Preparing for examinations So what does the examiner want?

Remember – only about 40% of marks are simple recall Another 50% are using and applying your knowledge

AO 1 Tested by questions such as: Name…. Outline….. Describe……… State…………………. Explain……………………….

AO 2 Tested by questions such as: Label the diagram… Use the information to…. Describe the trends….. Describe the evidence…… Explain ……. Suggest………

AO 3 Tested by questions such as: Use the data in table…. Suggest limitations…… Suggest improvements…….. Suggest how XXXX might use the data…

Reading the Question Always re-read a question Read all parts of the question very carefully Look for the command word Look for words in bold – these are meant to guide candidates towards the correct response Check the number of answer lines – especially if these are numbered

Reading the Question 2 text is read in sequence text is interpreted by building on to what has already been understood only if this is not possible will a student rethink about what the question means Therefore candidates who think they have understood the question are unlikely to re- read it – or even finish reading it!

Example A huge fireball engulfed the enemy fighter as Sgt Hong’s missiles hit. Anticipating a further wave of enemy fighters, he quickly discharged the spent cartridge and reloaded fresh toner into the printer. In this passage everything seems to make sense until the end. It is only at the end that a candidate might decide to re-read this text.

Command words Ensure that you know the meaning of the command words in common use. Outline State Name Identify Describe Explain Calculate

Answering questions - 1 Candidates can (and should) use a variety of ways to answer questions: write in bullet points (even on extended answer questions) helps candidate to check how many points they have made bullet points should be more than one word use flow diagrams use annotated diagrams Any diagram must be annotated use tables for comparison A good table comparing two objects will have three columns

Answering questions - 2 Students should be sure they: use scientific terminology and key terms from the specification quote supporting data from tables/graphs, with units do not give alternative answers (e.g. “glucose or glycogen’’)

One word answers not sufficient – given two answer lines for each suggestion Only three will be marked Statements such as ‘all animals have a right to life’ not appropriate

The examiners view We see an answer with perfectly good biology in it – but it does not answer the question We see an answer to a question on last year’s paper

Examiners view Often we see an answer to another part of the question Sometimes an answer is repeated in two parts of the same question

Read your answer through

Aiming High Hitting those stretch and challenge marks Synoptic assessment

Stretch and Challenge is: the opportunity for candidates to fully demonstrate their knowledge and skills assessed within the question paper bringing together associated parts of the specification applying knowledge to unfamiliar situations showing a deeper understanding of the subject

Stretch and Challenge is not: a need to cover a greater range of material off the specification a need to cover specification material in greater depth identified within the question paper assessed as a complete question

Stretch and Challenge 4 Questions: More open ended Less part questions (atomistic) Less lead-in to difficult parts More extended writing Wider range of question types Looking for links Dealing with data

Quirky Stretch and challenge questions have been described as quirky: Asking about a familiar topic in a quirky way A quirky take on a familiar question

Links One of the most important factors for candidates to comprehend. Synoptic marks 20% of F214 30% 0r F215

Synoptic assessment Links may be obvious – a direct question Links may be very simple and straightforward Links may be less obvious and require some thought

6 Basic Principles Collision theory Biological molecules Enzyme structure Complementary shapes Membrane structure Movement of substances by diffusion, osmosis, active transport Natural selection

Good Luck