By Lockin Team
13 January 2026
Secondary school Biology can feel like a lot of content—keywords, processes, diagrams, and long explanations. Many students try to cope by re-reading notes again and again… but still forget everything during tests. Here’s the truth: re-reading feels productive, but it’s one of the least effective ways to memorise.
The good news? There are smarter methods that take less time and help the information actually stick. This blog will show you how to memorise Biology effectively, without endlessly flipping through your notes.
Why Re-Reading Doesn’t Work (Most of the Time)
When you re-read, your brain recognises the words and thinks, “Oh, I know this.” But recognition is not the same as recall. In exams, you’re not asked to recognise the answer but instead, you need to produce it:
- define a term
- describe a process
- explain an effect
- compare two concepts
Step 1: Switch to Active Recall (The #1 Biology Memorisation Skill)
Active recall means you test yourself instead of re-reading.
Here are easy ways to do it:
Cover your notes and try to write the key points from memory
Close your book and explain the concept out loud
Turn headings into questions and answer them
Use flashcards (physical or digital)
For Example,
Instead of reading “Photosynthesis notes” repeatedly, ask: What is photosynthesis? What are the raw materials and products? What factors affect the rate? How would you explain it in a structured answer?
Step 2: Memorise Using “Keywords + Structure”
Biology marking often rewards students who use:
1. correct keywords 2. correct sequence 3.clear structure
–> Recommendation: A simple method: “3–5 Bullet Core”
For each concept, reduce it to 3–5 essential points.
Example (very general format):
definition
where it happens
key steps (in order)
result/outcome
why it matters
This makes memorisation easier and improves exam writing.
Step 3: Use Spaced Repetition (So You Don’t Forget)
Most students revise once and move on. Then a week later… everything is gone. Spaced repetition fixes that by revisiting information at increasing intervals: [TIP: Even 10 minutes a day is great!]
Day 1: Learn + Recall
Day 3: Quick Recall Again
Day 7: Recall Again
Day 14: Recap Again
Step 4: Make “Process Maps” for Big Topics
Secondary Biology has many processes that students mix up (e.g., digestion, transport, reproduction, respiration).
Instead of memorising randomly, draw a simple process map:
start point → steps → end point
include keywords at each step
add 1–2 “common exam phrases”
This helps your brain store information as a sequence and not as scattered facts.
Step 5: Use “Compare Tables” for Similar Concepts
Students lose marks when they confuse similar concepts, such as:
diffusion vs osmosis
mitosis vs meiosis
aerobic vs anaerobic respiration
arteries vs veins vs capillaries
Instead of memorising separately, it helps to do a quick compare table, comparing: definition, where it happens, and any key differences.
This makes it much harder to mix them up.
A Simple Weekly Memorisation Routine (Student-Friendly)
Here’s a routine you can follow even during busy school weeks:
3 days a week (20–30 min):
10 min active recall (flashcards / cover notes)
10 min process map / compare table
10 min topical questions
1 day a week (20 min):
review your error log
re-test your weak topics
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