1

Disclaim
er:

This e-book is meant to be used as a guide to

help teachers prepare their students to sit for the
SPM exams. It is provided free of charge on a
best intention basis. The author shall not be
held responsible for any inaccuracies contain
therein or any outcome arising from the use of
this e-book.

Condition of use:
This e-book may be distributed in its original
form free of charge. It is not to be sold for any
profit.

Kenneth Ng

BIOLOGY 1
1.

Read the entire question and all the

answer choices before deciding on the
answer.

2. Mark your answer clearly on the Objective

Answer
Sheet.
3.

If you cannot answer a question, go on

to the next question. Remember to come
back to this question later. This will
prevent you from wasting precious time.

4. Go through your answers after you have

finished.
You might want to change some of your
answers.
BIOLOGY 2 - STRUCTURED QUESTIONS
1.

Write neatly and clearly.

2.

Be brief and to the point it is not

necessary to repeat the question.

3.

Show your working for any calculation

work. (Write down the formula, substitute
the values into the formula, complete the
calculation)

4.

Use a pencil to draw diagrams or graphs.

5.

Label diagram and graphs clearly.

6.

Use the marks allocated to determine

how much you should write. One mark is
allocated for one point.

7. Use the instruction guide to answer the

questions.

BIOLOGY 2 - ESSAY QUESTIONS

1.

Read all the questions before choosing

those that you want to answer.

2.

Re-read the chosen questions carefully to

make sure you are interpreting them
correctly.

3.

You may explain your answer using

appropriate diagrams (be sure to label all
diagrams), equations, graphs, tables or
any other suitable methods.

4.

Give your answers according to the key

instruction words. Use the INSTRUCTION
GUIDE below.

5.

You may give your answer in point form.

Check the number of points in your
answer with the number of marks
allocated for the question. (One point is
usually allocated one mark). If possible
give one or
two more points than the maximum marks
allocated.

INSTRUCTION GUIDE AND RESPONSE

Key instruction word

Answer

What is ?

Give the actual name. Spelling

for
scientific terms and names
must be accurate.
Give the quantity, no need for
calculation

How many
calculate
Name
State
List

Show the workings of your

calculation and the final
answer
Give the correct name,
scientific
names must be underlined
Just give the fact. No
explanations or
descriptions needed.
State the facts in point form.

Define

Define the term clearly and

completely.

Why

Give the reasons

How

Explain step by step how it

takes
place
Give the similarities and
differences
explicitly. Use a table.
Give the diferences explicitly.
Use a
5

Compare
What are the
diferences

table.
Describe

Discuss
Contrast / Distinguish

Tell the story, an account

of, state the main points of
the topic. No
elaborate explanation of
why and how is necessary
Give your opinion from
different
aspects, viewpoints or
Give the diferences only.

Evaluate

Give the positive and negative

aspects.

Explain

Clarify what, how or why.

State the
fact followed by a few
sentences to elaborate it.
Explain or clarify by using
diagrams,
drawings or figures.
Briefly give the important
points.
Present concisely all main
points.
Tick ( ) in the box, DO NOT
use a
cross ( ).

Illustrate
Outline
Summarize
Tick ( ) in the box

Example for Describe and Explain

Describe the graph

o

As the temperature increase from 0 C to 40 C ,

the rate of enzyme activity also increases. The
o
rate of enzyme activity is maximum at 40 C . As
o
the temperature increases above 40 C , the
rate of enzyme activity decreases.
Explain the graph
As the temperature increase from 0 C to 40 C ,
the rate of enzyme activity also increases . At
7

these temperatures, the enzyme is more active

as the temperature increases because

the rate of collision between the enzymes and

the substrate molecules increases with the
increase of temperature. The rate of enzyme
o
activity is maximum at 40 C because this
temperature is optimum for the enzyme to
function. As the temperature increases above
o
40 C, the rate of enzyme activity decreases
because the enzymes begin to denature due to
the high temperature.

PAPER
3
QUESTION 1

The following scientific skills are tested in

Question 1:
1.
OBSERVATIO
N
QUESTION
:
observations.

State

two

ANSWER : Write down what can be observed

only. Do not do any analysis, comparison or
conclusion. For most
experiments, the observation can be written
in the form:
The .(responding variable) .. at ..
(manipulated variable) is (state reading
of measuring instrument)
( Write the observation for the highest and
lowest value of the responding variable.)
Exampl
e:
The time taken for the starch to be completely
hydrolysed at
oC
5
is 45
minutes.
The time taken for the starch to be completely
hydrolysed at

40
C is
minutes.

2.
INFERENC
E
State one inference which corresponds to each
observation. An inference is a brief explanation
of the observation, based on scientific
knowledge which you already know.
Exampl
e:

The time taken for starch to be completely

o
hydrolysed at 5 C is 45 minutes because the low
temperature causes the enzymes to react slowly
with the substrate.
The time taken for starch to be completely
o
hydrolysed at 5 C is 5 minutes because the
higher temperature causes the enzymes to react
quickly with the substrate.
3. MEASURING AND USING NUMBERS
Record the reading of thermometer,
stopwatch, ruler etc. from the given diagram.
4. COMMUNICATING
Construct the table with the manipulated variable
as the first column and the responding variable
as the second column. Data derived or calculated
from the second column can be added to the
third column. Show the calculations in the third
column itself. Units of measurements should be
written together with table titles, not with
readings.
Example
Temperature Time for starch to be Rate of
/
reaction
completely
o
-1
hydrolysed /
C
/ min
min
5
10
1/10 = 0.1
15

1 / 5 = 0.2
10
10

30

1 / 2 = 0.5

11
11

5. INTERPRETING DATA
Explain / state the relationship between
manipulated and responding variables as
obtained from a graph of the results.
Example: As the temperature increases from 5
o
o
C to 45 C, the time taken for the complete
hydrolysis of starch decreases from 45
minutes to 5 minutes.
6. CONTROLLING VARIABLES
Variables

Describe how you control the variables

State the
variable
MANIPULAT

Use action words and name the

instruments used
Use / .

