OCR Biology A Exam Thread (Breadth - May 26, 2016 and Depth - June 7, 2016)

S.G.

For the classification and evolution topic, which calculations do we need to know? and do we get given the formulas in the exam?

Everything is given in terms of formulas

Reply 261

Firenze26

OP

20

Original post by chazlotte132

For the classification and evolution topic, which calculations do we need to know? and do we get given the formulas in the exam?

I can't remember any formula for that but it is likely we get given it if it's as complicated as the simpson's index

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 262

James3000117

7

Original post by chazlotte132

For the classification and evolution topic, which calculations do we need to know? and do we get given the formulas in the exam?

You will be given the formula for these if required for a question:

Chi Squared
The Hardy-Weinberg Equation
Simson's Index
Spearman's Rank
Standard Deviation
Paired and unpaired Student's t-test

You will be expected to know how to calculate these:

circumference
area of circle
surface area of cuboid
volume of cuboid
surface area of cylinder
volume of cylinder
surface area of sphere
volume of sphere
magnification
Rf
enzyme rates
diffusion rates
transpiration rate
water potential
surface area to volume ratio
species richness and evenness
genetic biodiversity
relationship between heart rate, cardiac output and stroke volume
% change and yield
relative uncertainty
Q10

source: http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/294471-mathematical-skills-handbook-.pdf pp. 57-60

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 263

Gogregg

14

I swear i just drop so many marks for not saying the obvious...

I'm so going to fail biology :lol:

Reply 264

Awsomedude

8

Posted from TSR Mobile

Original post by Firenze26

I can't remember any formula for that but it is likely we get given it if it's as complicated as the simpson's index

Posted from TSR Mobile

the practise paper was very hard, I only got 34/70 ffs. however, the grade boundaries r likely to be very low but compact together, for ex., for an A it is likely to be around 70% , which is quite low, but then B would be 63%, c 57% etc. Don't stress out though, I know u will do awesome

Reply 265

lovelyqueen

8

Original post by Awsomedude

Posted from TSR Mobile

the practise paper was very hard, I only got 34/70 ffs. however, the grade boundaries r likely to be very low but compact together, for ex., for an A it is likely to be around 70% , which is quite low, but then B would be 63%, c 57% etc. Don't stress out though, I know u will do awesome

Have you got the practice paper if so can you upload it here please. I really need them!

Reply 266

Awsomedude

8

Original post by lovelyqueen

the practise paper was very hard, I only got 34/70 ffs. however, the grade boundaries r likely to be very low but compact together, for ex., for an A it is likely to be around 70% , which is quite low, but then B would be 63%, c 57% etc. Don't stress out though, I know u will do awesome

Have you got the practice paper if so can you upload it here please. I really need them!

sorry I would've done so, but the teacher will only be able to give it to me on Monday with the mark scheme. I will try to post it on here tomorrow hopefully if u still need them.

Reply 267

lovelyqueen

8

Original post by Awsomedude

Have you got the practice paper if so can you upload it here please. I really need them!

sorry I would've done so, but the teacher will only be able to give it to me on Monday with the mark scheme. I will try to post it on here tomorrow hopefully if u still need them.

That's Ok, could you please post it here tommorow?

Reply 268

SultanOE

12

So glad I found this thread :h:

,

The mark schemes for the specimen and practice paper's are waaaaay to specific, by the way does anyone have any ideas about topics that may come up?

Reply 269

Normy18

3

Original post by fteam

Has anyone done the practice paper and specimen paper for breadth? and what did they get.

Ive just done the breadth paper (Sample Assessment Material Paper off OCR website) and got 69%. Not sure on what grade that is though. Didnt find it too difficult but made some stupid mistakes that i wont do again. what did anyone else get? What were your thoughts on it?

Reply 270

Firenze26

OP

20

Hey guys, just did a massive update to the OP. I think some people are missing some helpful links, resources and tips in the past few pages of the thread so I tried to compile them to make it easier and to make some resources more visible. Let me know if you guys want to add some to the OP or remove your post if you didn't want it in the OP.

I've tagged and added the username of the amazing posters (?) who added them to the thread so you'll know who to thank.

Cheers and good luck with your revision. :smile:

Reply 271

4nonymous

11

Do we need to learn all the formulas (student t-test, standard deviation etc...)?

Reply 272

username1744309

10

Original post by fteam

Has anyone done the practice paper and specimen paper for breadth? and what did they get.

The public specimen I got like 65% without revision

The secret practice paper I got 49% even though I banged out multiple choice

I cant acc answer questions about practicals/analysis etc, or those suggest questions, or those trend 4 markers, or really any structured. I can't answer 6 markers for sh**.

Reply 273

username1744309

10

Original post by Firenze26

31/75 for the practice breadth, still haven't gotten around the spec paper though.

I swear, the need for specific wording is catching me out

Posted from TSR Mobile

They're so rude about wording and dp/sf and graphy stuff. In the practice depth for simpson's index I got it wrong by 0.0001 because I used calc values instead of rounded.

And I also got a question wrong for calling something an interaction bc "in biology we call it a bond even though interaction is correct. Don't confuse this with chemistry"

Reply 274

username1744309

10

Guys this is a new course but it's AS. Can we get A* yet or nah?

Reply 275

James3000117

7

You can't get an A* at AS. An A* is only awarded awarded to candidates who achieve a grade A on the A Level overall (80%), and who also achieve at least 90% UMS across their A2 units.

Reply 276

Gogregg

14

By the way guys, don't fret too much about the accuracy of the specimen mark schemes (well do to a degree...) because they won't be as relaxed as the actual paper mark schemes.

Don't get complacent though! Try to be as accurate as possible and state everything! :u:

Reply 277

0799NCB

1

Original post by Gogregg

By the way guys, don't fret too much about the accuracy of the specimen mark schemes (well do to a degree...) because they won't be as relaxed as the actual paper mark schemes.

Don't get complacent though! Try to be as accurate as possible and state everything! :u:

Yes this is true! As in the actual mark schemes they will have Allow... marks as many people will say things that are also correct that wernt included on the original mark scheme. Obviously for the specimen paper they didn't have a large no of people doing them so don't have many allow marks. But like @Gogregg said still try to be very accurate!

Good Luck Everyone!!!!!!

Reply 278

4nonymous

11

Original post by James3000117

You will be given the formula for these if required for a question:

Chi Squared
The Hardy-Weinberg Equation
Simson's Index
Spearman's Rank
Standard Deviation
Paired and unpaired Student's t-test

You will be expected to know how to calculate these:

circumference
area of circle
surface area of cuboid
volume of cuboid
surface area of cylinder
volume of cylinder
surface area of sphere
volume of sphere
magnification
Rf
enzyme rates
diffusion rates
transpiration rate
water potential
surface area to volume ratio
species richness and evenness
genetic biodiversity
relationship between heart rate, cardiac output and stroke volume
% change and yield
relative uncertainty
Q10

source: http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/294471-mathematical-skills-handbook-.pdf pp. 57-60

What is Chi Squared And The Hardy-Weinberg Equation. I havent been taught this? Also whats the difference between paired and unpaired student t-test.

(I doesnt say any of those ^^ on the specification for AS so I don't think its gonna come up, maybe its next year?)

Reply 279

fteam

1

achieving 65% is pretty good, i haven't heard of anyone getting anything higher, i got 61% in the secret practice paper and i will do the public specimen paper today and see what i achieve, I'm really worried about biology i was hoping for an A but these specimen papers have removed the remaining hope i had in me.

OCR Biology A Exam Thread (Breadth - May 26, 2016 and Depth - June 7, 2016)

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