igcse biology (edexcel) 6 mark experiment questions
Hi I am sitting my biology igcse this may and i've been going through lots of the past papers. I'm finding the designing experiments questions hard because I don't really know how to go about them, especially because they are not the experiments we did in class. Any help would be appreciated!!!
I find sometimes that I've forgotten exactly what to do in the experiment it's asking for. I suggest looking through the textbook for your board, all the experiments that come up in the exams are mentioned in the textbook.
Tips to boost marks on experiment questions.
- if you don't know exactly, try make one up.
- name the independent variable and the dependant variable
- name what you should keep constant, what you shouldn't change. (e.g temp or humidity or volumes)
- always say "repeat the experiment and average the results"
- if the test data suits it, say "plot a graph of..." and "draw the line of best fit"
- if you're testing something and measuring data, such as the amount of CO2 given off. Say "use a gas syringe to measure the amount of gas produced, as it is more accurate".
- Whenever you say to measure something, name with what instrument ("use a ruler to measure...", don't say "measure the length".
The mark schemes nearly always award marks for saying "repeat and average". "use a ruler" "keep the X constant". So even if you've got the experiment wrong, you can bag some marks.
I like to write my answers in bullet points, in steps. For example, a question may be:
Describe an experiment to test how changing the temperature effects the rate of respiration of yeast.
(I would first think about the variables)
- Place a known amount of yeast solution into a boiling tube. Add a known amount of glucose into the boiling tube. Both must be constant in the experiment.
(next I would describe the experiment, trying to be as accurate as possible)
- Place the boiling tube upright in a water bath. Water bath's are more accurate. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water. Keep the temperature constant at 10 degrees celsius and fit a gas syringe to the top of the boiling tube.
- Start a stopwatch, and stop the stopwatch at 60 seconds. Record the amount of gas collected.
(always say to repeat)
- Repeat the experiment, keeping the amount of yeast and glucose constant. But increase the temperature by increments of 10 degrees celsius.
(talk about what to do with the data... table...graph...average results)
- Plot a graph of gas collected(cm^3) against temperature (degrees celsius) and draw a line of best fit.
(say what you think the outcome will be and name any equations you could use)
- The rate of reaction(cm^3 / s) = amount of gas collected(cm^3) / 60(s)
(link to the question, provide an answer.)
- There should be a postitive correlation - as the temperature increases, the amount of gas released increases, and therefore the rate of respiration increases. Until a certain point, as the enzymes become denatured, the yeast no longer respires.
--------------
That's my basic formula for answering experiment questions.
Tips to boost marks on experiment questions.
- if you don't know exactly, try make one up.
- name the independent variable and the dependant variable
- name what you should keep constant, what you shouldn't change. (e.g temp or humidity or volumes)
- always say "repeat the experiment and average the results"
- if the test data suits it, say "plot a graph of..." and "draw the line of best fit"
- if you're testing something and measuring data, such as the amount of CO2 given off. Say "use a gas syringe to measure the amount of gas produced, as it is more accurate".
- Whenever you say to measure something, name with what instrument ("use a ruler to measure...", don't say "measure the length".
The mark schemes nearly always award marks for saying "repeat and average". "use a ruler" "keep the X constant". So even if you've got the experiment wrong, you can bag some marks.
I like to write my answers in bullet points, in steps. For example, a question may be:
Describe an experiment to test how changing the temperature effects the rate of respiration of yeast.
(I would first think about the variables)
- Place a known amount of yeast solution into a boiling tube. Add a known amount of glucose into the boiling tube. Both must be constant in the experiment.
(next I would describe the experiment, trying to be as accurate as possible)
- Place the boiling tube upright in a water bath. Water bath's are more accurate. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water. Keep the temperature constant at 10 degrees celsius and fit a gas syringe to the top of the boiling tube.
- Start a stopwatch, and stop the stopwatch at 60 seconds. Record the amount of gas collected.
