Practical Paper

GRADE THRESHOLDS
GRADE THRESHOLDS
 Expected Practical
• CH 1, 2 – Characteristics of living things and cell structure
Magnification Calculation and Drawings

• CH 3 – Movement of Substances
 Investigate the factors that influence diffusion, limited to: surface area,
temperature, concentration gradient and distance
 Investigate osmosis using materials such as dialysis tubing
 Investigate and describe the effects on plant tissues of immersing them in
solutions of different concentrations

• CH 4 – Biological Molecules
Describe the use of:
 iodine solution test for starch
 Benedict’s solution test for reducing sugars
 biuret test for proteins
 ethanol emulsion test for fats and oils
 DCPIP test for vitamin C
 Expected Practical
• CH 5 – Enzymes
Investigate and describe the effect of changes in temperature and pH on
enzyme activity with reference to optimum temperature and denaturation

• CH 6– Plant Nutrition
 Investigate the need for chlorophyll, light and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis,
using appropriate controls
 Investigate and describe the effects of varying light intensity, carbon dioxide
concentration and temperature on the rate of photosynthesis
 Investigate and describe the effect of light and dark conditions on gas exchange
in an aquatic plant using hydrogen carbonate indicator solution
• CH 8 – Transport in Plants
Describe the use of:
 Investigate, using a suitable stain, the pathway of water through the
above-ground parts of a plant
 Investigate and describe the effects of variation of temperature and wind
speed on transpiration rate
 Expected Practical
• CH 9 – Transport in Humans
 Investigate and describe the effect of physical activity on the
heart rate
• CH 11 & 12– Respiration and Gas Exchange
 Investigate the differences in composition between inspired and
expired air using limewater as a test for carbon dioxide
 Investigate and describe the effects of physical activity on the
rate and depth of breathing
 Investigate and describe the effect of temperature on
respiration in yeast
• CH 14 – Tropic Responses
 Investigate and describe gravitropism and phototropism in
shoots and roots
 Expected Practical
• CH 16 – Plant Reproduction
 Investigate and describe the environmental conditions that affect
germination of seeds, limited to the requirement for: water, oxygen and a
suitable temperature
• CH 11 & 12– Biotechnology
 Investigate and describe the use of biological washing powders that
contain enzymes
Main components
• Experiment
• Planning investigation
• Magnification & Drawing
• Graph /tables
• Comparison
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
• Identifying the variables
Experiment
 Experiment
• Tips to save time: Identify variable as you read the
experimental procedure

