These tips are based on years of classroom experience as BOTH a student and a teacher! Sometimes, I really do know what I'm talking about!
To many people, learning Biology is like learning to speak a second language.  You encounter strange words that are difficult to spell or pronounce in virtually every class, and this makes it a challenging class for the average student.  The following "Study Tips" are  techniques that have worked for successful students in many classes for many years.  Your grade will be better if you use some or all of these suggestions. 
It is ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE to "slap-dash" your way through BIO 103. Calhoun Community College is a REAL college, and BIO 103 is a REAL course - it's time for you to mature and try your best!
  • Do NOT miss classes if at all possible! Being present to observe the instructor is crucial to student success.  While you are there, you may as well participate in the class too!
  • Lightly read the appropriate chapters in the textbook BEFORE the class. This preparation will increase your comprehension and retention of lecture materials.
  • Take an accurate set of notes! Resist the temptation to "borrow" notes from a friend or family member who has taken the class before.  This only promotes laziness and inattention on your part during the class. 
  • Talk to your instructor at the first sign of difficulty! It is much easier to correct minor difficulties when they arise, than to wait two or three weeks and try to correct them then.
  • Study your notes for a short time every day! Read your notes as soon as possible after class for a few minutes. Begin with the very first day of notes and continue through the current day. See if what you have written makes "sense" to you - you may not understand it yet -  but it should be written clearly and logically.  This reading doesn't seem nearly as painful as studying, but it actually adds up to quality study time.
  • Rewrite your notes onto index cards, or type them on your computer! This is more work than most people have time for, but it works great for some.
  • Study VERY HARD a day or two before the test! An hour or two of light studying is NOT sufficient preparation for most students.  To do well, most students require several hours of hard studying.
  • Use the Practice Tests as a measure of your preparation! The Practice tests are meant to give you an idea of how well you have prepared for a test - they are NOT something that you should spend hours of time memorizing.