(always say to repeat)
- Repeat the experiment, keeping the amount of yeast and glucose constant. But increase the temperature by increments of 10 degrees celsius.
(talk about what to do with the data... table...graph...average results)
- Plot a graph of gas collected(cm^3) against temperature (degrees celsius) and draw a line of best fit.
(say what you think the outcome will be and name any equations you could use)
- The rate of reaction(cm^3 / s) = amount of gas collected(cm^3) / 60(s)
(link to the question, provide an answer.)
- There should be a postitive correlation - as the temperature increases, the amount of gas released increases, and therefore the rate of respiration increases. Until a certain point, as the enzymes become denatured, the yeast no longer respires.
--------------
That's my basic formula for answering experiment questions.
(edited 8 years ago)
The way these questions are marked is by the acronym CORMS.
C - control, what are you changing?
So if you are looking at the effect of temperature on something you might set up experiments at varying different temperatures.
O - organism, what organism will you use and how will you keep this constant between experiments?
With plants, for example, you should state what you would keep constant about the plants, so age, size etc.
R - reliability, how will you make your result reliable?
Normally you would just write that you would repeat each experiment a certain number of times.
M - measurement, how will you take measurements?
Give a stated period of time for which you will leave the experiment, say what you will measure to show change/differences in different experiments. Normally two marks, one for time and one for measurement.
S - standardize, what factors will you keep constant throughout the experiment?
In an experiment about plants you might say that you would keep the light intensity, temperature, humidity etc. the same. This also normally has two marks available.
C - control, what are you changing?
So if you are looking at the effect of temperature on something you might set up experiments at varying different temperatures.
O - organism, what organism will you use and how will you keep this constant between experiments?
With plants, for example, you should state what you would keep constant about the plants, so age, size etc.
R - reliability, how will you make your result reliable?
Normally you would just write that you would repeat each experiment a certain number of times.
M - measurement, how will you take measurements?
Give a stated period of time for which you will leave the experiment, say what you will measure to show change/differences in different experiments. Normally two marks, one for time and one for measurement.
S - standardize, what factors will you keep constant throughout the experiment?
In an experiment about plants you might say that you would keep the light intensity, temperature, humidity etc. the same. This also normally has two marks available.
[QUOTE=SuchBants;63766269]I find sometimes that I've forgotten exactly what to do in the experiment it's asking for. I suggest looking through the textbook for your board, all the experiments that come up in the exams are mentioned in the textbook.
Tips to boost marks on experiment questions.
- if you don't know exactly, try make one up.
- name the independent variable and the dependant variable
- name what you should keep constant, what you shouldn't change. (e.g temp or humidity or volumes)
- always say "repeat the experiment and average the results"
- if the test data suits it, say "plot a graph of..." and "draw the line of best fit"
- if you're testing something and measuring data, such as the amount of CO2 given off. Say "use a gas syringe to measure the amount of gas produced, as it is more accurate".
- Whenever you say to measure something, name with what instrument ("use a ruler to measure...", don't say "measure the length".
The mark schemes nearly always award marks for saying "repeat and average". "use a ruler" "keep the X constant". So even if you've got the experiment wrong, you can bag some marks.
I like to write my answers in bullet points, in steps. For example, a question may be:
Describe an experiment to test how changing the temperature effects the rate of respiration of yeast.
(I would first think about the variables)
- Place a known amount of yeast solution into a boiling tube. Add a known amount of glucose into the boiling tube. Both must be constant in the experiment.
(next I would describe the experiment, trying to be as accurate as possible)
- Place the boiling tube upright in a water bath. Water bath's are more accurate. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water. Keep the temperature constant at 10 degrees celsius and fit a gas syringe to the top of the boiling tube.
- Start a stopwatch, and stop the stopwatch at 60 seconds. Record the amount of gas collected.
(always say to repeat)
- Repeat the experiment, keeping the amount of yeast and glucose constant. But increase the temperature by increments of 10 degrees celsius.
