practice, practice, and practice some more. After all, practice makes perfect. This can be done through homework, past year papers, or even tuition. The structured questions require students to recognise which topic the question is grouped under and which concept to apply. One can only do that quickly and smoothly after gaining much exposure to a variety of different types of questions.
On our Sophia Education website, we provide both concise notes for every chapter and examination papers from many different schools. These resources can serve as a great reference for you to go over content and practice problems before your H2 Biology exam. Only with a lot of practice can you answer the examination questions fluently and accurately once you clear all your misconceptions and get the hang of it!
3. Understand, don’t just memorise
Many students make the mistake of thinking that H2 Biology is all about mugging and rote learning. However, this simply isn’t true. Yes, you will need to learn and memorise certain concepts, but understanding them is key if you want to do well for your H2 Biology examinations. If you don’t understand a concept, chances are that you will not be able to apply it properly to questions. This is why H2 Biology tuition is so important, as tutors will be able to explain concepts to you in a way that you’ll be able to understand and remember them better. For example, rather than just memorising the different steps of DNA replication, try to understand how and why each step occurs. This will make learning and retaining the information a lot easier, and you’ll be able to apply it to a variety of questions.
4. Keep up with current affairs
This might seem like an odd tip, but H2 Biology is a subject that is constantly evolving. New discoveries are being made all the time, and it’s important to keep up with them if you want to do well for your H2 Biology examinations. After all, you never know when a question on something that’s currently in the news might pop up as an application question! To stay updated on current affairs, we recommend reading articles from reputable sources such as Scientific American, National Geographic, or The Guardian.
5. Stay healthy and remember to relax
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to take care of your health if you want to do well in H2 Biology. After all, you won’t be able to focus on your studies if you’re feeling rundown and exhausted all the time. Eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly will help to boost your energy levels and keep your mind sharp.
Give yourself an ample amount of breaks! Having a good amount of rest and relaxation is pivotal to your mental health, and it also makes sure you have a refreshed mind for more learning!
Burnout is a serious problem that many junior college students face, crippling them and stunting their potential moments before the major exams. To avoid this, portion your time well between study-time and rest-time. During your rest-time sessions, do anything that makes you feel energized and happy! Play a sport, hang out with friends, read a book, maybe even take a nap!
Time used for self-care is not time wasted at all!
Sophia Education is one of the leading H2 biology tuition centres in Singapore. Our experienced and qualified tutors are dedicated to helping students understand complex concepts and ace their H2 biology examinations.
At Sophia Education, we understand that everyone has different capabilities and backgrounds, so we offer both 1-to-1 and small group classes to cater to the needs of all our students. This allows them to have a better understanding of the topic before they move on to more challenging topics. Such small class sizes also allow tutors to formulate customised lesson plans for each student according to their individual strengths and weaknesses.
With our personalised guidance and concise notes, your child will have a much better understanding of the concepts and be able to score higher grades in their exams. Contact us today to find out how we can help you achieve your academic goals!
Read Our Other Articles to Boost Your Grades
- 9 Tips to Studying in JC
- 7 Methods that will boost your H2 Chemistry Grade
- 4 Things To Do if you just Failed your JC Exams
- How To Excel in A-Level General Paper? – Ex JC lecturer’s secret advices
- 10 Highly Effective Studying Techniques for JC
- How to do well for H2 Physics
- Scoring A1 For O-Level English in Sophia Education: Top English Tuition’s Secret Advices
- Sophia Education: Top Notch JC Chemistry Tuition Centre in Singapore
- Mental Health Amongst Students in Singapore: Why & How to Solve It
- The Covid-19 Pandemic Effects on Singaporean Students
