[EffKayy]

Haven't done the June 2010 paper, or the specimen paper

Still need to brush up on a few things, and do some more essay plans..

[Tilly9481]

If they asked: Write about the biological reactions and pathways that occur within living organisms, what kind of things should we talk about?

[jessplease]

how are people recognising which things they could use from the syllabus for essay, my mind just goes blank, even though i do remember AS stuff i still cant remember the right things

[ecokid]

(Original post by Pritesh.Mistry)
Total: 25 marks for the essay

Scientific content: 16 marks
Breadth of knowledge: 3 marks
Relevance: 3 marks
Quality of language: 3 marks

From what my teachers tell me, the average person will gain around 12/16 for scientific content, with the remaining 9 marks (which should be mostly achievable) making up for the rest of the marks.

Also, having looked at past papers nerves and muscles didn't come up much - could potentially be a few big questions on these.

I'm hoping, because of the fairly low grade boundaries (65/100 raw marks for an A in June'11) that I'll be able to achieve what I need... still, I haven't really gotten down to hardcore revision for biology yet. A bit worried - just can't seem to find the motivation.

Cheers! That helps! Do you know how much depth we have to go into on each point? I find the genetic stuff a nightmare to talk about concisely. Also in regards to the non-curriculum specific stuff: is it suppose to be detailed or a sentence or two at most?

Our teacher just seemed to stop bothering in the last term as he was leaving the school at the end of the year. No one feels very prepared at all in our class.

[Pritesh.Mistry]

(Original post by ecokid)
Cheers! That helps! Do you know how much depth we have to go into on each point? I find the genetic stuff a nightmare to talk about concisely. Also in regards to the non-curriculum specific stuff: is it suppose to be detailed or a sentence or two at most?

Our teacher just seemed to stop bothering in the last term as he was leaving the school at the end of the year. No one feels very prepared at all in our class.

My teacher gave our class a sheet every time we did a practice essay, I'll describe what gives you the top mark in each category.

Scientific content: Exceptional (16/16)

'Material accurate and of a high standard throughout, reflecting a sound understand of the principles involved and a knowledge of factual detail fully in keeping with a programme of A level study. In addition there are some significant references to material that indicates greater depth of breadth of study.'

Breadth of knowledge: (3/3)

'A balanced account making reference to most if not all areas that might realistically be covered on an A-level course of study.'

Relevance: (3/3)

'All material presented is clearly relevant to the title. Allowance should be made of judicious use of introductory material.'

Quality of language: (3/3)

'Material is logically presented in clear, scientific English. Technical terminology has been used effectively and accurately throughout'.

Other things my teacher recommended:

- Write about at least one topic from each unit.
- Write more about the A2 side - key point
- Don't draw diagrams unless you can't explain it by writing. After all, what's the point in drawing a diagram, just to explain it in words (wasting time?)

I read on the AQA website also that you should do a maximum of 10-12 lines per point (or topic).

Hope this helped

[James A]

I just woke up from my sleep with a vision.

'Describe how temperature affects organisms'



'Outline the different cells in organisms and how they are adapted for their functions'

[Bright.Inspiration.]

(Original post by James A)
I just woke up from my sleep with a vision.

'Describe how temperature affects organisms'



'Outline the different cells in organisms and how they are adapted for their functions'

Oh lord...

[Rahmeh.]

Anyone bought the "Writing the synoptic essay" book? i got it but haven't read through any of it yet

[Dollyandra]

(Original post by jessplease)
how are people recognising which things they could use from the syllabus for essay, my mind just goes blank, even though i do remember AS stuff i still cant remember the right things

maybe practise writing lists of topics that you would associate with a keyword, would help jog your memory in the exam
e.g. "glucose" and then all the parts of the syllabus relative to it - blood glucose regulation, a-glucose, b-glucose, starch digestion, glycolysis/aerobic resp...
or "variation" - speciation, DNA mutation, meiosis, selection (directional/stabilising).......

This might be effective for you in order to familiarise yourself with the syllabus and how all the topics link together. And after you've done that, maybe start planning for more specific essay Qs Put spider diagrams on your wall!

[JJMick]

(Original post by Bright.Inspiration.)
Oh lord...

(Original post by James A)
I just woke up from my sleep with a vision.

'Describe how temperature affects organisms'



'Outline the different cells in organisms and how they are adapted for their functions'

I could do the temperature one I reckon, quite a bit to bring in i think.

[JJMick]

(Original post by Rahmeh.)
Anyone bought the "Writing the synoptic essay" book? i got it but haven't read through any of it yet

Just ordered it

[Rizzy J]

Unit 5 notes and synoptic essay

[NutterFrutter]

Question 10 on the Specimen paper is difficult, hope we don't get a question like that.

[JJMick]

(Original post by Rizzy J)
Unit 5 notes and synoptic essay

I HAVE JUST ORDERED THIS BOOK!

Time to cancel :P

...and thank you

[kingam]

(Original post by Rizzy J)
Unit 5 notes and synoptic essay

Are them
All the bullet points for unit 5, look good

[jessplease]

(Original post by Dollyandra)
maybe practise writing lists of topics that you would associate with a keyword, would help jog your memory in the exam
e.g. "glucose" and then all the parts of the syllabus relative to it - blood glucose regulation, a-glucose, b-glucose, starch digestion, glycolysis/aerobic resp...
or "variation" - speciation, DNA mutation, meiosis, selection (directional/stabilising).......

This might be effective for you in order to familiarise yourself with the syllabus and how all the topics link together. And after you've done that, maybe start planning for more specific essay Qs Put spider diagrams on your wall!

Thankyou!

[jessplease]

(Original post by Rizzy J)
Unit 5 notes and synoptic essay

Did you write those notes? Some look like answers from past lpapers, which is great! I went through a billion past papers to remember answers similar to aqa style too

[Rizzy J]

(Original post by jessplease)
Did you write those notes? Some look like answers from past lpapers, which is great! I went through a billion past papers to remember answers similar to aqa style too

Didn't write them, found them on the net

[James A]

(Original post by Rizzy J)
Unit 5 notes and synoptic essay

Cheers!


The first essay on page 23 is something that i could reproduce, but actually being able to write out that essay in around half an hour excluding planning will be tough.

I guess the key to a good essay is getting a good plan, then the knowledge will flow as we actually get pen to paper.......

But half an hour is gonna be tough for so many lines

[JJMick]

(Original post by James A)
Cheers!


The first essay on page 23 is something that i could reproduce, but actually being able to write out that essay in around half an hour excluding planning will be tough.

I guess the key to a good essay is getting a good plan, then the knowledge will flow as we actually get pen to paper.......

But half an hour is gonna be tough for so many lines

That's my problem with the essay, the amount of time, to write a detailed 3-4 page essay and plan in ~40 mins is tough.