Popular Post BIO-AQUA Posted July 12, 2007 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 (edited) Menu Exam Tips Data-Analysis Questions Revision Links Exam Tips These are some tips to tackle Biology questions with respect the action verbs. (BTW, this is taken from the Oxford Biology Study Guide pp.178). Before we start with this, you need to know that there are three types of examination questions; - Multiple Choice Questions (Paper 1): You choose the answer from four possible choices. Read them all, eliminate any unwanted answers to narrow them down. Always give answers and never leave questions empty. Leave the hard ones till the end and focus on the straightforward ones. - Structured Questions (Paper 2 + 3): Each question is broken down to sections. Answers are written in spaces or on lines. If you run out of space, complete elsewhere on the examination sheet itself, but clearly indicate where you wrote the rest of the answer. In paper 3, you are allowed to have extra paper. The marks are alloted at the end of each question; useful for you to know how many points and details to include in the answers. An example on this type of question is the data-analysis question (beginning of paper 2). It requires you to analyze graphs and compare results. (See Data-Analysis Questions). - Free response questions (Paper 2): These questions require long and detailed answers on lined paper. You are the boss on the style of answer (whether the prose - best choice, tables, carefully annotated diagrams..). Usually the questions will direct you. Sometimes ( Section B ) you are given choices. Read them carefully to choose the question that best suits you and you know you can answer the best. Always follow a logical sequence in arranging your answer and avoid irrelevant information. Try to make your handwriting as much legible as possible. These are the three types of questions. Basically, 50% of the questions require factual recall. So recharge your memories!! . These questions require direct answers start with LIST, STATE, OUTLINE or DESCRIBE. The other 50% invloves expressing ideas that are more complex or involve using your knowledge for things you haven't been taught. These questions usually start with: EXPLAIN - Sometimes it involves giving the mechanism behind things with a logical chain of events. It is a 'how' sort of explanation with 'therefore' being the keyword. However, sometimes it involves giving reasons or causes; a 'why' sort of explanation with 'because' being the keyword. DISCUSS - Sometimes, you have to include arguments for and against something. Try to give a balanced account. Sometimes, you might include a series of hypotheses indicating how each one is without making a final choice. SUGGEST - Mostly never taught. Use your overall biological understanding to find answers. As long as they are possible, they will receive a mark! COMPARE - refer to previous posts to see a detailed explanation. DISTINGUISH - Include only the differences in your answer. Use 'whereas' to help. EVALUATE - Assess the value, importance or effect of something. How useful is the technique/model? What are its impacts on others/environment? Use your own judgment and criticism as long as it's valid and biologically correct. Other action verbs are more straightforward and you'll probably answer them easily. Data-Analysis Questions Ok.. I know many of us suffer from these types of questions (especially me! ). Come to think of it, you have to group some techniques together and practise as much as you can. Practice makes perfect, right? Anyway, these are a few techniques that I guess might help; - Read the question carefully. Underline any keywords in the question (sometimes, there are hidden facts that examiners put to see if you pay attention or not ) - Always underline action verbs in the questions (discussed above). This helps in case you forget or get messed up. Trust me. - Start with the question, see how many marks are allotted and solve accordingly (2 marks > 2 major points in the answer ...etc) - In case of graphs, always read the title of the graph, each axis and its units. - In case of calculations, show your working and always indicate the units. - Study the data presented carefully many times (but watch out for the time). Be familiar with it and start solving. - Practise such questions in your free times. They might really be annoying, but it really helps on the long run. Trust me, again! Revision Links Thought you might want some help with Biology topics, so here are some links to reinforce your knowledge!! CHEMICAL ELEMENTS AND WATER Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/biol...s_b/index.shtml Proteins http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/biol...res/index.shtml Enzymes http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/biol...s_b/index.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/biol...s_c/index.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/biol...s_d/index.shtml CELL THEORY Prokaryotic cells http://www.omatclasses.com/cellcomparisons/index.html Eukaryotic cell http://www.omatclasses.com/cellcomparisons...lant_cells.html Membranes http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=AP1101 http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/biol...ane/index.shtml Cell division mitosis http://omatclasses.com/cellcycle/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/biol...sis/index.shtml http://www.csuchico.edu/~jbell/Biol207/ani...ns/mitosis.html HUMAN HEALTH AND PHYSIOLOGY The Transport System http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/pharm/hyper_heart1.html Defence Against Infectious Diseases http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~terry/Common/phago053.html NERVE AND MUSCLE CONTRACTION http://www.brookscole.com/chemistry_d/temp...es/muscles.html MEIOSIS http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072...nimations.html# DNA REPLICATION AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072...nimations.html# http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=AP1302 http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/biol...sis/index.shtml http://www.csuchico.edu/~jbell/Biol207/ani...nscription.html Hope they help. Have a nice day everyone. Edited January 28, 2008 by BIO-AQUA 23 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lina Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 wow this is great thanks a lot... in my shcool were struggling with IA, weve done 4 hurs of labs and were in ib2... basically were screwed our dumb teacher also wants to postpone group 4 project for second semester.. shes insane, im doing it independently any advice on IA? thanks Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIO-AQUA Posted August 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 wow this is great thanks a lot... in my shcool were struggling with IA, weve done 4 hurs of labs and were in ib2... basically were screwed our dumb teacher also wants to postpone group 4 project for second semester.. shes insane, im doing it independently any advice on IA? thanks Well I don't really think that it might work if you do your Science IA's independently. At least it's not recommended, since the whole thing involves lab work and teacher evaluation. Adding to this, the teacher has to supervise the whole Group 4 project when it comes to Biology, so all students (I guess) must have the same experiment; at least within groups. What I'm saying here is, try to ask the teacher.. She might have something in mind for the whole postponing issue, right? Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afterglow Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 ohh, revision links. Thank you so much dear. Those are always useful. I am having problems with the option evolution. I don't know why, I just find it hard to remember all the details and then to argue for the different arguments Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIO-AQUA Posted August 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 ohh, revision links. Thank you so much dear. Those are always useful.I am having problems with the option evolution. I don't know why, I just find it hard to remember all the details and then to argue for the different arguments Oh you're doing the evolution option.. We're doing the Ecology and Conservation one plus Human Health and Physiology (HL) and for SL, they take the Option C one (where all the core material of the HL pours). Anyways, no worries for the option, just practise and devote time for it. That's all it needs. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afterglow Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Oh you're doing the evolution option.. We're doing the Ecology and Conservation one plus Human Health and Physiology (HL) and for SL, they take the Option C one (where all the core material of the HL pours). Anyways, no worries for the option, just practise and devote time for it. That's all it needs. Well, it wasn't something we could choose. In our school, apperently the option of "evolution" is compulsary for Biology students I don't mind Evolution. I do believe in it but there are other options that I would had perfered...I find it hard to memorise all the different er...what to do you call it? Past human races? And how each had developed from year to year.... Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KillBill Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 My eams start on my forst day back in January, and now, I have to get revising, the only subject I'm worring about is Bio-and its HL the info above, is something that we all have, so I've been looking for exam papers, and I've found it impossible to get them! Does anyone know where you can actually get (free) the exam papers-past papers obviously to practice with-and hopefully print out??!! Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harmonicgirl Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 My eams start on my forst day back in January, and now, I have to get revising, the only subject I'm worring about is Bio-and its HL the info above, is something that we all have, so I've been looking for exam papers, and I've found it impossible to get them! Does anyone know where you can actually get (free) the exam papers-past papers obviously to practice with-and hopefully print out??!! Of course I know you can get them from this site, but you have to be the VIP... Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysl89 Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 (edited) My eams start on my forst day back in January, and now, I have to get revising, the only subject I'm worring about is Bio-and its HL the info above, is something that we all have, so I've been looking for exam papers, and I've found it impossible to get them! Does anyone know where you can actually get (free) the exam papers-past papers obviously to practice with-and hopefully print out??!! click here ...though it doesn't provide all the papers, i guess it should be pretty useful. Also, there's www.saburchill.com for biology students.. Edited January 11, 2008 by ysl89 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandev Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 (edited) My best technique in studying for bio HL was using the mark schemes, and studying from them. Edited January 12, 2008 by Bandev Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afterglow Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 My best technique in studying for bio HL was using the mark schemes, and studying from them. Now I have never thought of that technique but I think I'll give it a try Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chileanbob Posted January 27, 2008 Report Share Posted January 27, 2008 I find that the markscheme is somewhat vague; what differientiates 'good' from 'satisfactory'? I would assume that the IBO trains people to have a similar protocol, no? Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwhdavey Posted February 16, 2008 Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 The Guru is gone...I tried these BBC links and the pages no longer exist/inactive. The BBC is currently reconsidering its online provision for post-16 students. AS Guru no longer matches the AS Level subject specifications and as a result, the site has been retired.Okay?Please visit www.bbc.co.uk/schools/16 to find BBC 16+ content or try the following links for AS/A Level subject help.Pretty much.So basically the BBC revision site links no longer work. You'll have to navigate the URL above... I'm nonplussed in reaction to the BBC's statement... Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashika Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 http://www.cic-caracas.org/departments/sci...eneralNotes.phpI love this site.It has the syllabus as well as notes. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afterglow Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 http://www.cic-caracas.org/departments/sci...eneralNotes.phpI love this site. It has the syllabus as well as notes. Now that's a new site I haven't seen yet. I like it It has the evolution option yay! I love this site --> http://www.patana.ac.th/secondary/science/.../Pages/core.htm their further human physio is particularly useful. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sneha Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Yeah, the above site is really thorough.But I think this website is the updated version of it, relating specifically to the new syllabus: http://www.patana.ac.th/secondary/science/index.home.htm Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenarcher Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 I don't know if anyone even checks this thread anymore but I just wanted to say thank you all for these links. I have possibly the least able Biology teacher ever and these really help. So, thank you. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenarcher Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 I just randomly stumbled on this website. It seems like a fairly helpful review, though I haven't explored it completely. http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios100/le...tures_f04am.htm Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosalinde4711 Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Now that's a new site I haven't seen yet. I like it It has the evolution option yay!I love this site --> http://www.patana.ac.th/secondary/science/.../Pages/core.htmtheir further human physio is particularly useful.Hi I am just studying for my Bio HL mid term exam and I just wanted to update this website link, as it has changed! the new website is:http://click4biology.info/It is really helpful and I love that it follows the syllabus exactly! Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mushka Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 I need to ask all the SL bio students who are doing Option CFor option C:is nucleic acids and proteins part of option Cor is it just cell respiration and photosynthesis?from the Oxford IB study guide.ASAP please! Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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