I’m reading and rereading the textbook and I’m making my notes. But I somehow just can’t shake off the feeling that the rest of the class knows these tiny details that I don’t. I just feel like I’m an outsider in that class, like a visitor or something. Is this normal?
Honestly, avoid comparing yourself to your peers. You will always be much harder on yourself than anyone else will be on you. I am sure you’re fine. For AP bio, watching Paul Anderson’s Bozeman Biology videos help me A LOT. Don’t rely solely on the textbook, there are a plethora of other sources to aid your comprehension.
If you aren’t getting the textbook, reading it more probably won’t help. For me, in bio it’s all the complex names (ahem, photosynthesis, I’m looking at you), that trip me up. I’d second the previous recommendation of watching bozeman science, and I’ll also suggest this: try reading once and ignoring all the names, until you can explain the broad ideas. Then fill in the little details and they’ll stick better because you have a big idea to connect it to.
Additionally, I’m lucky enough to be able to tutor other AP Bio students in my class, and I find explaining concepts in my own words to be the best way for me to really understand what’s going on. I’m not saying you need to tutor, but try explaining a topic out loud to a parent, classmate, or just to yourself to try and retain the information.
I would suggest finding the “big picture” of the AP Biology concepts, rather than being stuck on the facts. Make connections in between the topics (especially with the molecules and how they react to other substances).
Also, make your own drawings and study in intervals to help the information stick in your brain. Good luck!
How are your grades?
It’s happened to me quite a lot but this also helps you strive for something. For whatever thing you don’t know, it helps to focus on those things. You know what you don’t know so make sure you start to focus on those topics. If reading the textbook from cover to cover isn’t working for you, then find something else. Watch Bozeman videos. Another tip is to get your own prep books. I personally like to use Barron’s but lots of people like to use CliffsNotes. I wish you good luck!