(talk about what to do with the data... table...graph...average results)
- Plot a graph of gas collected(cm^3) against temperature (degrees celsius) and draw a line of best fit.
(say what you think the outcome will be and name any equations you could use)
- The rate of reaction(cm^3 / s) = amount of gas collected(cm^3) / 60(s)
(link to the question, provide an answer.)
- There should be a postitive correlation - as the temperature increases, the amount of gas released increases, and therefore the rate of respiration increases. Until a certain point, as the enzymes become denatured, the yeast no longer respires.
--------------
That's my basic formula for answering experiment questions.
i think the tip u gave r great because i do the same exact things and my teacher also recommend the tips u gave
Tips to boost marks on experiment questions.
- if you don't know exactly, try make one up.
- name the independent variable and the dependant variable
- name what you should keep constant, what you shouldn't change. (e.g temp or humidity or volumes)
- always say "repeat the experiment and average the results"
- if the test data suits it, say "plot a graph of..." and "draw the line of best fit"
- if you're testing something and measuring data, such as the amount of CO2 given off. Say "use a gas syringe to measure the amount of gas produced, as it is more accurate".
- Whenever you say to measure something, name with what instrument ("use a ruler to measure...", don't say "measure the length".
The mark schemes nearly always award marks for saying "repeat and average". "use a ruler" "keep the X constant". So even if you've got the experiment wrong, you can bag some marks.
I like to write my answers in bullet points, in steps. For example, a question may be:
Describe an experiment to test how changing the temperature effects the rate of respiration of yeast.
(I would first think about the variables)
- Place a known amount of yeast solution into a boiling tube. Add a known amount of glucose into the boiling tube. Both must be constant in the experiment.
(next I would describe the experiment, trying to be as accurate as possible)
- Place the boiling tube upright in a water bath. Water bath's are more accurate. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water. Keep the temperature constant at 10 degrees celsius and fit a gas syringe to the top of the boiling tube.
- Start a stopwatch, and stop the stopwatch at 60 seconds. Record the amount of gas collected.
(always say to repeat)
- Repeat the experiment, keeping the amount of yeast and glucose constant. But increase the temperature by increments of 10 degrees celsius.
(talk about what to do with the data... table...graph...average results)
- Plot a graph of gas collected(cm^3) against temperature (degrees celsius) and draw a line of best fit.
(say what you think the outcome will be and name any equations you could use)
- The rate of reaction(cm^3 / s) = amount of gas collected(cm^3) / 60(s)
(link to the question, provide an answer.)
- There should be a postitive correlation - as the temperature increases, the amount of gas released increases, and therefore the rate of respiration increases. Until a certain point, as the enzymes become denatured, the yeast no longer respires.
--------------
That's my basic formula for answering experiment questions.
i think the tip u gave r great because i do the same exact things and my teacher also recommend the tips u gave
I agree with neyman. definitely use CORMS for these questions.
so for these "describe an experiment" questions there always 6 key things u need to mention in your answer which can be learnt by the following abbreviation:
CORMS
Change/control- first mention what variable you are investigating how u will change it and what range u will change it by for instance a temperature change from 20 to 60. and then mention any type of control experiment if you can.
Organism-here you say what organism or living thing ur investigating since it's biology there will always be some organism u can wrote about. try to give details about it for example it should he the same species, mass, size, age, gender etc. to ensure a fair test takes place
Reliability/Repeat- this one is pretty straight forward in all of these questions u must wrote about repeating the experiment to obtain lots of results to compare and analyse for a pattern or calculate an average(mean) and always remember to discard anomalies
Measurement- here you want to wrote about what u measuring and how you are measuring it i.e what instrument you are using. also there's usually a second mark for saying that in all experiments the time period after which u take ur readings should be the same obviously for a fair test
Same- this is also pretty easy usually worth 2 marks here you have to right about all the other control variables that u must keep the same to ensure a fair test and valid experiment since there are usually a lot of variables write as many as you can think of to get those 2 easy marks
REMEMBER TO WROTE IN FULL SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS
so for these "describe an experiment" questions there always 6 key things u need to mention in your answer which can be learnt by the following abbreviation:
CORMS
Change/control- first mention what variable you are investigating how u will change it and what range u will change it by for instance a temperature change from 20 to 60. and then mention any type of control experiment if you can.
