BIOLOGY 2 ( 4551/2)

ANSWERING QUESTIONS TECHNIQUES

SECTION A: STRUCTURED QUESTIONS ( 5 Compulsory Questions)

1. This section consists of five questions compulsory for students to answer.2. Each question consists of several parts and it is based on a stimulus such as a graph, table, summary, or diagram. 3. The questions are normally structured progressively from easy to difficult. Most of the questions test knowledge,

understanding and application while some require analysis and synthesis.4. Answer should be concise and brief. The lines provided for answers and the marks allocated should determine the

length of the answer.5. For questions involving calculation, the working should be shown and the unit stated.

SECTION B: ESSAY QUESTIONS ( Choose 2 out of 4 questions)

1. Consists of the limited response essay and extended response essay.2. Limited response essay tests the construct of understanding ,application and analysing while extended response

essay tests the construct of synthesis and evaluation. 3. Marks allocated can be used to determine the number of facts and the length of the answer required for each

question.4. Pay full attention to key words used in the question in order to determine the correct approach answering the

question. Example of the key words are shown in the table.

Key Words Meaning Examples

Name Give name and the spelling must be correct

SPM, 2008Name the type of twins Q.Answer: Fraternal twins

State Give facts without any explanationSPM 2009State the function of phloem.Answer: Transports organic materials

List Write a series of items List two factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis.Answer:Light intensityConcentration of carbon dioxide

Explain why Give explanation on facts and state the reason

SPM 2008A woman who is a heavy smoker become pregnant.Explain why she should stop smoking. ( 2 marks)AnswerF: Chemicals such as nicotine can diffuse through the placenta to the foetus.E: may cause brain damage

Key Words Meaning Examples

Explain how Give explanation on facts and state the method.

SPM 2006Explain how starch is digested in the duodenum.Answer: F: The pancreas secrete an amylase into the duodenumE: amylase hydrolyses starch to maltose

How many A quantity is required, no need calculation

How many population of the snails in the habitat?Answer:300 snails

Calculate Both steps and answer needed Calculate the population of the snails in the habitat? ( 2 marks)Answer: Number caught in the first sample ( X) = 30Number caught in the second sample (Y) = 40Number marked in the second sample (Z)= 10

Estimated Population = X x Y Z = 30 x 40 10 = 120 snailsCorrect step and correct answer with unit = 2 marksCorrect step and wrong answer = 1 markWrong step and correct answer = 0 mark

Key Words Meaning

Examples

State the differences Give the differences without any explanation

SPM 2008State two differences between identical twins and fraternal twins.Answer:Identical twins share the same placenta whereas fraternal twins have separate placentae.Identical twins are similar in physical appearance whereas fraternal twins have different appearance.

Explain the similarities and the differences

Give the similarities and differences with explanation

SPM 2008Explain the similarities and differences between facilitated diffusion and active transport in the movement of molecules across cell membrane .Answer:SimilaritiesF1: both ways of transportation need carrier protein in the cell membraneE1: to bind with moleculesF2: both transport specific moleculesE2: because carrier protein have specific site.Differences  Facilitated Diffusion Active transport

F1 Down the concentration gradient

Against the concentration gradient

E1 Molecules moves from higher concentration to lower concentration

Molecules moves from lower concentration to higher concentration

F2 No ATP/ energy used ATP/ Energy used

Key WordsMeaning

E2 No energy needed for binding

Energy needed for binding

Example

Discuss To give opinion after considering several factors

SPM 2005(Question 9)Deforestation is an activity carried out near a residential area with the intention to develop the area . However, the residents are worried about the bad effects of the activity.If you were a resident of the area, discuss the good and bad effects of the activity. [ 8 marks]Answer:The good effects:P1: New houses are built to accommodate the increasing population.P2: More job opportunities are createdP3: Infrastructure facilities improve P4: public amenities are improved

The bad effects:P5 Causes soil to be exposed to erosion agents.P6: Causes the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.P7: Causes the organism to lose the habitat.P8: Flash floods, landslides, shallower rivers ,less fertile land, the greenhouses effect and the extinction of animals