Tips in answering Paper 3

with Sample Questions

Biology (0610)
Prepared By Ms Anna

Name : __________________________________________________

Class : __________________________________________________
 Table of Contents

Page no.
Drawing a Table 3
Drawing + Labelling & Magnification 3
Drawing Graphs 4
Food Tests 5
Designing an Experiment 6
Methods, Controls and their Uses 6
Sample Question [Designing an Experiment] 7
Revision Topic: All about Biology Paper 3 8 - 30

All About Paper 3

2 Prepared By: Ms. Anna
Drawing a Table
General Rules:

✓ If you are asked to draw a table:

o Use a RULER and a PENCIL to draw the table. Make sure you rule lines for the
columns and the rows.
o Write headings for each column and/or row of the table.
o Write in units if they are needed, e.g. volume of water/cm3, mass of seed/g.
The unit should be written after the oblique line (forward slash).
o Do not put units in the table spaces where you write numbers.
o Make sure you use the same number of decimal places in each column and/or row.

✓ If you are asked to draw and/or complete a tally chart for recording data:
o Make sure that you rule up a table and use clear headings.
o Record the numbers by using strokes and putting an oblique line to represent 5: /// =
3; //// = 4 and //// = 5
o Include a column to show the total numbers.

Drawings
General Rules:

1. Don’t draw any details. Try to draw only outlines. (FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS)
2. Take care of any labels that are asked in the question.
3. NO SHADING!!
4. Draw the drawing at least 50% larger than the original image provided.
5. Don’t use a ruler or a compass to draw, and don’t draw broken lines.
6. Read the question carefully to see if any specific segment is required.
7. Don’t draw individual cells!!
8. Don’t draw the surrounding box of the image.

Magnification
In IGCSE Biology Paper 6, typical drawing and calculation questions always
follow. You need to know the magnification formula. This Question typically has
2-3 marks, which is pretty simple if you know the formula. (1 mm = 1000 µm)

𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒
𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒

A M

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Drawing Graphs
General Rules:

Drawing Line Graphs

1. Use a sharp pencil
2. Label both axes with units (Independent Variables on the x-axis; Dependent Variables on the y-axis)
3. Labels should be in the form “quantity/units”
4. Choose the appropriate scale
➢ Choose a scale which uses most of the grid provided on the exam paper.
➢ Choose a simple scale, e.g. one large square is equal to 1, 2, 5 or 10 units in the data. Do not
make it difficult to plot the data by using a scale such as one large square = 3 or 6.
5. Use crosses “(×)” or “(·)” to mark the data points (for scatter graphs)
➢ Plot the points exactly using a sharp pencil. Draw the points lightly so that you can rub them out if
you need to. Make them more definite when you are sure they are right.
6. Graph should cover at least half the grid
7. Draw a line of best fit that can fit through most of the points as possible (for scatter graphs ONLY)
8. Join the points (for line graph)

Drawing Bar Chart

1. Use a sharp pencil
2. Label both axes with units (Independent Variables on the x-axis; Dependent Variables on the y-axis)
3. Labels should be in the form “quantity/units”
4. Choose the appropriate scale
➢ Choose a scale which uses most of the grid provided on the exam paper.
➢ Choose a simple scale, e.g. one large square is equal to 1, 2, 5 or 10 units in the data. Do not
make it difficult to plot the data by using a scale such as one large square = 3 or 6.
5. Draw the chart in pencil.
➢ Rule the columns evenly so that they are all the same width.
➢ Take care to rule the top of each block in the correct place – double check with the table of data
each time.
➢ The spaces between the columns on the x-axis should be identical; they should be the same
length, e.g. one large square on graph paper.
6. Graph should cover at least half the grid
7. You should identify each block by putting a label directly underneath each block. Do not shade/
colour the block.

Bar charts Histograms

Bar charts have separate columns that do not histograms have columns that do touch each other.
touch – there are gaps in between
Bar charts are used to show data on discontinuous histograms are used to show data on continuous
variables variables
blood groups, eye colour, etc length, mass, speed, volume, etc.

