Biology & Combined Science (Biology) Report on 2016 Exam

10 & 21 November 2016

Overview of Exam Statistics Paper Biology CS(Bio)

1A (MC) Mean : 21.1 out of 36

(i.e. 58.6%) Mean : 10.8 out of 24

(i.e. 45.1%)

1 ~46.1% ~35.8%

2 ~44.6% N.A.

SBA ~71.2% ~64.7%

Subject ~50.8% ~41.3%

Candidature 16020 1001

Marking Panels Biology CS(Bio)

1B-1: Q.4,7,10

1B-2: Q.3,5,6,8

1B-3: Q.1,2,9,11

1B-1: Q.4,5,8

1B-2: Q.3,6

1B-3: Q.1,2,7,9 2A: Human Physiology

2B: Applied Ecology

2C: Microorganisms & Humans

2D: Biotechnology

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Results Biology Level 5** 5*+ 5+ 4+ 3+ 2+ 1+ Percentage 1.8% 7.5% 18.6% 44.3% 71.2% 89.6% 97.1%

Combined Science (Biology) Level 5** 5*+ 5+ 4+ 3+ 2+ 1+ Percentage 0.3% 1.5% 3.6% 13.4% 40.4% 72.3% 93.9%

Number of candidates at top levels (Bio)

Level 2013 2014 2015 2016

DSE 5** 287 (1.6%) 300 (1.7%) 305(1.8%) 288(1.8%)

DSE 5* 1182 (6.8%) 1183 (6.7%) 1270(7.5%) 1201(7.5%)

DSE 5 2992 (16.7%)

2965 (16.8%)

3165 (18.7%)

2980 (18.6%)

Candidature 17913 17648 16927 16020

Subject mean 54 47.6 55.4 50.8

Performance in MC items (relative to this cohort)

Biology

% of cand. correct >70% 50%-70% <50%

No. of Q 11 14 11

CS Biology

% of cand. correct >70% 50%-70% <50%

No. of Q 2 9 13

Performance in conventional questions (relative to this cohort)

Biology

% mark >60% 40%-60% <40%

Question no. Q.1,4 Q.2,3,6,11 Q.5,7,8,9,10

CS Biology

% mark >60% 40%-60% <40%

Question no. 1,4 Q.2 Q.3,5,6,7,8,9

• Mark equating was applied to the 4 questions in Paper 2

• After equating:

Elective Popularity Mean % mark

Human Physiology 96% 45.6

Applied Ecology 64% 42.1

Microorganisms & Humans 12% 35.6

Biotechnology 29% 51.3

Mean marks for Paper 2

Performance – Bio Vs CS Bio Common items Performance

Bio vs CS (Bio) Bio CS Bio

1 1 ~

2(a),(c) 2 > 3%

5(a),(c) 3 > 2.6%

4(a),(b) 4 > 6.4%

8(a),(b)(ii),(c) 6(a),(b)(ii),(c) > 8.8%

9(b),(c) 7 > 15.7%

10(a),(b),(c) 8 > 17.5%

11 9 >18.7

Distribution of questions in Paper 1 Curriculum topics Suggested teaching time (%)

(Out of 180 hours*) % of mark

Section 1 24 21

Section 2 21 19

Section 3 47 51

Section 4 8 9

* 20 hours is allocated for Scientific Investigations

Question types in 1B

• Structure and functions (Q.1, 2, 3, 7, 11)

• SI and practical skills related (Q. 4, 5, 8, 9)

• Data interpretation (Q.5, 9)

• Scenario-based (Q.6, 10)

Distribution of questions in Paper 1 according to abilities tested and candidates’ performance

Abilities tested % of mark Mean mark (%)

Recall of facts and knowledge alone 23 47.8

Understanding of knowledge, concepts and principles 33 46.8

Application of knowledge to explain and solve problems 19 30.1

Interpretation, analysis, synthesis and evaluation 15 29.2

Experimental design, NOS and effective communication 10 46.6

General comments: • Candidates did well in straightforward questions that

required recall of biological knowledge.