Organism-here you say what organism or living thing ur investigating since it's biology there will always be some organism u can wrote about. try to give details about it for example it should he the same species, mass, size, age, gender etc. to ensure a fair test takes place
Reliability/Repeat- this one is pretty straight forward in all of these questions u must wrote about repeating the experiment to obtain lots of results to compare and analyse for a pattern or calculate an average(mean) and always remember to discard anomalies
Measurement- here you want to wrote about what u measuring and how you are measuring it i.e what instrument you are using. also there's usually a second mark for saying that in all experiments the time period after which u take ur readings should be the same obviously for a fair test
Same- this is also pretty easy usually worth 2 marks here you have to right about all the other control variables that u must keep the same to ensure a fair test and valid experiment since there are usually a lot of variables write as many as you can think of to get those 2 easy marks
REMEMBER TO WROTE IN FULL SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS
"
How would you write this in full sentences? Do you have to refer to yourself like " I'm going to..."
Original post by Waves.123
I agree with neyman. definitely use CORMS for these questions.
so for these "describe an experiment" questions there always 6 key things u need to mention in your answer which can be learnt by the following abbreviation:
CORMS
Change/control- first mention what variable you are investigating how u will change it and what range u will change it by for instance a temperature change from 20 to 60. and then mention any type of control experiment if you can.
Organism-here you say what organism or living thing ur investigating since it's biology there will always be some organism u can wrote about. try to give details about it for example it should he the same species, mass, size, age, gender etc. to ensure a fair test takes place
Reliability/Repeat- this one is pretty straight forward in all of these questions u must wrote about repeating the experiment to obtain lots of results to compare and analyse for a pattern or calculate an average(mean) and always remember to discard anomalies
Measurement- here you want to wrote about what u measuring and how you are measuring it i.e what instrument you are using. also there's usually a second mark for saying that in all experiments the time period after which u take ur readings should be the same obviously for a fair test
Same- this is also pretty easy usually worth 2 marks here you have to right about all the other control variables that u must keep the same to ensure a fair test and valid experiment since there are usually a lot of variables write as many as you can think of to get those 2 easy marks
REMEMBER TO WROTE IN FULL SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS
so for these "describe an experiment" questions there always 6 key things u need to mention in your answer which can be learnt by the following abbreviation:
CORMS
Change/control- first mention what variable you are investigating how u will change it and what range u will change it by for instance a temperature change from 20 to 60. and then mention any type of control experiment if you can.
Organism-here you say what organism or living thing ur investigating since it's biology there will always be some organism u can wrote about. try to give details about it for example it should he the same species, mass, size, age, gender etc. to ensure a fair test takes place
Reliability/Repeat- this one is pretty straight forward in all of these questions u must wrote about repeating the experiment to obtain lots of results to compare and analyse for a pattern or calculate an average(mean) and always remember to discard anomalies
Measurement- here you want to wrote about what u measuring and how you are measuring it i.e what instrument you are using. also there's usually a second mark for saying that in all experiments the time period after which u take ur readings should be the same obviously for a fair test
Same- this is also pretty easy usually worth 2 marks here you have to right about all the other control variables that u must keep the same to ensure a fair test and valid experiment since there are usually a lot of variables write as many as you can think of to get those 2 easy marks
REMEMBER TO WROTE IN FULL SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS
How would you write this in full sentences? Do you have to refer to yourself like " I'm going to..."
Original post by Dog22
"
How would you write this in full sentences? Do you have to refer to yourself like " I'm going to..."
How would you write this in full sentences? Do you have to refer to yourself like " I'm going to..."
Best not to. You should say 'one should' or as an order 'now take this'.
Quick Reply
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