Help! Biology practical assessment

(I'm in year 13) One of my biology teachers told me that, due to covid, I don't have to do any kind of practical assessment and I won't be assessed on my lab book. I double checked this multiple times as I was still doing a lab book for my chemistry A level but she reassured me it would be fine. Now my other biology teacher is saying I have to hand in a full lab book by Monday or I'll fail my practical assessment ! This is really important to me as I want to do a forensics degree :frown:

Is there any way of finding details of all the practicals online ? I can see the required 12 practicals for AQA but I need to write a very detailed lab book showing what I've done. I'm really upset about all this and I'm not sure if others in my class can help me. Any advice / help with the lab book would be really appreciated

Reply 1

EOData

16

This is what the current regs are for Biology practicals https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402/changes-for-2022 YOu'll see it says that the minimum number fo practicals is up to your teacher. You need to talk to them.

You can watch the practicals here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L48ldASuqgA&list=PLOfYYgIrtVMi16TQgnJsrewpgH2xaEJsT

Reply 2

BlueChicken

14

Original post by ZoeXma

(I'm in year 13) One of my biology teachers told me that, due to covid, I don't have to do any kind of practical assessment and I won't be assessed on my lab book. I double checked this multiple times as I was still doing a lab book for my chemistry A level but she reassured me it would be fine. Now my other biology teacher is saying I have to hand in a full lab book by Monday or I'll fail my practical assessment ! This is really important to me as I want to do a forensics degree :frown:

Is there any way of finding details of all the practicals online ? I can see the required 12 practicals for AQA but I need to write a very detailed lab book showing what I've done. I'm really upset about all this and I'm not sure if others in my class can help me. Any advice / help with the lab book would be really appreciated

Don't panic - you can do this.

Look at this doc that shows how you're assessed, it will help you make sure you've ticked off all the points https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/AQA-7401-7402-PHBK.PDF

This site has practical notes and videos (and is often used by A-level students) https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/biology-revision/a-level-aqa/practical-skills/ There will be other sites too.

As long as you have covered the points in the mark schemes and you have demonstrated proficiency in a lab (Covid permitting), you will be fine. Good luck.

Reply 3

ZoeXma

OP

2

Original post by EOData

This is what the current regs are for Biology practicals https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402/changes-for-2022 YOu'll see it says that the minimum number fo practicals is up to your teacher. You need to talk to them.

You can watch the practicals here https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Thanks so much for the videos, these are a massive help. I've spoken to one biology teacher who says he can't help me and I'm going to talk to my other biology teacher now (the one that said there would be no practical assessments). How can I write all the numbers I need like the volumes of liquids used for example, I can't find anything this specific online and I'm sure it is required :frown:

Reply 4

ZoeXma

OP

2

Original post by BlueChicken

Don't panic - you can do this.

Look at this doc that shows how you're assessed, it will help you make sure you've ticked off all the points https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/AQA-7401-7402-PHBK.PDF

This site has practical notes and videos (and is often used by A-level students) https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/biology-revision/a-level-aqa/practical-skills/ There will be other sites too.

As long as you have covered the points in the mark schemes and you have demonstrated proficiency in a lab (Covid permitting), you will be fine. Good luck.

Thank you so much, that website is amazing with all the notes and videos. Hopefully I can write up all the observations from the vids by Monday and I'll get a pass :smile:

I'll check over the handbook too ! Thanks again ! :biggrin:

Reply 5

BlueChicken

14

Original post by ZoeXma

Thank you so much, that website is amazing with all the notes and videos. Hopefully I can write up all the observations from the vids by Monday and I'll get a pass :smile:

I'll check over the handbook too ! Thanks again ! :biggrin:

No worries - if you haven’t actually done a practical and need results, there are some sites/videos that have example results. You can explain that you’re using them, as you didn’t actually do that practical due to COVID, just make sure you reference where you got them from (not sure, your school may have provided these as a work around on the practicals). The main point is the analysis from the results, sources of error, repeat experiments, updates to improve experiment or extend it etc. rather than the actual numbers themselves, I.e. how you would do it in a perfect world. Good luck!

Help! Biology practical assessment

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you