GCSE biology practicals
Practical questions test what was changed, what was measured and how to make it fair.
The kinds of experiment
Looking at cells with a microscope and working out their real size, testing foods for sugars, starch and protein, measuring how fast an enzyme works at different temperatures or pH, watching how water moves in and out of plant tissue, and measuring how light affects the rate of photosynthesis. Ecology work counts and samples living things in an area.
| Experiment | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Microscope | Real size from magnification |
| Food tests | Sugars, starch and protein |
| Enzymes | Rate at each temperature or pH |
| Osmosis | Change in mass of tissue |
| Photosynthesis | Rate at each light distance |
| Sampling | How many of a species |
The skills behind them
Name the independent, dependent and control variables. Say why repeats make a result more reliable. Spot an anomaly in a table and leave it out of the mean. Turn a magnification or a scale reading into a real size.
| Variable | What it is |
|---|---|
| Independent | The one you change |
| Dependent | The one you measure |
| Control | The ones you keep the same |
Practise the ideas
Cell biology, freeThe whole first unit, with its topic test
Printable practical method cardsIn the Shop Questions
Do I need to remember the exact method?
You should know what an experiment does and why each step is there. Questions often give you a method and ask you to improve it or explain a result.
Related
Helps with GCSE biology, chemistry, physics and combined science (AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR). AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR are trade marks of their owners. Brainlag is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any exam board.