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March 28, 2024, 11:25:59 pm

Author Topic: ATARNotes Biology Help!  (Read 842 times)  Share 

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DoubleZo7

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ATARNotes Biology Help!
« on: January 12, 2018, 11:39:51 am »
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Hi guys
I am looking to achieve a high score in VCE Biology 1 and 2 this year. I am a Year 10 student who is also juggling Mathematical Methods and other demanding Year 10 level subjects. I have purchased the following for the current 2018 study design:
    = Heinnemann Biology 1 Student Workbook
    = Cambridge Checkpoints
    = Am attending a TSFX lecture which will come with notes
    = Nature of Biology
    = Biozone workbook
    = ATARNotes Course Notes
And also have for previous study designs:
    =  Heinneman Biology 4th edition and the student workbook for that edition (DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER WORKBOOK)
    =  A 2006 Nelson Biology textbook
    =  Schaum's Outlines (which is some sort of workbook thing that is not associated with VCE... but it came with something else)
    =  Nature of Biology 4th edition.
What resources are good? Is ATARNotes a complete source of notes for study? It doesn't seem very detailed, especially when compared to the Nature of Biology my school prescribed. I have heard though that NoB is notorious for containing unnecessary info.

Any other info, good resources I can purchase and tips would be much appreciated. Thank-you in advance.
2019:
Methods, Biology
2020:
Specialist, English Language, Chemistry, Physics

PhoenixxFire

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Re: ATARNotes Biology Help!
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2018, 11:55:16 am »
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Hey, welcome to AN!

I personally used Heinnemann but I have also heard that NoB has lots of unnecessary info. I haven't used the 1/2 AN notes, but if they're anything like the 3/4 notes they are great. They won't give you a lot of the example type stuff that the textbooks have but you don't need to know that anyway, its just there to help you learn it.

I would avoid using the outdated books as you might accidentally learn something wrong. Personally what I would do is use your textbook for in class learning and then go over the AN notes as homework/to clear up any confusion. If you still don't understand something you can ask here :) If you need extra questions for something then you can use the outdated workbooks - just make sure you only do the sections that are still relevant.

With regards to the workbooks I would use heinnemann and biozone regularly, but save checkpoints for SAC prep. By that I mean don't use checkpoints to learn content, use it to check that you know it, as checkpoints tends to have more exam-style questions which are more realistic.

With using multiple resources like you are, if there is something that is different, check with your teacher or ask here, even textbooks have mistakes sometimes.

I definitely wouldn't buy anything else, you have plenty to use, if you decide you need something else you can always buy it later, you don't want to waste money on things you won't use.
2019: B. Environment and Sustainability/B. Science @ ANU
2020: Just Vibing
2021: B. Paramedicine/B. Nursing @ ACU Canberra

DoubleZo7

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Re: ATARNotes Biology Help!
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2018, 09:56:59 am »
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Thanks so much Phoenixx Fire! Really helpful. How did you find the notes in the heinneman workbook as a complete source of notes?
2019:
Methods, Biology
2020:
Specialist, English Language, Chemistry, Physics

PhoenixxFire

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Re: ATARNotes Biology Help!
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2018, 03:14:48 pm »
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I didn’t use any other notes and had no problems, but I don’t really have anything to compare it with.
2019: B. Environment and Sustainability/B. Science @ ANU
2020: Just Vibing
2021: B. Paramedicine/B. Nursing @ ACU Canberra