1. Biochemistry 2nd Year Examinations
Giulia Olayemi
Final Year BSc Biochemistry

2. Looking Back to 1st Year Exams
WWW? EBI?

3. How should I Revise? Varies from person to person
Make a REALISTIC study timetable
Practice
Revise SMART
Use the time you have left, wisely
Watch all Q Review lectures and make notes
Diagrams do help!
In revision
And in essay writing

4. Extra Reading?! Don’t stress too much over extra reading
Only do extra reading on content you don’t understand
Revise SMART…
Overlap content from modules
E.g. content between Membrane Biochem and Comparative Physio do overlap
For instance voltage-gated channels in synapses are membrane proteins, which you cover to a certain extent in Membrane Biochem

5. How do I write an Essay?! You all have probably heard this before…
PLAN!
Include diagrams
Make sure you answer the question!
Only include relevant content
Never memorise pre-prepared essays
Don’t question spot
No need to worry about referencing within your essays

6. How many exams?
Eight!
Combo of compulsory and elective modules

7. COMPULSORY Modules
These are the compulsory modules I did that do differ for you…
SBC301X Biochemistry Communication
SBC920 Techniques for Biological and Chemical Sciences
SBS642 Genes and Bioinformatics
CHE202A Structure and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry
SBC228 Membrane and Cellular Biochemistry
SBS905 Metabolic Pathways
I will mention in the following slides the topics that came up in my exam. Sorry I don’t remember every single thing! Main thing you need to ensure you do is PAST PAPERS as similar topics do come up!!

8. SBC301X Biochemistry Communication
NO EXAM IN 2ND YEAR – YAY!
In 3rd Year the exam is worth 40% of the module

9. SBC920 Techniques for Biological and Chemical Sciences
MCQs
There were Qs on every single lecture
Recommend to listen to lecture recordings
SAQs
X-ray crystallography
NMR and NOE walk – be able to draw them
Comparing X-ray Crys and NMR
Different chromatography techniques – know how to draw & explain them
Essay – NO ESSAY YAY!
Based on EVERY single lecture
Listen to lecture recordings

10. SBS642 Genes and Bioinformatics
MCQs
For Hurds MCQs, know lecture content
For bioinformatic MCQs – only revise lecture content, extra reading WILL confuse you
SAQs
Bioinformatic techniques
Upstream and downstream factors affecting transcription
SAQs were similar to those in the past papers (so do the past papers!)
Essay
BLAST, RNA modifications (polyadenylation), chromatin remodelling

11. CHE202A Structure and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry
SAQs
Enolates
M.A.D reaction
Reactions involving CBS reagents
Essay – NO ESSAY YAY!
Practice all the Qs included at the end of lectures, review workshop questions and online quizzes!

12. SBC228 Membrane and Cellular Biochemistry
MCQs
Qs on every single lecture came up!!
SAQs
Clathrin coated pits and vesicles
SRP, SRP receptor, transcription and translocation
Similar topics on the MCQs came up in the SAQs
Essay
Gibbs Free Energy
Describe membrane proteins that undergo conformational change and link to function

13. SBS905 Metabolic Pathways
MCQs
Practice all the Qs posted online from Janes!
Mains MCQs were based on each pathway he covered in each lecture
SAQs
Typically fill in the blanks style
Glycolysis
Cholesterol and fatty acids
Essays
Urea cycle
Gluconeogenesis
Recommend: KNOW DIAGRAMS and include in essay!

14. Elective Modules I did…
SBC222 Comparative and Integrative Physiology
CHE206A Pharmaceutical Chemistry Sem A
SBS642 Transmission Genetics
Has anyone done these modules?
Any qs regarding these modules I am aware that

15. SBC222 Comparative and Integrative Physiology
MCQs
Practice the MCQs that came in online tests and the in-class tests
Practice the past papers. Content on every lecture does come up
SAQs
Some involved filling in the blanks, others involved drawing and/or explaining a concept e.g. Bohr effect
Other topics that came up: Neuropeptide evolution, complete the phylogeny tree, Qs on seals etc
Essays
Olfaction vs phototransduction compare and contrast
If there is a new topic in your year, this will most certainly come up in the SAQ or Essay
Recommend: KNOW DIAGRAMS and include in essay!

16. CHE206A Pharmaceutical Chemistry Sem A
MCQs
Practice MCQs from in class tests
SAQs
Similar to the Qs included in the workshops and online quizzes
Essays
In my year there wasn’t an essay but has this changed?! MAKE SURE YOU FIND OUT
Don’t waste any time doing extra reading, know the content inside out and practice lots of questions

17. SBS642 Transmission Genetics
MCQs
Practice all the Qs posted online from Curran! His MCQs are bae!
Hurds are challenging but doable, includes Qs from each of his lectures
SAQs
Curran  Punnet squares, Mendel, Drosphila experiments on eye colour
Hurd  Holliday Junction, DNA repair
Essays
Either DNA Damage or Repair came up for Hurd
Curran: What experiments helped developed out understanding of genes today? – This question was AMAZING (just watch his lectures, read Brooker, and you are set!)
Recommend: KNOW DIAGRAMS and include in essay!! AGAIN!!

18. Overall tips to secure your first
Review all the lecture material
Practice past papers
Review with friends on your course
Use lecture material to mark and be harsh
Make sure you do at least 1 past paper under timed conditions
Find a revision technique that works for you
Make sure you are ACTIVELY revising and not merely copying notes from slides… because you will forget info when passively revising

19. Contact Details Email: g.o.olayemi@se14.qmul.ac.uk
Will respond within 1-2 working days
Facebook: Giulia Olayemi

20. GOOD LUCK!! Remember to relax Remember to eat and drink
Remember to sleep
Aaaaaand remember to revise!