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Exemplar for internal assessment resource Biology for Achievement Standard 90713

Exemplar for Internal Assessment Resource

Biology Level 3

Resource tit le: Biology

This exemplar supports assessment against:

Achievement Standard 90713

Carry out a practical investigation into an aspect of an organism’secological niche with guidance.

Student and grade boundary specific exemplar

The material has been gathered from student material specific to an A or B assessmentresource.

Date version published byMinistry of Education

December 2011To support internal assessment from 2012

© Crown 2010


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© Crown 2010

Grade Boundary: Low Excellence

1.The link between the ecological niche and the investigation is weak because,although the introduction describes the effect of salt on germination and

osmosis, and the discussion provides a full explanation of these factors, thediscussion does not describe where salt may be found in the naturalenvironment of the red clover and therefore has not made a strong link betweenthe significance of salt and the ecological niche. The report meets the criteria forE in all other aspects (except possibly misinterpreting the trend as linear whenin fact it may be parabolic, in the biomass graph). Because the issue with thelink to the ecological niche is the only factor detracting from the quality of therest of the report and a link is attempted, although tenuous, the report remainsat E, but is at the lower end of E as a result. In this example the student mayhave been able to research and/or make observations of red clover growing inmarshy or briny areas, or made a link to the salt concentrations in fertilisersused on farms, for example, and then used this cultivated niche as the basis forthe investigation.


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Grade Boundary: High Merit

2.The report is a High M because overall it fulfils the requirements for validmethod (EN 7) but in the method did not explain how temperature wascontrolled (although it is in evaluation and the information before the method)

and the sample size is small. The processing of the results is valid, although thedata interpretation could be strengthened. The discussion makes links toecological niche but refers to slaters as having lungs, rather than pseudo-lungs.The evaluation is sufficient in that the first paragraph and third paragraphprovide a discussion of the validity of the investigation (EN 10, bp 3). Thesecond paragraph however can be disregarded because it explains thelimitations of the investigation, which is not required. Overall the investigation issufficient for quality as required for M and E (EN 7) but is not sufficient for Ebecause it does not meet the requirement for a ‘comprehensive discussion’ asrequired for E in terms of the ‘investigation as a whole’ due to the issuesmentioned above in the method, data interpretation and the discussion. Overall

therefore the investigation is a high M.

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Grade Boundary: Low Merit

3. The investigation uses a valid range of temperatures but the method is minimalfor sufficiency for quality, as required for M, because it lacks details eg thepositioning of the glass tube, the control of light. The data recording and

processing is sufficient for quality. Discussion of the results in relation to thesignificance to the ecological niche of the organism is sufficient for M/E (EN 9).The evaluation is not sufficient for E since it focuses mainly on the limitations ofthe investigation rather the validity of the conclusion or the reliability of the data(EN 10, bp 3). More explanation in relation to the meaning of the statisticalanalysis would have been one way to strengthen the evaluation.

© Crown 2010


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Grade Boundary: High Achieved

4.The introduction to this investigation refers mainly to the aspects of ecologicalniche that are not being investigated. Therefore the link between theinvestigation and the ecological niche is weak here, but is made more fully later

in the discussion. The lux values rather that bulb wattage should be featured inthe aim/hypothesis and in the graph. The method indicates that the student isaware of the temperature factor but no effort to control it is indicated in themethod. It is indicated in the evaluation however. These issues detract from thevalidity of the investigation as required for Merit and Excellence (see EN 7, bp2). Overall the investigation is at the upper end of A because it provides a fulland clear method, appropriate data recording and processing allowing a trendor pattern to be determined (a requirement for M and E), and an attempt atstatistical analysis and explanation of the results of this. (Note the data tableand graph are missing from the exemplar, but were present in the originalsample of work. The processed data in the table and graph were accurate and

fully labelled, sufficient to show a trend or pattern as required for quality. EN 7,bp 3). The conclusion, although convoluted at first, is stated and linked to thehypothesis and the results are interpreted and findings reported on in thediscussion.

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Grade Boundary: Low Achieved

5.The link between the investigation and the ecological niche of the organism isweak. The method is complex, parts are difficult to follow and the control ofother significant factors that may effect the outcome of the investigation eg

temperature, are not integrated into the final method, as would be expected fora quality investigation for M and E (EN 7). In the graph the light intensity shouldbe recorded in lux rather than number of sheets of shade cloth used, as thiswould give a better indication of the trend in relation to light intensity. Theinvestigation does not therefore meet the requirements for a qualityinvestigation for the above reasons. The investigation is at the lower end of Abecause the interpretation of the findings is confused (see “Discussion”paragraph 3). The link between the ecological niche and the investigation isweak and the report lacks the use of the biological terminology required at Level8 of the curriculum (EN 1).

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Grade Boundary: High Not Achieved

6.The investigation has made a link to the ecological niche of the organism but itis tenuous. The method requires further clarification in order for it to be followedand it does not specify the range for the independent variable as required for A

(EN 6, bp 2). The report does not always use the biology terminology asrequired at Level 8 of the curriculum (EN 1) and uses various anthropomorphicstatements eg “.. as it may be uncomfortable for the slater…” in relation toincreased temperature, “ .. to keep them from getting tired.” in relation to therepeated use of individual slaters. The interpretation and reporting on thefindings and the conclusion (EN 6, bp 4) are limited, with some parts not makingsense. These factors make the investigation insufficient for A, but because thestudent has followed the investigative process to completion with some aspectsat A level, overall the investigation is close to Achieved.

© Crown 2010


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