Home > Subjects > Biology > Level 2 > 2.1 Biology investigation > Achievement criteria
- Subject: Biology
- AS: AS90457
- Level: 2
- Credits: 3
- Internal
Biology 2.1 Carry out a practical biological investigation with supervision
Achievement criteria
- This investigation covers the complete process of planning, carrying out, processing and interpreting data, and reporting on the investigation.
- You will be involved in the collection of primary data. The nature of the investigation could be the manipulation of variables (fair test) or the investigation of a pattern or relationship.
- You will have opportunity to make changes to your initial method as you work through the investigation.
- With supervision means the teacher gives you:
- guidelines for the investigation such as the context for the investigation
- instructions giving the requirements for a quality investigation
- broad experimental conditions such as the availability of equipment or chemicals.
You will be able to clarify your ideas with your teacher. You will then develop and complete the investigation from the initial guidelines given by your teacher.
Achievement
Carry out a practical biology investigation which will involve:
- a statement of the purpose – this may be an aim, testable question, prediction, or hypothesis based on a scientific idea
- a method that describes:
- for a fair test: the independent variable and its range, the measurement of the dependent variable and the control of some other key variables
- or pattern seeking: the data that will be collected, range of data/samples, and consideration of some other key factors
- collecting, recording, and processing data relevant to the purpose
- interpreting and reporting on the findings with a conclusion reached based on the processed data in relation to the purpose of the investigation.
Achievement with Merit
- Carry out a quality practical biology investigation enabling a valid conclusion to be reached. This will involve:
- a statement of the purpose – this may be an aim, testable question, prediction, or hypothesis based on a scientific idea
- a method that describes:
- for a fair test: a valid range for the independent variable, the valid measurement of the dependent variable and the control of other variables, with consideration of factors such as sampling bias and sources of errors
- for pattern seeking: a valid collection of data with consideration of factors such as sampling bias and sources of errors
- collecting, recording, and processing data to enable a trend or pattern (or absence) to be determined
- interpreting and reporting on the findings with a valid conclusion reached based on the processed data in relation to the purpose of the investigation
- a discussion of the biological ideas relating to the investigation.
- interpreting and reporting on the findings with a valid conclusion reached based on the processed data in relation to the purpose of the investigation
- a discussion of the biological ideas relating to the investigation.
Achievement with Excellence
- Carry out and evaluate a quality practical biology investigation.
- To evaluate means that you will justify the conclusion in terms of the method used. Justification will involve, where relevant, consideration of the:
- reliability of the data
- validity of the method.