Independent Dependent
Variable Variable
 Experiment
• Tips to save time: Identify variable as you read
the experimental procedure
Controlled Variables
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
– Identify Errors and improvements
Error improvement
• Beaker for measuring small volume - Use more precise
Not using • Use of Dropper can vary drop size instrument to
appropriate • Not using thermostatically controlled measure like
apparatus water bath cylinder pipette,
• Not using a heat screen when using electronic
lamp (can affect temperature) weighing balance
stop watch
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
• Identify Errors and improvements
Error improvement
• Counting bubbles / height - Measure volume
Measurement
of foam of gas produced
• Measuring length instead - Measure the mass
of mass (movement of rather than length
substances experiment)
• Colour change observation - Use a colorimeter
using naked eye could be / test-tube that
subjective had already
changed colour /
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
• Identify Errors and improvements
Error improvement
Not providing time to - Wait for 5minutes
Measurement
equilibrate before start taking
reading after each
condition is changed
• Taking readings at - Do each investigation
the same time / separately
monitoring more
than one sample at
the same time
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
• Identify Errorsimprovement
Error and improvements
Not repeating the - Repeat at least 3 times and take average
experiment
Not having a control - Make a control with appropriate
experiment description of how
Contamination - Use separate syringe or glass rod if the for
(using same syringe / each experiment / wash thoroughly
glass rod)
Inconsistent mixing - Using appropriate apparatus to stir
carefully/ consistently; e.g. (magnetic)
stirrer/ glass rod/ bung/ test-tube shaker ;
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
• Identify Errors and improvements
Error improvement
Sample • Only one pieces / - Repeat and take average / Use
size one type tested different types of tissues
• Slice two thick / - Use sharp cutting tool / use
approximated size apparatus like cork borer for
equal size
• Less concentration / - Narrow the range between the
time / temperature concentrations / temperatures
used / time
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
• Identify Errors and improvements
Error improvement
- Use of same species / same age / same number /
Not maintaining the same SA
varaibales constant - Time for taking measurement / equilibration time
should be same
- Factors like temperature / pH / environmental
conditions keeping constant
 Experiment
Aim of doing certain procedures
purpose of test- As control / to see if the
tube p4 change is due to the factor
been changed
Why percentage (to allow comparison as) the
change is better initial masses were different
Repeat / use to identify anomalous results
several sets / to calculate an average ;
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
Leave for a certain For equilibration / adjusting to the
time before taking condition
the
Using oil layer Prevent evaporation / maintaining
anaerobic condition
Smaller pieces To increase surface area for faster
used reaction
Stirring For uniform distribution
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
State a conclusion
(Tips: Check the aim of the investigation and result table)
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
Safety Precautions
• If using sharp objects using it away from the
body
• Wearing proper eye protection and gloves
when ever a chemical is used of heated
• Not heating directly flammable liquids using
water baths instead
 Experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
Anomalous results
• This is a wrong result that happened because
of a certain error
• it appears as a different result from the others
in a table or an off point on the graph (not with
the trend of the graph)
• It can be excluded by: Repeating the
experiment for more reliability
 Experiment
Drawing table
• Draw the table with a pencil & a ruler with at least 2 columns.
• If time is given in min & sec (ex: 1:20), it should be converted
into seconds (80).
Heading with
appropriate
units

Independent Dependent
variable variable
 Experiment
• Drawing table
 Experiment
• Drawing table
 Experiment
• Drawing table
 Graphs
Things to remember
1. axis:
• X-axis: Independent Variable
• Y-axis: Dependent variable
2. Labeling the axes including
the units
3. Scale:
• Start from the zero
• Adjust the scale so that the graph fills more than half
of the page
 Graphs
Things to remember
4. Plots (x or O)
5. Join the points (smooth curve – line of best fit – bar
chart – histogram)
Line of best fit sometimes means that you should
choose the best way to join the points
 Graphs
Graph to Expect
line graph – connect points using ruler and
pencil
 Graphs
Graph to Expect
Smooth curve graph – draw smooth curve
connecting all points
 Graphs
Graph to Expect
Bar graph – all bars must be of same width
and same space should be between bars
 Graphs
Graph to Expect
Histogram graph – all bars must be of the
same width and no space between bars
 Graphs
Graph – best Fit
There should be approximately the same number of data
points on each side of the line.

The points should be evenly distributed, either side of the

line, both at the top and the bottom of the line.

The line should be near as many points as possible.

It should be emphasised that it is not necessary to connect

any points when you are constructing a line of best fit.

Furthermore, resist the temptation to simply connect the

first and last points.
Graphs
 Graphs
Things to remember
If asked for trend / pattern, describe the overall
change

Line increase and

level off (do not
describe each
point of graph)
 Planning Investigation
• Identify the variables from the question
A student stated the hypothesis: “Treating fruit juice with
pectinase reduces the vitamin C content of the fruit juice”. Plan
an investigation to test this hypothesis.

