Practical handbook for
A-level Biology
Version 1.3
AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in
England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.
,This is the Biology version of the Practical handbook.
Sections J to P are particularly useful for students and could be printed as a student booklet
by schools.
The information in this document is correct, to the best of our knowledge as of September 2016. This
document is expected to be revisited throughout the lifetime of the specification. Please check you
have the latest version by visiting our website.
Thank you to all the teachers, technicians and associates who have commented on previous versions
of this document. We’re grateful for all the feedback and hope that your comments have been acted
on.
AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England a
2nodf W
16
a1les
(number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15. Copyright © 2015 AQA and its licensors
,Contents
Section Page
A Introduction 4
Information about practical work for teachers
B Practical work in reformed A-level Biology, Chemistry and Physics 7
C Practical skills assessment in question papers 12
D Guidelines for supporting students in practical work 18
E Use of lab books 20
F Cross-board statement on CPAC 22
G Evidence for the endorsement 31
H Questions from teachers following the first year of the practical endorsement 33
I Cross-board apparatus and techniques and AQA required practical activities 47
Guidelines for teachers and students
J Tabulating data 50
K Significant figures 51
L Uncertainties 52
M Graphing 59
N Biological drawing 68
O Statistical tests in Biology 70
P Glossary of terms 77
Guidance on the required practical activities
Q Practical ladders and exemplar experiments: Biology 81
Key
There have been a number of changes to how practical work will be assessed in the new A-levels.
Some of these have been AQA specific, but many are by common agreement between all the exam
boards and Ofqual.
The symbol signifies that all boards have agreed to this.
The symbol is used where the information relates to AQA only.
AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England a
3nodf W
16
a1les
(number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15. Copyright © 2015 AQA and its licensors
, A. Introduction
Practical work brings science to life, helping students make sense of the universe around them. That’s
why we’ve put practical work at the heart of our Biology, Chemistry and Physics A-levels. Practical
science allows scientific theory to transform into deep knowledge and understanding – scientific
thinking. Through investigation, students uncover the important links between their personal
observations and scientific ideas.
“In the best schools visited, teachers ensured that pupils understood the ‘big ideas’ of science.
They made sure that pupils mastered the investigative and practical skills that underpin the
development of scientific knowledge and could discover for themselves the relevance and
usefulness of those ideas.”
Ofsted report
Maintaining curiosity in science
November 2013, No. 130135
The purpose of this Practical handbook
This handbook has been developed to support you in advancing your students to fluency in science.
Over the years, there have been many rules developed for practical work in Biology, Chemistry and
Physics. Some have been prescriptive, some have been intended as guidance. Although we have
always attempted to be consistent within subjects, differences have emerged over time. Worse,
students taking Biology may also be taking Physics and find themselves confronted with contradictory
rules and guidance.
This practical handbook is an attempt to harmonise the rules and guidance for Biology, Chemistry and
Physics. There are occasions where these will necessarily be different, but we will try to explain why
on the occasions where that happens.
The new A-level specifications accredited for first teaching in September 2015 bring with them a
complete change in the way practical work is assessed. No longer will teachers have to force their
students to jump through hoops set up by exam boards or worry about how much help they are giving
students and whether it’s allowed or not.
We have worked with teachers, technicians and examiners to produce this handbook. This is an
evolving document, but one that we hope you will be able to use with your students, whether they’re
doing A-level Biology, Chemistry or Physics, or a combination of subjects, to improve their practical
skills: in the classroom, in the laboratory, in exams, for the endorsement and on to university or the
workplace. The latest version will always be on our website.
Unless specified, all guidance is common to Biology, Chemistry and Physics at both AS and
A-level and subject-specific examples are for illustration only. However, the extent to which a
particular aspect is assessed will differ. Teachers should refer to the specifications and specimen
materials on our website for more information.
AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England a
4nodf W
16
a1les
(number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15. Copyright © 2015 AQA and its licensors
A-level Biology
Version 1.3
AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in
England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.