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Food Tests

Test for starch:

✓ Add drops of iodine solution

✓ Observe colour change
✓ Positive result: Blue - Black Coloured Solution
✓ Negative result: Brown Coloured Solution

Test for proteins:

✓ Add few drops of Biuret reagent

✓ Observe colour change
✓ Positive result: Mauve or Purple Coloured Solution
✓ Negative result: Blue Coloured Solution

Test for Reducing Sugars:

✓ Add Benedict's solution and heat it

✓ Observe colour change
✓ When reducing sugars are detected in a solution, the colour change
✓ happens based on the increasing concentration of sugar so
blue → green → yellow → orange → red
✓ Positive result: Brick-Red Coloured Solution
✓ Negative result: Blue Coloured Solution

Test for fats:

✓ Known as the Emulsion Test

✓ Crush the food sample in a mortar with ethanol
✓ Take a sample in a test tube
✓ Add drops of distilled water
✓ Observe a milky-white emulsion showing the presence of fats

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Designing an Experiment
The Paper would consist of an example, and they would ask you to design an experiment based on the
example provided. Combining everything you have learned above, I will show you how to do an experiment
planning question.

General Information:

Detail Marks Allocation

Independent Variable 1
Details of Method given/new method 1
Constant Variable 2
Safety Precautions 1
Dependent Variable 1

Method, Controls & their uses:

Method Use
Gas Syringe or Delivery Tube Measuring the volume of liquids
Ruler to measure the length of foam Measuring the rate of reaction by measuring the
produced volume of product made
Cutting plant stem sections every Measuring the rate of water uptake every set
specified amount of time amount of time
Counting the number of bubbles Measure the rate of reaction by measuring the
produced per unit time volume of gas produced
Measure the mass of a potato stick
Measuring the volume of water that is lost and
before and after putting in into a
gained per unit time
solution
Measuring the height a piece of dough Measuring the rate of reaction in the piece of
dough by measuring its change in height

Controls Method
Temperature Thermostatically regulated water bath
pH of the Solution Using a buffer solution
Volume of Solution Measuring Cylinder or Gas Syringe
Size of Leaves Square Grid
Time Timer or Stopwatch
Concentration Same concentration of (named solution)
Same diameter or size of test tube -

Additional Tips:
✓ Stage 3 or more variations for the independent variable (E.g. – 5 Concentrations, 5 Species, 5 Acids).
✓ You can write either in a paragraph or bullet point form.
✓ Don’t spend more than seven minutes on the question.

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Sample Question 【Designing an Experiment】- 6 marks
Tips:

➢ Use this mnemonic: I Don’t Care So Run Away (IDCSRA)

o Independent Variable [manipulated variable]
▪ The variable that is changed in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the
dependent variable.

▪ State the independent variable, describe how you are going to change it (include names
of apparatus), State the values with units
o Dependent Variable [responding variable]

▪ State the dependent variable, State the units, State how you are going to measure it
o Control Variables

▪ State three different control variables, describe how you are going to control them
o Safety

▪ State a safety measure and how would you eliminate the risk
o Repeat

▪ State “Repeat the experiment three times”

o Average

▪ State that you would calculate an average (Numerical Data)

Try this out!

An athlete suggested the hypothesis:

‘Drinking a greater volume of beetroot juice would increase the length of time that athletes are
able to run.’

Plan an investigation to test this hypothesis.

1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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 1 - (0610/63_Summer_2019_Q1) - Biological Molecules

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 2 - (0610/62_Summer_2018_Q1) - Respiration, Biological Molecules

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 3 - (0610/62_Summer_2022_Q2) - Characteristics And Classification Of Living Organisms, Organization And Maintenance Of The Organism, Biological Molecules

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 4 - (0610/62_Summer_2021_Q2) - Organization And Maintenance Of The Organism, Biological Molecules

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 5 - (0610/63_Winter_2019_Q2) - Organization And Maintenance Of The Organism, Transport In Plants, Biological Molecules

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