My son, a part two medical student is having problem with biochemistry. He complaint that he is finding it difficult to assimilate the course. But I asked about others in his shoe and he said many are onto cramming and he is not so good in that aspect. Though very brilliant and intelligent, is there a way out for him on the course. Pls anyone that had the same experience should help out. Thanks

Any genuine idea on how he can cope with the course will be appreciated.

Zico5:
My son, a part two medical student is having problem with biochemistry. He complaint that he is finding it difficult to assimilate the course. But I asked about others in his shoe and he said many are onto cramming and he is not so good in that aspect. Though very brilliant and intelligent, is there a way out for him on the course. Pls anyone that had the same experience should help out. Thanks

Had the same problem in my part two. I don't usually like cramming because I forget it easily, but once I understand, I may not even have to do revision before exams even if its till the next year. So what I did with my biochemistry was to go back to the basics: I took like 2 - 3 weeks off (off reading biochemistry only. I was still reading anatomy and physiology) and got chemistry texts starting from SS1 to SS3 and brushed up on them. By the time I came back to reading Biochem I was amazed at how much easier it had become for me. It also helps to use several textbooks, as each of them have diffent explanations that overall made understanding better. For me then my main text was Lippincott Biochemistry, and sometimes I would check "Biochemistry Made Ridiculously Easy" which usually provided funny and easy to understand perspectives.
A third option is to join discussion groups - both large ( like those organized by NCCMDS and FECAMDS) and small (just a few close friends)
Another thing is he should try not to miss classes, and should not hesitate to ask questions from his friends and lecturers.

thesicilian:

Had the same problem in my part two. I don't usually like cramming because I forget it easily, but once I understand, I may not even have to do revision before exams even if its till the next year. So what I did with my biochemistry was to go back to the basics: I took like 2 - 3 weeks off (off reading biochemistry only. I was still reading anatomy and physiology) and got chemistry texts starting from SS1 to SS3 and brushed up on them. By the time I came back to reading Biochem I was amazed at how much easier it had become for me. It also helps to use several textbooks, as each of them have diffent explanations that overall made understanding better. For me then my main text was Lippincott Biochemistry, and sometimes I would check "Biochemistry Made Ridiculously Easy" which usually provided funny and easy to understand perspectives.
A third option is to join discussion groups - both large ( like those organized by NCCMDS and FECAMDS) and small (just a few close friends)
Another thing is he should try not to miss classes, and should not hesitate to ask questions from his friends and lecturers.

Thanks so much, I really appreciate ur efforts

Zico5:

Thanks so much, I really appreciate ur efforts

Biochemistry is one of the easiest course to understand if you play along well,the thing is that you should never encourage him to cramm the course,cramming isn't learning,once he misses a step in a pathway,he is done for,so understanding is the basics,let him dedicate more time for it,Mnemonics helps a lot for biochemistry as a course,they are alternatives to cramming,I will suggest Indian authors for him as well,they have this easy definitions and pathways that are easy to comprehend,D.M Vasudevans is good,Herpers is also simple for illustration,in all,encourage him to dedicate more time and to never settle for cramming

Ordinarymuyiwa:
Biochemistry is one of the easiest course to understand if you play along well,the thing is that you should never encourage him to cramm the course,cramming isn't learning,once he misses a step in a pathway,he is done for,so understanding is the basics,let him dedicate more time for it,Mnemonics helps a lot for biochemistry as a course,they are alternatives to cramming,I will suggest Indian authors for him as well,they have this easy definitions and pathways that are easy to comprehend,D.M Vasudevans is good,Herpers is also simple for illustration,in all,encourage him to dedicate more time and to never settle for cramming

Thanks so much. Gif bless u

I will also advice you to purchase Lehniger principle of biochemistry for your boy. It is preferable to Vasudevan in some aspects majorly part 3 work. He can only read Harper's illustrated biochemistry topics if he have knowledge about those topics in other textbooks. Lehnigher is about #8,000 and you will never regret buying it for him.

I vividly remember I mocked my mates who purchased at the inception of our Year 2 in the College of Medicine but while siting for my first MB exam. I read Lehniger and I was happy I did. Even most brilliant lecturers in my school adviced against Indian Authors Textbooks for most students find it content too easy to cram but does not comprehend it.

Another reason medics failed biochemistry is not because they did not understand textbooks they read but they don't know how to answer questions to suit lecturers demands. Advice your boy that he needs to know how to provide answers to get full marks.

Another secret is that brilliant medics don't depend on a single textbooks for thorough understanding of biochemistry topics. Combination of Lehniger, Vasudevan, Charttejah and Lubert Stryer is ok. So I whenever he is thought any topic in-class, tell him to cross check each textbooks about this topic and conclude which one is best for him to read. It is not necessary he purchase hard copies of all these textbooks I mentioned, having one or two hard copies is ok then the rest as soft copies on his laptop or tablets. For example, the following topics are best illustrated in corresponding textbooks.

Enzymology - Lehniger
Biochemistry of Biomolecules - Charttejah & Lehniger
Vitamins - Vasudevan
DNA & RNA metabolism - Lehniger
Core & Intermediary Metabolism - Charttejah & Lehniger
Biochemistry of Special Senses - Lubert Stryer.
And so on. I highlighted all these to explain why I told you your son needs more than one biochemistry textbook to survive in the pre clinical

It cannot be overemphasize that your son must understand it is a different thing in the medical school to read and understand as well he must be wise in answering theory and mcq 's questions during exams

Majorly, ask God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding for your child while saying your prayers.

Zico5:
My son, a part two medical student is having problem with biochemistry.

It could be because he is reading the most difficult Biochemistry textbook which is authored by Harpers.

There are other easier to assimilate textbooks of Biochemistry as detailed by the Indian Medical Student in the video below.

The book is called Lippincotts Illustrated Reviews Biochemistry 5th edition and you can download it online here :- http://103.4.234.46/books/Lippincotts%20Illustrated%20Reviews%20Biochemistry%205th%20edition.pdf

Also, ask your son to adopt the Indian lady in the video below as a study mentor on Youtube as she has passed her first MBBS Medical school exams and had a distinction in Biochemistry. If your son can follow her videos / channel on Youtube and shun too much social life, he will easily qualify as a Doctor in a few years time but he has to put in the hours of studying the right books as pointed out in this lady's videos on Youtube.

If he can't get a physical copy of a book mentioned by the lady, he can download a soft copy on the internet.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrHCp7tf8WM

Though I used mainly Stryers.. I will encourage him to use lippicot which is one of the simplest biochemistry text out there.
Also, understand the chemistry is essential otherwise he will resort to cramming.
Like what I did to make it simpler is that I read my physiology and biochemistry together in same topic. This helped me in applying it so that the biochemistry won't look abstract. Cos I can tell you some topic look so abstract in BCH.

Thanks so much. I appreciate u all for ur contributions. May God almighty bless u all

Zico5:
My son, a part two medical student is having problem with biochemistry. He complaint that he is finding it difficult to assimilate the course. But I asked about others in his shoe and he said many are onto cramming and he is not so good in that aspect. Though very brilliant and intelligent, is there a way out for him on the course. Pls anyone that had the same experience should help out. Thanks

I can't access your email
Send me a direct email to mrfebuc@gmail.com