Cambridge Pre-U Syllabus - Cambridge International Examinations

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52 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Sub-skill Interpretation of data and observations Candidates should be able to: • identify the calculations that are necessary to be able to draw conclusions from primary and/or secondary data, • use descriptive statistics to enable simplification of data, assess its variability and determine the confidence in the validity of conclusions; • use appropriate statistical tests to determine goodness of fit and the statistical differences between samples; • find an unknown value by using co-ordinates or axis intercepts on a graph; • calculate other quantities from data or from quantitative data related to their qualitative observations, or calculate the mean from replicate values, or make other appropriate calculations; • determine the gradient of a straight-line graph or tangent to a curve. Candidates should know how to choose and carry out calculations required for simplifying data and to make them comparable. These may involve determining the following: • mean, • median, • mode, • percentages, • percentage gain or loss, • rate of reaction, • magnification and actual size. Candidates should know how to select and carry out the key steps of descriptive statistical methods designed to assess variability in data including range, inter-quartile range, standard deviation, standard error. Candidates should know how to put error bars on graphs which may be calculated using standard error. Candidates should be able to select and use, when provided with suitable equations, statistical tests designed to find the differences between samples: chi squared test, t-test. They should also know how to use Spearman’s rank and Pearson’s linear correlation to test for correlation. See the Notes on the use of statistics in biology at the end of this syllabus. Candidates may be expected to derive unknown values which might include concentrations where a calibration curve has been drawn. When a gradient is to be determined, the points on the line chosen for the calculation should be separated by at least half of the length of the line or tangent drawn. Candidates should be encouraged to use spreadsheets to collate and analyse the data they collect in their own practical work or when analysing secondary data. This makes it possible to assess the variability of their data.
Cambridge Pre-U Syllabus Sub-skill Making conclusions drawing on theoretical knowledge and understanding Candidates should be able to: • draw conclusions from an investigation or from interpretations of observations, data and calculated values, providing a detailed description of the key features of the observations, data and analyses, and considering whether experimental data support a given hypothesis or not; • make detailed scientific explanations of the data and of their conclusions, drawing on the skills, knowledge and understanding that they have gained from their studies of the Pre-U syllabus; • make further predictions and ask informed and relevant questions. Key points of the raw data, graphical representations of it and statistical test results should be given, including quoting of relevant figures, leading to a clear indication of the strength or weakness of any support for or against the hypothesis, or indeed, its proof or refutation. Conclusions may be expressed in terms of support for, or refutation of, hypotheses, or in terms of the straightforward deductions or inductions that, logically, can be made from the data, observations or results of calculations. Detailed scientific explanations form a part of such conclusions and therefore form a part of this higher-order practical skill assessment, in which the candidates will be expected to refer to knowledge and understanding gained in the theoretical part of the course in order to provide explanations of their practical conclusions, for example making detailed reference to changes in protein structure when interpreting the effect of pH on enzyme activity. 53
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Cambridge Pre-U Syllabus - DRAFT Su
Page 4 and 5: 2 © University of Cambridge Intern
Page 6 and 7: 4 Introduction Cambridge Pre-U Draf
Page 8 and 9: 6 Aims The course aims to: Cambridg
Page 10 and 11: 8 Assessment objectives Cambridge P
Page 12 and 13: 10 Description of Papers Cambridge
Page 14 and 15: 12 Curriculum Content The syllabus
Page 16 and 17: 14 Cambridge Pre-U Draft In the con
Page 18 and 19: 16 1.1 Eukaryotic cell structure Co
Page 20 and 21: 18 1.3 Cell replication Content DNA
Page 22 and 23: 20 1.5 Respiration Content ATP Chem
Page 24 and 25: 22 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Practical
Page 26 and 27: 24 2. THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF L
Page 28 and 29: 26 2.3 The evolution of life Conten
Page 30 and 31: 28 3. ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY Section 3 (
Page 32 and 33: 30 3.3 Nerves, muscles and behaviou
Page 34 and 35: 32 3.5 The immune system Content St
Page 36 and 37: 34 4. THE LIFE OF PLANTS Cambridge
Page 38 and 39: 36 4.3 Reproduction Content Pollina
Page 40 and 41: 38 5. ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Cambrid
Page 42 and 43: 40 5.2 Measuring and conserving bio
Page 44 and 45: 42 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Section A
Page 46 and 47: 44 Assessment of skills in Componen
Page 48 and 49: 46 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Candidates
Page 50 and 51: 48 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Sub-skill
Page 52 and 53: 50 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Sub-skill
Page 56 and 57: 54 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Skill Area
Page 58 and 59: 56 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Laboratory
Page 60 and 61: 58 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Reagents,
Page 62 and 63: 60 Appendix 2: Textbooks and IT res
Page 64 and 65: 62 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Biology Pr
Page 66 and 67: 64 Notes on the use of statistics i
Page 68 and 69: 66 Cambridge Pre-U Draft Glossary o
Page 70 and 71: 68 Appendix 4: Performance Descript
Page 72 and 73: 70 Appendix 5: Additional informati
Page 74 and 75: 72 Cambridge Pre-U Draft
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Cambridge Pre-U Syllabus - Cambridge International Examinations

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