“But I am an A student, I have never gotten a B or C before!”
This the typical reaction of students after a first Anatomy Physiology exam. They are truly bewildered by a grade lower than anticipated.
However, in most cases, those previous grades were obtained in non-college classes or non-science classes. In addtion, having one Biology class under your belt is not enough to classify you as an A or B "science" student. The rigor and expectations in A&P are a notch higher and students who do not adjust their study habits in A&P, tend to drop a letter grade.
The general problem can be traced back to bad study habits and the fact that students equate "knowing the material" with "understanding the material." Taking an example from Biology, most of you know of Aerobic Respiration. But do you understand it? Most of you heard of, know of the Cell Cycle. But do you understand the mechanisms involved?
This is exactly how some students take on Anatomy & Physiology; there is a huge difference between "knowing" and "understanding." To "know of " something means you kind of are familiar with a term, or a person, but the details are extremely vague. In science and any health related field, knowing something involves a lot more than being vaguely familiar with it.
Understanding the material comes first, and knowing the material is the next higher level of comprehension. It requires being able to (a) repeat what you hear/read, accurately and completely, AND (b) use what you've heard/read to figure out things you've never seen before at all! Knowing requires a degree of familiarity and usefulness of the material that cannot occur overnight.
Here are some study tips, which have been compiled from different sources. It doesn't matter where you take Anatomy & Physiology. The obstacles to performing well are apparently not site specific, nor instructor specific; it is the volume and novelty of the material that will trip up the ill-prepared student. These tips are provided to help you take action before the storm hits. (Adapted from Chris Doumen PhD).