ED

Use a thermometer to measure the

temperature of the water bath and add
ice or warm water to maintain the
temperature of the water bath. Place the
test tubes in the diferent water baths.
Record / measure using .

Temperatur
e
RESPONDING
Time taken
for
complete
hydrolysis of
starch
CONTROLLED

Record the time taken for the enzyme

substrate mixture to lose its blue
colour.

Concentration
of enzyme

Use the same amount of enzyme ( 1 ml)

in each of the experiment.

Use the same/ Maintain

7. MAKING HYPHOTHESIS
Able to state the hypothesis correctly based on
the following criteria:
State the manipulated variable
State the responding variable
Relate the manipulated variable and the
responding variable (do not use vague
relationships like afects or influence or
changes with). Commit to using terms
like: increases with / decreases with .
8. PREDICTING
QUESTION : If the experiment is repeated ..,
predict the observation
ANSWER : Give a value or relevant statement
e.g. the (responding variable) will be higher /
lower than (the value in the first experiment)
followed by a the reason
EXAMPLE: What will the rate of transpiration be at
fan speed
3, if the experiment is repeated in the dark?
The transpiration rate at fan speed 3 will be less
then (value recorded) because the stomata is
closed in the dark and less water will be loss
through them.

9. DEFINING OPERATIONALLY
Give a definition based on the context of the
experiment. EXAMPLE 1: An experiment is
carried out to investigate
photosynthesis and the number of bubbles
released is counted. The operational definition of
photosynthesis would then be:
Photosynthesis is the process where green
plants release bubbles in the presence of light,
carbon dioxide and water.
EXAMPLE 2: An experiment is carried out to
investigate photosynthesis and leaves are tested
with iodine solution for the presence of starch.
The operational definition of photosynthesis
would be:
Photosynthesis is the process where green
leaves in the presence of light, carbon dioxide
and water, produce starch which turns iodine
solution dark blue.
EXAMPLE 3: An experiment is carried out to
investigate transpiration under diferent fan
speeds. The operational definition of
transpiration would be:
Transpiration is the process where a plant loses
water to the surrounding which is indicated by
the movement of water or air bubble in the
capillary tube and is afected by speed of the air
current.

(You should include the variables in the

context of the experiment / experimental
conditions and .)

10.
CLASSIFYING
Group the materials or apparatus listed using a
table with the headings provided. Group them
according to their function in the experiment.

11. USING SPACE-TIME RELATIONSHIP

State the changes of the responding variable
with time. Use relationship words like increases
with / decreases with / remains constant with /
increases proportionately with / etc. Do not use
neutral relationship terms like afects / influences
/ changes with.

PAPER 3 : QUESTION 2
This question tests students ability to plan an
experiment in a given format. Students must
have all of the following :
1.

Problem statement

2.

Aim of investigation

3.

Variables

4.

Hypothesis

5.

List of apparatus and materials

6.

Technique used

7.

Experimental procedure or method

8.

Presentation of data

9.

Conclusion

1. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Must be written in the form of a question
End with a question mark.
Eg. Does pH affect the activity of amylase?
2. OBJECTIVE
Write down the objective as given in the question.
Eg. To investigate the efect of pH on the activity of
amylase?

3. VARIABLES :
Write down 3 variables. (Manipulated variable,
responding variable and controlled variable.
The controlled variable
must be one that will affect the outcome of the
experiment if not kept constant.)
4. HYPOTHESIS
Able to state the hypothesis correctly based on
the following criteria:
State the manipulated variable
State the responding variable
Relate the manipulated variable and the
responding variable
5. MATERIALS AND APPARATUS
List down all the materials and apparatus
used.
6. TECHNIQUE
In a complete sentence, write down what is
observed or measured (include the instrument
used). State the specific name of the technique
where applicable.
Example :
(i) Measure and record the volume of fruit
juices needed to decolorize blue DCPIP , using a
syringe.

(ii)Measure and record the initial and final

temperature of the water in the boiling tube
using a thermometer.
7. PROCEDURE
Write down each step clearly and
systematically. Your steps should include:
Steps where you describe how apparatus and
materials are handled.
Steps where you describe how the controlled
variable is maintained
Steps where you describe how the
manipulated variable is altered
Steps where you describe how the
responding variable is measured and the
instrument to be used.
Precautionary steps which ensure safety /
improve accuracy of readings.
(write the steps as a set of instructions or
direct speech and not in passive speech)
8. PRESENTATION OF DATA
Construct the table with the correct titles and
units. Leave the table blank. The experiment is
not carried out yet, so the results are not yet
available.

9. CONCLUSION
Repeat or modify the hypothesis sentence.
You may then write whether the hypothesis is
accepted or rejected.

The roots of education are bitter, but the

fruit is sweet.
Aristotl
e

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