Independent variable Dependent variable Controlled variable

- with and without - Amount of Vitamin C - Same fruit
pectinase content - Same volume and
- Measure the number of concentration of fruit
drops of DCPIP required juice
for color change using - Same concentration of
colorimeter DCPIP
 PLANNING INVESTIGATION

Marking Points
 Independent variable – how to change it
 Dependent variable – how to measure it
 Controlled variable – hot to keep it constant
 Brief description of Procedure
 Appropriate Safety precaution
 PLANNING INVESTIGATION

How to change water temperature

• Use a thermostatically controlled water bath
of minimum three different temperatures
How to air temperature
• Use a heater / heat source at specific distance
• Keep setup at three different room
temperature (Eg; refrigertor, near heat source)
• Keeping in an incubators (seed germination )
 PLANNING INVESTIGATION

Change pH
• Use specific volume of acid / alkali
• pH measured by universal indicator and pH meter
Change concentration
• Take minimum 3 different concentrations of same
volume
(Eg: 0.5mol/dm3 1.0 mol/dm3 1.5mol/dm3 or
10% 20% 30%
 PLANNING INVESTIGATION
Change light intensity
• Use light meter with changeable light intensity same distance
• Lamp at 3 different distance from the setup
• (Note: remember to use heat screen to avoid temperature
affect)
Change carbon dioxide concentration
• Add different amount of sodium hydrogen carbonate

Carbon dioxide is required or not

• Use sodium hydroxide (soda lime) to remove
• Use sodium hydrogen carbonate (to give off Co2)
Remove oxygen
• Used Sodium pyrogallol
 PLANNING INVESTIGATION

Wind speed
• Use a fan at same distance and change speed of
the fan
• Use a hair dryer (be careful not to blow hot hair)
Change humidity
• Increase humidity – transparent polythene bag around
it with water sprayed inside

• Decreases humidity (transparent polythene bag

around add silica gel / chemical that absorb moisture )
PLANNING INVESTIGATION
 PLANNING INVESTIGATION
Measuring Rate of transpiration
• Use photometer (volume of water or distance moved by the
bubble / time)
• Measure mass of plant / time
 PLANNING INVESTIGATION
Investigate water uptake by xylem
• Celery plant in solution of dye
• Take thin cross –sections at different specific distances
and count the number of sections showing the colour
• Take transverse section and measure the distance
moved by the dye
 MAGNIFICATION
Size (larger than the image given with correct
S proportion and orientation within the space
provided)

O Outline ( single and clear and no

shading)
L Label ( if asked give at least 2 correct
required label)
D Details (draw important two details;
number and proportion of layers)
MAGNIFICATION
MAGNIFICATION
MAGNIFICATION
MAGNIFICATION
 COMPARISION QUESTION

wide Pale Dark

Large
Size
narrow Small Colour
lobed elongated
pointy
Rounded More
Rough Shape
edge Oval
Number
irregular broad
Less
Presence or absence of special features
 COMPARISION QUESTION
a) Emulsion for lipids.
2 cm3 of ethanol added to the unknown
solution, the mixture is gently shaken.
the mixture is poured into a test tube
containing an equal volume of distilled water.
If a lipid is present, a milky-white emulsion is
formed.
 FOOD TEST
b) Test for vitamin C using DCPIP.
Vitamin C takes the color out of a blue dye called DCPIP
(if it disappears in few drops: strong vitamin C solution;
many drops: weak vitamin C solution)

To test for Protein, a few drops of Biuret

reagent are added to 2 cm3 of the unknown
solution (to be tested for containing protein)
and the mixture is gently shaken. A
MASSIVE/PURPLE color is a positive result
(protein is present)
 FOOD TEST
To test for starch, a few drops of iodine solution are
added to 2 cm3 of the unknown solution (to be tested
for containing starch) and the mixture is gently shaken. A
DEEP BLUE-BLACK color is a positive result (starch is
present).

To test for glucose (a reducing sugar), 2 cm3 of

Benedict’s reagent are added to 2 cm3 of the
unknown solution and the mixture is heated in a
boiling water bath for 2-3 minutes. An
ORANGE/BRICK-RED color is a positive result. (glucose
is present)
CALCULATIONS

Volume of water = final – volume of

vitamin C
 CALCULATIONS

Volume of water = final – volume of vitamin C

12.50 - 125.0
6.25 - ??
FOOD TEST