DIFFERENCES:

How a student should response to this question.

Normally the structures given to be compared are chosen from the syllabus but essentially
might not be familiar
to the students. I recommend the students to follow the prompt SANSS.
Shape
Additional feature
Number
Size
Shading Look for the number of the stamens, carpels, petals etc and write differences. Then
compare the
shape of petals, sepals anthers etc and describe differences. See the differences in size of
the structures and compare shading. Try this with some more examples from past papers.

MAKING A BIOLOGICAL DIAGRAM

Key points

Ø Draw a diagram of some reasonable size i.e. neither to large nor to small. Very large
wastes your time
and very small does not provide sufficient details
Ø Draw what you see. Do not draw what you know- not a text diagram
Ø The parts of the diagram must be in right proportion
Ø Use a soft pencil(2B) to draw and label your diagrams
Ø Make very clear outline
Ø Faint outlines will not be accepted. It makes difficult to examiner to assess your diagram
Ø Do not shade with the side of your pencil.
Ø Do not use crayons or colored pencils
Ø Do not make fussy or broken out lines
Ø Leave sufficient space at the sides of your diagram for labeling. Refer to size of the
drawing
Ø Write a title at the bottom of each drawing
Ø Label neatly and legibly
Ø If a label consists of more than one word, write in one line Ø Write labels horizontally
Ø Space out your labels neatly
Ø One structure should be labeled singular and more as plural
Ø Labeling lines should not cross each other
Ø Do not make long lines that cross the drawing from one to the other end.
Student response
CORMS
Control= + and -/ range of values;
Organism= species/size/age/sex;
Replication= more than one reading and average;
Measure= units/time delay;
Same= temp./pH/water/humidity;
An experiment is carried out to test the validity of a hypothesis. For example you make an
hypothesis that temperature affects the rate an enzyme controlled reaction. To test this
hypothesis plan an investigation that should have all five things from the prompt. Your
investigation should be a controlled experiment. An experiment should have one factor
present in one set and absent in the other. A controlled experiment provides fair test and
more reliable results. A controlled experiment can be designed for example by setting two
apparatuses for photosynthesis. One in light which provided all conditions for
photosynthesis to occur and the other in dark which has one factor(light) missing the effect
of which is being investigated. A factor that changes during the course of time in an
investigation is called a variable. There may be two variables in an experiment. The one
under you control is an independent variable whereas the other which is not in you control
is a dependent variable. All biological investigations use some specimen/organism. In a
controlled experiment the organisms used should belong to the same species, size, gender,
age or biomass etc. The experiment should be repeated so that the factor of human error is
eliminated. The measurements should accurately be taken in the same units.
Measurements can be recorded over a sufficient period of time. Other factors during an
investigation must be kept constant except the factor being investigated. If you have
understood the concept plan the investigation given in the above example. Try some more
at home.

Student response
You a provided a graph with two types of divisions. Bigger divisions and smaller divisions. it
can be divided into x-axis and y-axis.
SLAP
Suitable Scale
Label the axis
Area, maximum graph used
Point, neither to big nor to small
Guidelines to be followed for making any graph
Only pure numbers to be used when plotting points Each axis should be labeled clearly with
the quantity and SI units if appropriate Each axis must be marked with an appropriate scale
Data should be critically examined to establish whether it is necessary to start the scale(s)
at ZEROO. The independent variable should be plotted on the x-axis The dependent
variable should be plotted on y-axis
Guidelines to be followed for making a bar chart
Lines or blocks should be of equal width Data can be arranged in any direction but arrange
in descending order of size The title should be given The values on the x-axis should be
given in the middle of each bar. This chart can be made for any kind of data. If values on x-
axis are non numerical, bar chart can only be drawn
Guidelines to be followed for making a histogram
The blocks should be drawn touching this could be done by establishing the class
boundaries Both of the edges of a block should be labeled
Guidelines to be followed for making a line graph
Follow the instruction if any given in the question otherwise you can make free hand, ruled
line or best fit line. Any point extremely away from the trend in the data can be ommited.
Guidelines to be followed for making a pie chart
if you are provided percentages to be drawn in a pie chart. Use the following formula to find
the angle to be made on a pie chart. Percent value using data from the table given above
plot a graph.

Forming a table

Making a table A table is used to record a data. It consists of number of columns each with
appropriate heading.
The columning must be labeled. The label should consist of the variable title and the SI units of
measurements. The values put in the columns must not have units written with them.

