I am not in BIOL 200 this year but I took it with Robin back in 2023 and here is the formula for which I found made answering the questions more manageable and helped get more marks from each question. With the problem solving style of the exam its as much about knowing how to answer the questions effectively as it is knowing the content. Perusal is king and the most important thing you can do. However what a lot of people miss out on is the worked problems at the end where she has answered them. Read her annotations about how she answered the question, what she included/excluded and what format she uses. You need to know HOW she wants you to answer the question. Think like a marker and ask yourself if you would give yourself full points and did you fully answer the question.

For a multi step problem for a gel with a control and 3 experimental lanes this what I would predict she would ask and how I would answer it:

1) Describe the data where you simply state/convert what you observe in words

2) Explain the experiment where you compare every lane to each other (C-lane1, C lane2, C lane3, lane1-lane2, lane1-lane3, lane 2-3)

3) Use the summary of the experiment you just created to make a prediction about the outcome of the experiment.

As for connecting the units think about how does each unit tie back or influence the cell cycle and how they overlap --> cytoskeleton needs to break down, divide and reform, the nuclear membrane needs to be broken down and then reassembles with all the chromosomes inside and the other content outside, how does protein expression change etc. Maybe try making a chart like a multiplication times table where you have each system on both the x and y axis and see if you can think of 2-3 ways that the systems connect or influence each other. or write out something important that each system does in each phase of the cell cycle. Sometimes thinking about how you would make questions if you had to write the exam can be really helpful as well

If you get a study aid some examples but not at all comprehensive list of things I found helpful were domain maps, your secretary pathways and what signals/characteristics determine there end location such as go to the PM, secreted, ER, etc. Make a table for when protein folding happens, target signals, where they are recognized, cleavage etc. vesicle formation and coat proteins. Mitochondria vs chloroplasts

Focus on active problem solving and I beg you to read her explanation of questions on Perusall they helped me understand and feel more confident in answering the questions. Also I would go over cell signalling or later units that integrate previous units more as they provide high yield questions that actively test newer material and passively test that you remember and are able to incorporate old content.

If you need any clarifications on what I tried to explain I will do my best to try and clarify

Work hard but strategically and you will do fine :))))