• However, when they answered questions that required detailed reasoning and explanation, they often gave fragmented pieces of information with vague description and often missed some crucial elements.

• They tended to use simple words which often failed to express the specific meanings that only technical terms convey. When it comes to the use of specific terms, candidates often mixed up their meanings.

• Candidates’ performance in questions related to scientific reasoning (causal relationship, logical deduction, hypothesis making and drawing conclusion) was unsatisfactory.

Description of numeric data

Meaning of trend in relation to the aim of investigation

Abstract variable vs measurement

Roles of hypothesis

• For scenario-based questions that tested candidates’ ability in applying biological concepts and principles, candidates should

– Pay attention to the details given in the questions

– Think thoroughly with the help of their daily life experience

– Be aware of the relevant common senses

Questions with skills that are common to SBA (Paper 1A)

Qs Skills assessed % Correct

Q.3 Choice of reagent* 43% (Bio); 28% (CS Bio)

Q.9 Interpretation of graph – variables (photosynthesis) 79% (Bio)

Q.10 Interpretation of graph – explanation of trend 67% (Bio)

Q.12 Use of microscope* 69% (Bio); 53% (CS Bio)

Q.24 S.I. – experimental design (Osmosis)* 36% (Bio); 33% (CS Bio)

Q.25 S.I. – experimental design (Osmosis)* 58% (Bio); 45% (CS Bio)

Q.35 S.I. – result prediction (Auxin)* 42% (Bio); 26% (CS Bio)

Q.36 S.I. – control set-up (Auxin)* 63% (Bio); 53% (CS Bio)

* Questions with contexts directly related to scientific investigation / SBA Compare to 2014, candidates’ performance in 2015 MCQ related to SI / SBA has improved.

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Questions with skills that are common to SBA (Paper 1B)

Qs Skills assessed

3 Photomicrograph interpretation (chloroplast)

4 Dichotomous key

5 Filed study data and sampling method

8 Result description, interpretation and hypothesis testing (NOS scenario)

9 Method, graph interpretation and use of hypothesis (Plant growth)

Q Skill Mean

(a) Identification 73%

(b) Inference 45%

(c) Functional relationship 35%

Q Skill Mean

(a) Observation 60%; 55%

(b) Manipulation: grouping 87%; 80%

(c) Principle of dichotomous key 23%

Q Skill Mean

(a) Deduction (Competition - familiar) 40%; 44%

(b) Deduction (factor affecting distribution – unfamiliar) 26%

(c) Principle of sampling method (quadrats) 28%; 15%

Q Skill Mean

(a) Result description 81%; 78%

(b)(i) Result interpretation and explanation (unfamiliar) 6%; 2.5%

(c)(ii) Hypothesis testing 30%; 25%

(d) Nature of science 30%; 11%

Q Skill Mean

(a) Method of measuring dry mass 15%

(b) Result interpretation and explanation (familiar) 51%; 30%

(c) Result interpretation and use of hypothesis for explanation of result (unfamiliar)

25%; 14%

Purpose of Markers’ Meeting

• Explain the essences of the requirements of each question to markers

• Resolve the discrepancies between the requirements of questions and markers’ expectation

• Come up with an agreed “ruler” for marking

What really matters in the marking process?

• Do markers follow the agreements made during the markers’ meeting?

• Do markers mark by keyword or go through the whole answer to check students’ concept?

Points to note • What answers are accepted depends much on

the requirements of the question / context of the question and the consensus arrived at the markers’ meeting

Important dates for public exam Event Date

Markers Recruitment 22 Nov – 14 Dec, 2016 (tentative)

Exam Day 24 April, 2017

Markers’ Meeting 2 May, 2017 (tentative)

OSM Training 4 May, 2017 (tentative)

Marking Period 4 May – 1 June, 2017 (tentative)