GUIDELINES:

1) Graphs:
Linear scale , Clear Points, Join with a ruler! (unless stated to draw a curve), Both axes labelled
with units! Don’t use abbreviations for sec etc, Don’t extrapolate to 0 unless stated in table!
Make a key on one side if more than one graphs on the same axis!

2) Bar Charts:

Equal width of bars, equal distance b/w bars, DRAW WITH RULER AND DON’T SHADE

3) Drawing:

Large, 2/3 times bigger or same size if asked. Large requires ¾ area to be covered.

NO BROKEN LINES. NO SHADING , CORRECT PORPORTIONS , LABEL IF LABELLED WRITTEN!

Necessary: Two correct labels, label more to ensure its right

LABEL WITH A RULER STRAIGHT LINES AND NO ARROW HEADS.

4) Magnification:
Look for ‘Length OR Widest point’
ALWAYS SHOW EXAMINER FROM WHERE READINGS ARE TAKEN.
 Formula= Image/ Actual also multiply with magnification given next to image!
Answer in given space with x symbol or unit if actual length asked! ALL MEASUREMENTS IN MM

5) FOOD TESTS:
HEATING ONLY IN BENEDICTS TEST (REDUCING SUGAR) WITH EQUAL VOL OF SUGAR SOL AND
BENEDICT SOL.
Always write initial to final colours
A leaf MUST be taken from a potted plant and decolourised before tested for presence of starch
( Boil in water then alcohol , dip in warm water and add iodine drops)
Iodine cannot penetrate cuticle and epidermal layers unless done so

6) OSMOSIS AND DIFFUSION:

For osmosis: Measuring potato strips or describing change in shape after placing in distilled
water/ sugar solution.
For Diffusion: Visking tube remember: starch and sucrose will not move out of the visking tube
as bigger molecules. SEMIPERMEABLE
7) SUCROSE IS A DISACCARIDE WILL NOT GIVE POSITIVE TEST WITH BENEDICT , HAS TO BE
HYDROLYSED FIRST
8) TRANSPIRATION:
Cobalt Chloride Paper turns from blue to pink
Anhydrous CuSo4 turns white to blue.
Cobalt Chloride Paper attached on upper/lower surface of well watered potted plant so
transpiration takes place, cover with polyethene bag or glass slide so atmospheric moisture does
not affect,
DONOT perform the exp outside lab as multiple factors will affect practical
Same for potometer place a lamp or fan near plant to vary wind and tem conditions
For S.A select leaves of different shapes BROAD OVAL NEEDLE LIKE and attach cobalt ch.
Vaseline (petroleum jelly) can also be used to check rate of transpiration.

9) ENZYMES:
Questions involve soaking of seeds overnight to make them turgid and for water to activate
enzymes inside, then the question will ask food tests.
Action of enzyme catalase on Hydrogen Peroxide and formase on milk. If effect of temp asked
given three ranges of tem : -5, 27, 45
3 ph values 2,7,9
DESIGN AN EXP:
First write constants eg vol of milk, taken from same source, seeds of same no/mass
DONOT FORGET THAT WRITE DATA IN TABLE AND PLOT A COMPARATIVE GRAPH/BAR CHART.
OR EXPECTED COLOUR CHANGES IF FOOD TEST INVOLVED.

10) PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
Apparatus covered with black paper or having chem like KOH, NaOH, caustic potash will NOT
photosynthesize.
 Apparatus with a water plant + CaCO3 indicates presence of co2 so plant will photosynthesize
unless covered with black paper.
Only way of checking rate: counting the bubbles produced.
Place a lamp coupled with heat screen to check effect of temp
BOTH PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION ARE COMPLETELY ENZYME CONTROLLED.
Experiments can be extended to check concepts on release of O2 IN CASE OF PHOTO AND CO2
IN CASE OF RESP,
BURNING SPLIT PASSING THRU LIME WATER AND USING HYDROGEN CARBONATE INDICATOR
YELLOW WHEN ACIDIC AND PURPLE WHEN ALKALINE
ACIDIC= CO2 PRESENT
ALKALINE= O2 PRESENT

11) USE TERM VOLUME FOR LIQUIDS

12) REPEAT AND TAKE AVG EXCEPT TESTS THAT DON’T REQ EG IODINE
13) WRITE DECOLOURISATION WHEN BOILING LEAF IN ETHANOL
14) WATER BATH BENEDICTS TEST
15) SAFETY: water bath, goggle, gloves, test tube holder