Cambridge Pre-U Syllabus - Cambridge International Examinations

10
Description of Papers
Cambridge Pre-U Draft
Contexts for questions on written papers
Questions on the written papers will, where possible, be set in novel contexts featuring various applications
of Biology, some of which will be unfamiliar. Medicine, veterinary science, pharmacology, crop and livestock
production, conservation, forensics, genomics and proteomics are some of the areas that may provide
contexts for questions. Some questions may be set in the context of recent research. Historical and ethical
scenarios will also be used. Familiar practicals from within the syllabus and unfamiliar practicals will be used
as contexts for questions that candidates are expected to answer based on the practical skills that they have
developed.
Component 1: Structured
Written Paper, 100 marks, 2½ hours.
All questions are compulsory and will be based on the whole of the syllabus content.
This paper will consist of two sections:
• Section A (20 marks) This will consist of 20 objective questions. These may be multiple choice
questions of various kinds, where candidates choose one of four or more given statements which could
be correct, or structured questions which require a single word answer.
• Section B (80 marks). This will consist of a number of compulsory structured short-answer questions.
Component 2: Long-Answer
Written Paper, 120 marks, 2¾ hours
This paper will consist of three sections:
• Section A: Data Analysis and Planning Task (60 marks). This section will include tasks to assess the
higher-order skills of planning, analysing, making conclusions and evaluating. The section will have a
variable number of questions which will require candidates to solve problems. Questions may ask them
to interpret data given in a table, chart or graph. Candidates may be expected to plot, measure and
interpret graphs. The Planning Task will involve candidates writing a highly structured plan drawing on
the practical skills they have developed during their course. Candidates will be advised to spend no
more than 65 minutes on Section A.
• Section B: Case Study (30 marks). There will be several structured questions relating to a passage
which may be taken or adapted from a source such as a scientific journal or book and which will not
necessarily relate directly to the content of the syllabus. Questions may ask candidates to explain the
meaning of terms used in the passage, rephrase parts of the passage, analyse data in the passage,
perform calculations and draw conclusions from what they have read. Candidates will be advised to
spend no more than 50 minutes on this section.