Study Guides and Practice Lab Exams

Tips for Lab Exam Success
Slightly modified version; original courtesy of Marvin "the Bio God" Custodio  Don't be scared but the LAB EXAMS ARE HARD. They are hard because there are a lot of concepts and specimens to know and memorize. Bio is a subject that can be very intangible and hard to grasp because there are no formulas to memorize and its not a plug-and-chug thing. Study hard and good luck with your exams!


 * You do not need to know the slide names, so don't memorize them. You will not be asked for the specific name of a particular slide during the practical exam. However, you should be comfortable with knowing what you are looking at on a slide in general as it pertains to the lab material i.e. what did the lab manual tell you to notice about the slide? If you didn't have your manual in front of you, would you be able to identify and define those features?
 * Be sure you know how to apply key concepts when observing all specimens. For example, you learned about the Alternation of Generations life cycle, but you should also be able to recognize what part of the life cycle a particular specimen is in, the type of division the specimen undergone, etc.
 * DRAW DRAW DRAW! This is a form of active learning. Pictures are good, but can be hard to memorize because you didn't actively create the image in your head. If you take pictures LABEL THEM, making sure to identify all of the parts mentioned in the lab manual.
 * If you have finished early DO NOT LEAVE EARLY. Take this extra time to revisit the slides you missed or are having trouble understanding.
 * ASK QUESTIONS! Do not be shy with the TAs or Professor Heyer because they are there to help you.

Tutoring Information

 * Request to join Professor Heyer's Fall 2014 Facebook study group


 * Tutoring Podcasts courtesy of Marvin Custodio  User: ssc_student Pass: ssc_videoaccess

Study Guides
Some of these files are very large. If Google Drive does not automatically download or load a preview click the down arrow on the very top left next to the printer icon (looks just like the icon to the right of this sentence).


 * Plants
 * Comprehensive Plant Lab Review (w/ pictures)
 * Plant Lab Exam Study Guide (text)
 * Fungi Lab Review (w/ pictures)
 * General Overview Plant Study Guide (w/ pictures)


 * Cladistics and Systematics
 * Taxonomy Guide by N. Wheat


 * Animals
 * Animal Development, Morphogenesis, and Tissues(w/ pictures)
 * Animal Lab Exam Study guide (text)
 * Helpful Fill-In Chart for Animalia (text) courtesy of Catherine Pham

''A huge thank you goes out to all the current and former TAs that were kind enough to create all these great study resources! A special thanks to Marvin Custodio for sharing all of his practice exams and study guides. Please [mailto:heyerbio6a@gmail.com let us know ] if a file has been improperly attributed. ''

Practice Lab Exams
courtesy of Marvin Custodio

Note: All of the information discussed during lab lecture and in the lab manual are fair game for the lab practical exams. Therefore, it is in your best interest to go well beyond only these mock exams when studying in preparation for the exams.


 * Plants
 * Mock Plant Lab Exam


 * Animals
 * Mock Animal Lab Exam