Yeah that's why I started the channel in some sense... I teach OCR Bio but was disappointed that there isn't any proper video explaining the content so I thought I'd start making them XD Thanks for watching!
Hi,I just wanted to say a massive thank you for all these videos,because of you I bumped up two grades from my year 12 to year 13 mock. With the advanced information,it states that biotechnology is the highest marked topic in paper 1 and it's on the list for paper 3. Please could you do an in detail video covering everything we need to know,before summer exams? I would really appreciate it! Tysm again
Nope, not really. Be aware of the actual microorganism used in each process, but I wouldn't worry about the details of it. Rather than spending ages memorising examples, I'd suggest to dedicate your energy to learning more crucial stuff. Thanks for watching! :)
Thank you once again for posting your videos. I have a quick question: how do you achieve an A* in A level biology? No one from my school achieved an A* last year so I would be keen to find out. Also what are the main mistakes biology students make which prevent them from securing the top grade?
Ooh always nice to meet someone who aims for the top! :) You've just given me another video idea! :D It's hard to pinpoint to specific things, but these are some things I often emphasise to my students: 1. Practise past paper questions - Lots of people lose marks in exam despite revising very hard, and it's often because they don't know how to answer the question the way the examiners want. By practising AND correcting PPQ, you'll eventually pick up key words they look for (always underlined in mark schemes) and learn how to better phrase your answers. 2. Not just 'read', but COMPREHEND the question - everyone can read the question, but lots don't know what the question is really asking about, and hence writing a bunch of correct facts without actually answering the question. Think before you write, decipher what (topics) the question is truly testing you on and following that. This comes with more question practice. 3. Find the links between different topics (interleaving) - students often think if a question is asking about plasma membranes, then they don't think beyond Ch.5. However as you progress through the course, you'll find more questions that may seemingly test you on one topic, but it requires you to think and include your knowledge on other topics. For example, the question asks you to explain the symptoms of being drunk, you'll need to link properties of alcohol, properties of the phospholipid bilayer and the mechanisms of resting/action potential (AS and A2 together). 4. Application of knowledge - You may be good at memorising facts, but it won't do you any good if you can just remember things... You must practise applying your knowledge to understand/explain concepts that you may not have seen before. Very much like the question I put above about being drunk. You've never been taught to explain the symptoms of being drunk, but you must draw on your own understanding about alcohol's effect on the membrane's permeability and the ion concentration balance across the membrane of a neurone to be able to answer that question. Sorry it's a bit long, might actually have more points for a video... But hope it helps for now! :)
Glad they're helpful :) I don't think I will finish before this year's exams (there is so much content!) but I am hoping to cover more A2 stuff in the coming weeks (eg. Ch.20). Thanks for watching!
Glad you like them :D I am planning to cover the whole syllabus but it'll take a while... But I'll keep yours in mind and please bear with me for the mean time! :)
Any ideas on where to get past paper questions on specific topics or modules? The only ones I can find are on physics and maths tutor and are not that good. (:
Thank you for this video. It's so helpful that you have done OCR and not AQA. AQA seems to be the only exam board that is covered on youtube.
Yeah that's why I started the channel in some sense... I teach OCR Bio but was disappointed that there isn't any proper video explaining the content so I thought I'd start making them XD Thanks for watching!
Hi,I just wanted to say a massive thank you for all these videos,because of you I bumped up two grades from my year 12 to year 13 mock. With the advanced information,it states that biotechnology is the highest marked topic in paper 1 and it's on the list for paper 3. Please could you do an in detail video covering everything we need to know,before summer exams? I would really appreciate it! Tysm again
Yes pleasee
Ur such a legend and ur videos are so clear and easy and calm
Top notch stuff, once again 👌
haha thanks Leo! XD Good luck with revision!
taught this so well I can finally understand tysmmm
Thank you for these videos!
And thank you for watching! :)
Do we need to know the process of brewing, baking, cheese making and yoghurt making in detail?
Nope, not really. Be aware of the actual microorganism used in each process, but I wouldn't worry about the details of it. Rather than spending ages memorising examples, I'd suggest to dedicate your energy to learning more crucial stuff. Thanks for watching! :)
Thank you once again for posting your videos. I have a quick question: how do you achieve an A* in A level biology? No one from my school achieved an A* last year so I would be keen to find out. Also what are the main mistakes biology students make which prevent them from securing the top grade?
Ooh always nice to meet someone who aims for the top! :) You've just given me another video idea! :D
It's hard to pinpoint to specific things, but these are some things I often emphasise to my students:
1. Practise past paper questions - Lots of people lose marks in exam despite revising very hard, and it's often because they don't know how to answer the question the way the examiners want. By practising AND correcting PPQ, you'll eventually pick up key words they look for (always underlined in mark schemes) and learn how to better phrase your answers.
2. Not just 'read', but COMPREHEND the question - everyone can read the question, but lots don't know what the question is really asking about, and hence writing a bunch of correct facts without actually answering the question. Think before you write, decipher what (topics) the question is truly testing you on and following that. This comes with more question practice.
3. Find the links between different topics (interleaving) - students often think if a question is asking about plasma membranes, then they don't think beyond Ch.5. However as you progress through the course, you'll find more questions that may seemingly test you on one topic, but it requires you to think and include your knowledge on other topics. For example, the question asks you to explain the symptoms of being drunk, you'll need to link properties of alcohol, properties of the phospholipid bilayer and the mechanisms of resting/action potential (AS and A2 together).
4. Application of knowledge - You may be good at memorising facts, but it won't do you any good if you can just remember things... You must practise applying your knowledge to understand/explain concepts that you may not have seen before. Very much like the question I put above about being drunk. You've never been taught to explain the symptoms of being drunk, but you must draw on your own understanding about alcohol's effect on the membrane's permeability and the ion concentration balance across the membrane of a neurone to be able to answer that question.
Sorry it's a bit long, might actually have more points for a video... But hope it helps for now! :)
Invaluable advice. Thank you!
Wow thank you!!
These videos are so helpful. Do you think you will finish before this year’s A Level exams.
Glad they're helpful :) I don't think I will finish before this year's exams (there is so much content!) but I am hoping to cover more A2 stuff in the coming weeks (eg. Ch.20). Thanks for watching!
hi, do you mind doing videos for each topic within this chapter? thanks once again for your videos, they have greatly helped me
hi I absolutely love your videos. Would u please to a series of videos about plant and animal response, please?
Glad you like them :D I am planning to cover the whole syllabus but it'll take a while... But I'll keep yours in mind and please bear with me for the mean time! :)
Any ideas on where to get past paper questions on specific topics or modules? The only ones I can find are on physics and maths tutor and are not that good. (:
You should become a biology teacher
Haha I am one!
Do we need to know the process of making Quorn?
No not really, I anticipate that you'll get more questions evaluating aspects around making Quorn rather than describing its production.
Nice voice