,This is the Biology version of the Practical handbook.
Sections J to P are particularly useful for students and could be printed as a student booklet
by schools.
The information in this document is correct, to the best of our knowledge as of September 2016. This
document is expected to be revisited throughout the lifetime of the specification. Please check you
have the latest version by visiting our website.
Thank you to all the teachers, technicians and associates who have commented on previous versions
of this document. We’re grateful for all the feedback and hope that your comments have been acted
on.
AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England a
2nodf W
16
a1les
(number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15. Copyright © 2015 AQA and its licensors
,Contents
Section Page
A Introduction 4
Information about practical work for teachers
B Practical work in reformed A-level Biology, Chemistry and Physics 7
C Practical skills assessment in question papers 12
D Guidelines for supporting students in practical work 18
E Use of lab books 20
F Cross-board statement on CPAC 22
G Evidence for the endorsement 31
H Questions from teachers following the first year of the practical endorsement 33
I Cross-board apparatus and techniques and AQA required practical activities 47
Guidelines for teachers and students
J Tabulating data 50
K Significant figures 51
L Uncertainties 52
M Graphing 59
N Biological drawing 68
O Statistical tests in Biology 70
P Glossary of terms 77
Guidance on the required practical activities
Q Practical ladders and exemplar experiments: Biology 81
Key
There have been a number of changes to how practical work will be assessed in the new A-levels.
Some of these have been AQA specific, but many are by common agreement between all the exam
boards and Ofqual.
The symbol signifies that all boards have agreed to this.
The symbol is used where the information relates to AQA only.
AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England a
3nodf W
16
a1les
(number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15. Copyright © 2015 AQA and its licensors
, A. Introduction
Practical work brings science to life, helping students make sense of the universe around them. That’s
why we’ve put practical work at the heart of our Biology, Chemistry and Physics A-levels. Practical
science allows scientific theory to transform into deep knowledge and understanding – scientific
thinking. Through investigation, students uncover the important links between their personal
observations and scientific ideas.
“In the best schools visited, teachers ensured that pupils understood the ‘big ideas’ of science.
They made sure that pupils mastered the investigative and practical skills that underpin the
development of scientific knowledge and could discover for themselves the relevance and
usefulness of those ideas.”
Ofsted report
Maintaining curiosity in science
November 2013, No. 130135
The purpose of this Practical handbook
This handbook has been developed to support you in advancing your students to fluency in science.
Over the years, there have been many rules developed for practical work in Biology, Chemistry and
Physics. Some have been prescriptive, some have been intended as guidance. Although we have
always attempted to be consistent within subjects, differences have emerged over time. Worse,
students taking Biology may also be taking Physics and find themselves confronted with contradictory
rules and guidance.
This practical handbook is an attempt to harmonise the rules and guidance for Biology, Chemistry and
Physics. There are occasions where these will necessarily be different, but we will try to explain why
on the occasions where that happens.
The new A-level specifications accredited for first teaching in September 2015 bring with them a
complete change in the way practical work is assessed. No longer will teachers have to force their
students to jump through hoops set up by exam boards or worry about how much help they are giving
students and whether it’s allowed or not.
We have worked with teachers, technicians and examiners to produce this handbook. This is an
evolving document, but one that we hope you will be able to use with your students, whether they’re
doing A-level Biology, Chemistry or Physics, or a combination of subjects, to improve their practical
skills: in the classroom, in the laboratory, in exams, for the endorsement and on to university or the
workplace. The latest version will always be on our website.
Unless specified, all guidance is common to Biology, Chemistry and Physics at both AS and
A-level and subject-specific examples are for illustration only. However, the extent to which a
particular aspect is assessed will differ. Teachers should refer to the specifications and specimen
materials on our website for more information.
AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England a
4nodf W
16
a1les
(number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15. Copyright © 2015 AQA and its licensors
