Practical Skills

Expectations of students' competence in practical skills:

(taken from the Singapore-Cambridge H2 A Level 9744 Biology syllabus)

Planning (P) 

Candidates should be able to: 

• define the question/problem using appropriate knowledge and understanding 

• give a clear, logical account of the experimental procedure to be followed

• describe how the data should be used in order to reach a conclusion 

• assess the risks of the experiment and describe precautions that should be taken to keep risks to a minimum. 

Manipulation, measurement and observation (MMO) 

Candidates should be able to: 

• demonstrate a high level of manipulative skills in all aspects of practical activity 

• make and record accurate observations with good details and measurements to an appropriate degree of precision • make appropriate decisions about measurements or observations 

• recognise anomalous observations and/or measurements (where appropriate) with reasons indicated.

Some of these skills include:

• Use of a microscope

-- focusing on the specimen at different magnifications

-- calibrating the eyepiece graticule (to measure specimen, to calculate magnification of drawings)

• Use of various apparatus (e.g., syringes, micropipette)

• Carrying out food tests

• Preparing dilutions from a stock solution

Presentation of data and observations (PDO)

Candidates should be able to: 

• present all information in an appropriate form 

• manipulate measurements effectively in order to identify trends/patterns 

• present all quantitative data to an appropriate number of decimal places/significant figures. 

Presentation of information can be done in the form of a:

• Table of results/observations

• Graph of results

• Biological drawing (plan drawing or detailed drawing)

Analysis, conclusions and evaluation (ACE) 

Candidates should be able to: 

• analyse and interpret data or observations appropriately in relation to the task 

• draw conclusion(s) from the interpretation of experimental data or observations and underlying principles 

• make predictions based on their data and conclusions 

• identify significant sources of errors, limitations of measurements and/or experimental procedures used, and explain how they affect the final result(s) 

• state and explain how significant errors/limitations may be overcome/reduced, as appropriate, including how experimental procedures may be improved. 

Visit the following pages for more information on the various skills required:

Do refer to the notes given to you for more details on the various components.