9700_y16_sy

Cambridge International AS and A Level Biology 9700 syllabus Practical assessment
4.2 Paper 3
In some examination series, two versions of the Advanced Practical Skills paper will be available, identified
as Advanced Practical Skills 1 and Advanced Practical Skills 2. In other series, only Advanced Practical Skills 1
will be available. These papers will contain different questions, but will be equivalent in the skills assessed
and in the level of demand. Each candidate should take one of these papers.
Where two versions of the paper are offered, some Centres may wish to divide their candidates so that
some are entered for Advanced Practical Skills 1 and the others are entered for Advanced Practical Skills 2;
other Centres may wish to enter all of their candidates for the same paper. Each of these papers will be
timetabled on a different day.
Paper 3 will be a timetabled, laboratory-based practical paper focusing on the following investigational skills:
• manipulation, measurement and observations
• presentation of data and observations
• analysis, conclusions and evaluation.
Each paper:
• has two or more questions
• requires candidates to carry out an investigation or investigations. They may be asked to:
– make decisions on techniques
– collect quantitative or qualitative data
– present the data or observations as tables, charts, graphs and other appropriate means
– make appropriate analyses, including making calculations
– make conclusions
– suggest improvements to the procedure or modifications for extending the investigation
• requires candidates to carry out one activity using a light microscope. They may be asked to:
– prepare slides
– make observations of specimens
– present their observations appropriately
– make appropriate analyses, including measurements and calculations
– make deductions and conclusions from the observations
• requires the Centre to provide microscopes for half of the candidates at a time (see Section 4.2.4 for
microscope specifications) so half the candidates should start on the investigation while the others start
with access to the light microscope, then after one hour the candidates should have access to the other
question
• includes questions set in different areas of AS Level Biology, and may include material from unfamiliar
contexts.
Candidates will be expected to show evidence of skills in the handling of familiar and unfamiliar biological
material. Where unfamiliar materials or techniques are required, full instructions will be given.
No dissection of materials of animal origin will be required in Paper 3. However, the use of dissection,
interactive videos or similar will continue to be a useful aid to teaching, e.g. when the heart is being studied.
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