Cambridge IGCSE Biology
Experimental skills and investigations
Experimental skills and investigations in Cambridge IGCSE Biology: what the syllabus expects you to know, the learning objectives and how to practise.
Topic66 practice questions3 lessons
Overview
Not a numbered subject-content topic: Section 4 'Practical assessment' (assessment objective AO3) lists the experimental skills and contexts examined in Paper 5 (Practical Test) and Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical). Practical-skills content is tagged here.
Learning objectives
What the syllabus expects you to be able to do.
- P.1Select and use techniques, apparatus and materials safely, including food tests and testing pH, and describe and explain hazards and safety precautions.
- P.2Plan experiments: identify the independent and dependent variables, explain which variables to keep constant and how, choose a suitable range of values, include a control and describe how results will be recorded and processed.
- P.3Make and record observations and measurements to an appropriate precision in suitable tables, and make clear labelled drawings of specimens, calculating magnification or actual size.
- P.4Process and present data (calculations, graphs, interpolation, gradients), identify anomalous results and draw conclusions justified by the data.
- P.5Evaluate methods and data, identify sources of error, suggest improvements and use representative sampling methods.
Lessons
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Laboratory safety and hazard symbols
18 min
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Planning investigations
22 min
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Recording, presenting and evaluating results
25 min
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Sample question
A sample question on this topic. Answer it, check it, then read the worked answer.
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