It’s mid-January, and biology midterms are here. If your 9th grader is struggling to study for biology exams—especially if they have ADHD or executive function challenges—this science-backed study plan can help. Here’s how to use executive function coaching strategies and the Pomodoro Technique to master biology concepts in just 4 days.
Why Biology Exams Are Difficult for High School Students with ADHD
If your child is in a private middle school or a public or private high school, chances are you’re doing walk-bys past their bedroom, trying to get a view of their device’s screen.
But why? It’s only freshman year for most students, but it feels like the toughest class—and you’re not imagining it.
Why Biology Requires Different Study Skills Than Other Subjects
Biology demands a different kind of learning:
- Heavy vocabulary (mitosis, meiosis, photosynthesis, cellular respiration)
- Systems that connect to other systems
- Complex diagrams and visual interpretation
- Cause-and-effect explanation questions
Research shows that biology courses require significant working memory capacity to hold and manipulate multiple concepts simultaneously.
For many students, biology is the first course that reveals weaknesses in executive functioning—planning, working memory, organization, and self-monitoring.
Common Biology Study Mistakes Students Make Before Exams
During exam time, most students study in ways that feel productive but don’t actually improve grades:
❌ Rereading notes
❌ Passive highlighting
❌ Watching videos without active recall
Familiarity isn’t mastery. Biology tests don’t reward memorization—they reward explanation.
Studies on retrieval practice demonstrate that active recall significantly outperforms passive review for long-term retention and application.
Effective Study Methods for Biology: Executive Function Strategies
One way to counter biology’s challenges is to adopt a better approach: study in short, structured sprints that force:
- Retrieval
- Organization
- Practice under mild pressure
That’s why the Pomodoro method works exceptionally well for biology—especially for students with ADHD, anxiety, or low stamina.
The Pomodoro Technique has been shown to improve focus and reduce cognitive fatigue in students with attention difficulties.
Executive Function Skills Needed for Biology Success
Biology requires students to leverage critical executive function skills:
Working Memory
Students must hold multiple pieces of information simultaneously: definitions, sequences, visuals, and relationships. They translate vocabulary into meaning and visualize invisible processes (like diffusion or DNA replication).
That’s working memory AND cognitive flexibility.
Sustained Attention
Students must stay focused long enough to complete multi-step questions without drifting or losing their place.
That’s sustained attention.
Self-Monitoring
Students must catch their own mistakes, re-read questions carefully, and check their work.
That’s self-monitoring.
Do you see now how executive function skills must be intact for biology success?
When a student says, “I studied, but I bombed,” the issue often isn’t effort—it’s that the study method didn’t train the executive function skills the test demands.
4-Day Biology Study Plan Using the Pomodoro Technique for ADHD Students
This simple system (25 minutes + 5-minute break + 25 minutes) trains executive function while reviewing biology the way exams actually assess it.
Day 1-4: Create a Biology Concept Map (25-Minute Session)
Pick ONE topic only. Not the whole chapter. A single target improves follow-through and reduces overwhelm.
On a blank sheet, create a one-page “process map.” Use:
- Arrows
- Short phrases
- Key vocabulary
Keep it simple. You’re building a thinking tool, not art.
Examples That Work Well as Process Maps:
- Cell transport (diffusion, osmosis, active transport)
- Photosynthesis vs. cellular respiration
- Mitosis vs. meiosis
- DNA → RNA → Protein (transcription/translation)
- Punnett squares and inheritance patterns
- Energy flow and cycles in ecosystems
Important Note:
If you get stuck while mapping, that’s not failure—that’s feedback. It shows you exactly what to review.
This is the “ER” of the SMARTER goals framework I reviewed in a previous blog post. The “ER” stands for “Evaluate and Revise (if necessary)” when it comes to task completion.
Executive functioning requires metacognition—by definition, the ability to think about one’s thinking. Rarely does one set out on a goal without having to take inventory.
Study Break Strategy: 5-Minute Brain Reset for Focus
- Stand up
- Water
- Bathroom
- No phone scroll
The break is part of the system because it protects attention and prevents burnout.
Brief breaks between study sessions improve information consolidation and prevent mental fatigue.
Active Recall Study Session: Teach-Back Method and Practice Questions
Step 1: Teach-Back (60-90 seconds)
Explain the topic out loud like you’re teaching a younger student. No notes allowed.
If you freeze, you just identified the gap that matters most.
Step 2: Practice Questions (10 questions)
Small batch. Focused. High-quality practice.
Step 3: Mistake Log
After each wrong answer, write one sentence identifying the error type:
✏️ Vocabulary issue
✏️ Process/sequence issue
✏️ Diagram/graph interpretation issue
✏️ Careless reading issue
That mistake log is executive function training. It turns random studying into targeted improvement and prevents the same errors from being repeated on exam day.
The Bottom Line: Executive Function Coaching Makes the Difference
Biology feels hard because it requires a learning style many ninth-graders haven’t yet mastered: retrieval, explanation, and systems thinking.
Two Pomodoros give students:
✅ Structure
✅ A clear finish line
✅ Enough repetition to build confidence quickly
✅ No marathon study sessions that fall apart after 20 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions About Biology Study Strategies
How long should I study for a biology exam?
Use the 4-day Pomodoro plan: Two 25-minute sessions daily (with a 5-minute break) for 4 days before the exam. This totals about 50 minutes per day of focused study, which is far more effective than marathon cramming sessions.
What is the best way to study biology for students with ADHD?
Students with ADHD benefit from structured, short study sessions using active recall methods. The Pomodoro Technique (25-minute focused sessions) combined with concept mapping, teach-back methods, and practice questions works best because it trains executive function skills while reviewing content.
How does executive function affect biology performance?
Biology demands working memory (holding multiple concepts), sustained attention (multi-step problems), and self-monitoring (catching mistakes). Students with executive function challenges struggle not because they’re incapable, but because traditional study methods don’t train these specific cognitive skills.
What study techniques work best for biology?
The most effective biology study techniques are:
- Concept mapping (visual organization of systems)
- Active recall (teaching back without notes)
- Practice questions (not just reading)
- Mistake logging (identifying error patterns)
- Spaced repetition (reviewing over multiple days)
These methods force retrieval and application, which mirrors how biology exams actually test knowledge.
Ready to Build a Personalized Biology Study System?
If you want help building a personalized study system for biology—especially for students with ADHD or executive functioning challenges—that’s exactly what executive function coaching is for.
If you tell me the units on the exam, I’ll turn this into a 4-day Pomodoro schedule with exactly what to do each day.