🧪 Example Question (Planning an Experiment):
A student wants to investigate the effect of temperature on the activity of the enzyme amylase.
Plan an experiment to investigate this. You should include:
the apparatus needed
the method
the variables to be kept constant
the data to be collected
✅ Model Answer:
Apparatus:
Test tubes
Beakers (water baths at different temperatures)
Thermometer
Stopwatch
Amylase solution
Starch solution
Iodine solution
Pipette or dropper
White tile
Measuring cylinders
Method:
1. Label several test tubes with different temperatures (e.g. 20°C, 30°C, 40°C, 50°C).
2. Place equal volumes of amylase solution and starch solution into each test tube.
3. Put the test tubes into water baths set at the desired temperatures for 5 minutes to allow them
to reach the correct temperature.
4. Mix the amylase and starch in each tube and start the stopwatch.
5. Every 30 seconds, take a drop of the reaction mixture and place it on a white tile with iodine
solution.
6. Observe the colour change: when the mixture no longer turns blue-black, all the starch has
been broken down.
7. Record the time taken for the starch to be fully digested at each temperature.
Variables:
Independent variable: temperature (°C)
Dependent variable: time taken for starch to be digested
Controlled variables:
o volume and concentration of amylase
o volume and concentration of starch
o pH of the solution
o use same iodine and timing method
Data Collection:
Record the time taken (in seconds) for the disappearance of the blue-black colour at each
temperature.
Repeat each temperature at least 3 times and calculate the average time for greater accuracy.
💡 Tips:
Use scientific terminology (e.g. "independent variable" instead of "thing we change")
Include repeatability or averaging to improve reliability
Mention how you'll observe the outcome clearly
Show a clear link between the method and the variable you're testing
🧪 Example Question (Recording and Analyzing Data):
A student investigates how light intensity affects the rate of photosynthesis in pondweed.
She counts the number of bubbles produced in 1 minute at different distances from a lamp.
The results are shown in the table below.
Distance from lamp (cm) Number of bubbles in 1 min
10 65
20 38
30 24
40 12
50 6
(a) Plot a graph of the results on the grid provided.
(b) Describe the trend shown by the results.
(c) Suggest one reason why this method may not be reliable.
(d) How could the student improve the accuracy of the experiment?
✅ Model Answer:
(a) Graph
[You would draw a line graph with:]
X-axis: Distance from lamp (cm)
Y-axis: Number of bubbles
Proper scale
Accurate plotting
Line connecting the points (smooth or dot-to-dot, depending on pattern)
(For practice, I can generate this graph for you if you'd like)
(b) Trend Description:
As the distance from the lamp increases, the number of bubbles produced decreases.
This shows that light intensity affects the rate of photosynthesis — the closer the light, the higher the
rate.
(c) Why the method may not be reliable:
The size of bubbles may vary, so counting bubbles does not accurately measure the amount of oxygen
produced.
✅ Other valid answers could include:
Bubbles may be missed while counting
Light from other sources may affect results
Temperature may not be controlled
(d) How to improve accuracy:
Collect the oxygen using a gas syringe to measure the exact volume of gas instead of counting bubbles.
✅ Other acceptable improvements:
Repeat the experiment and calculate an average
Control other variables (e.g., temperature, type of plant)
Use a light meter to measure actual light intensity
🧠 Tip for you:
In questions like these, think like a scientist:
Look for patterns in data
Question the method (what could go wrong?)
Suggest improvements using real lab techniques (e.g., measuring volume instead of counting
bubbles)
✅ 3. Drawing and Labeling Diagrams
🧪 Example Question:
The diagram shows part of a leaf that has been viewed under a microscope.
(a) Draw a labelled diagram of a leaf cross-section, including the following structures:
upper epidermis
palisade mesophyll
spongy mesophyll
xylem
stomata
✏️Model Answer – Drawing Tips:
Use a pencil, clear lines, and no shading
Keep the proportions correct (e.g., palisade layer is near the top, elongated cells)
Labels must:
o Be horizontal
o Use a ruler
o Not cross over each other
✅ Labelled Structures:
Upper epidermis – thin outer layer at top
Palisade mesophyll – long, tightly packed cells with chloroplasts just below upper epidermis
Spongy mesophyll – round cells with air spaces underneath palisade
Xylem – in the vascular bundle (often above phloem)
Stomata – on the lower epidermis, small openings
(I can generate the drawing for you if you'd like a sample to copy.)
✅ 4. Making Conclusions and Evaluating
🧪 Example Question:
A student measured the effect of pH on the activity of catalase (an enzyme that breaks down hydrogen
peroxide into oxygen and water).
She recorded the volume of oxygen gas produced at different pH levels:
pH Volume of oxygen (cm³)
4 5
5 12
6 20
7 25
8 18
9 10
(a) What conclusion can you make from the results?
(b) Suggest one possible source of error.
(c) Suggest one way to improve the experiment.
✅ Model Answers:
(a) Conclusion:
The enzyme works best at pH 7 (the optimum pH), as this produced the most oxygen.
Activity decreases at lower and higher pH levels, showing that extreme pH reduces enzyme activity.
(b) Possible source of error:
The timing of the reaction may not be accurate — the stopwatch may have been started too early or
too late.
✅ Other possible errors:
Gas might escape before measurement
Unequal enzyme concentration
(c) Way to improve:
Use a gas syringe to measure oxygen more accurately and repeat each test three times to find an
average.
1. A student wants to investigate the effect of temperature on the activity of the enzyme amylase.
Plan an experiment to investigate this. You should include:
the apparatus needed
the method
the variables to be kept constant
the data to be collected
2. A student investigates how light intensity affects the rate of photosynthesis in pondweed.
She counts the number of bubbles produced in 1 minute at different distances from a lamp.
The results are shown in the table below.
Distance from lamp (cm) Number of bubbles in 1 min
10 65
20 38
30 24
40 12
50 6
(a) Plot a graph of the results on the grid provided.
(b) Describe the trend shown by the results.
(c) Suggest one reason why this method may not be reliable.
(d) How could the student improve the accuracy of the experiment?
3. The diagram shows part of a leaf that has been viewed under a microscope.
(a) Draw a labelled diagram of a leaf cross-section, including the following structures:
upper epidermis
palisade mesophyll
spongy mesophyll
xylem
stomata
4. A student measured the effect of pH on the activity of catalase (an enzyme that breaks down
hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water).
She recorded the volume of oxygen gas produced at different pH levels:
pH Volume of oxygen (cm³)
4 5
5 12
6 20
7 25
8 18
9 10
(a) What conclusion can you make from the results?
(b) Suggest one possible source of error.
(c) Suggest one way to improve the experiment.