AO1, AO2 & AO3 Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is the percentage of marks that is AO1 worth?
~30-35% of the marks
What is AO2?
Application-You must:
~Apply knowledge to unfamiliar contexts (graphs, experiments, new scenarios)
~Think critically about how biology works in real-life or unseen situations
~Be comfortable with interpreting data, making inferences, and drawing conclusions
What is the percentage of marks that is AO2 worth?
~40% of the marks
What is AO1?
Knowledge
~This is your factual recall — definitions, processes (e.g., photosynthesis), structures, experiments, etc. You need to:
Accurately recall and state key facts
~Use precise terminology
~Understand core biological processes
~Tip: Don’t just learn facts — understand them.
What is the percentage of marks that is AO3 worth?
~25% of the marks
What is AO3?
Analysis & Evaluation
This is about:
~Interpreting data
~Evaluating experimental design
~Making logical conclusions
~Often comes up in longer, 6-mark data questions
What is an example of an AO2 question?
They might give you a weird animal with a strange enzyme and ask you how temperature affects it. You need to apply enzyme knowledge — not just repeat it.
What do the examiner reports often say?
~“Students could recall knowledge well, but struggled to apply it in unfamiliar contexts.”
~ “Many students lost marks due to vague or imprecise answers — use correct biological terms.”
How do you apply knowledge to a graph or table you’ve never seen?
Describe trends (increase/decrease/plateau), relate them to a biological process (e.g., enzyme action), and explain why those patterns occur.
What should you do when faced with an unfamiliar context in a question?
Identify what biological process is being described, then link it to what you already know. Use familiar concepts in a new setting.
A question describes a mutation in a protein. What should you link it to?
Think DNA → mRNA → protein → function. Describe how a mutation affects amino acid sequence, protein shape, and function (e.g., enzyme active site changes).
When asked about experimental data with variables (e.g., pH, temp), what structure should your answer follow?
State the trend → Link to enzyme/substrate interaction → Use key terms like “optimum,” “denaturation,” “rate of reaction,” etc.
You’re given a graph with a new species’ respiratory rate. What should you do?
Apply your knowledge of respiration: talk about ATP production, oxygen use, anaerobic/aerobic differences, and metabolic demand.
How do you evaluate the reliability of data in an experiment?
Look at sample size, controls, repeats, and whether results are consistent. Suggest improvements like “increase sample size” or “use a control group.”
What makes an experimental conclusion valid?
It must be supported by the data, consider all variables, and use correct terminology. Avoid exaggeration. Link results to biological theory.
When interpreting data with error bars, what should you consider?
If error bars overlap, the difference may not be significant. If they don’t, it’s likely there’s a real difference.
What’s a common AO3 question about experimental design?
“Evaluate this method” — look for missing controls, unclear measurements, small sample sizes, and lack of repeatability.
How can you improve the validity of an experiment?
Use more replicates, control more variables, use quantitative data, random sampling, and ensure consistent methods.
How would you use a text to help you answer questions?
Using a text or resource to help answer questions (like in Paper 3 or data-based questions) is all about strategy, not just reading.
What are the 6 steps on how to use a text to answer questions?
- Scan the Text Purposefully
Before diving into questions, skim the text and ask - Highlight Key Points
- Read the Question Carefully
Before going back to the text - Go Back and Pinpoint Relevant Sections
- Use the Text + Your Knowledge Together
- Evaluate the Text
🔍 Step-by-Step: How to Use a Text to Answer Questions
1. Scan the Text Purposefully
Before diving into questions, skim the text and ask:
What topic is this? (e.g. enzymes, immunity, genetics?)
What’s the main idea?
Are there any data trends, variables, or key terms?
🧠 AO2 link: Start making connections with what you already know.
- Highlight Key Points
Look for:
Processes (e.g., transcription, respiration)
Variables (e.g., temperature, light intensity)
Outcomes (e.g., mortality rate increases, ATP decreases)
Conclusions or data summaries
Mark them up or jot notes in margins.
- Read the Question Carefully
Before going back to the text:
What is the question asking for? (e.g., explanation, evaluation, analysis)
Is it testing knowledge (AO1), application (AO2), or evaluation (AO3)?
🎯 This helps you focus only on the relevant part of the text.
- Go Back and Pinpoint Relevant Sections
Now return to the text with a purpose. You’re not re-reading — you’re targeting:
Key sentences or data sets that directly relate to the question
Biological terms or phrasing you can use in your answer
- Use the Text + Your Knowledge Together
This is the golden part:
Use your own understanding to explain what’s going on in the text
Don’t just lift lines — explain them in your own words
Use precise language: e.g. “The data shows X. This suggests that Y occurred, likely due to Z biological process…”
📈 Example:
Text: “The rate of photosynthesis decreased at 40°C.”
Answer: “This is likely due to enzyme denaturation at high temperatures, reducing the rate of the light-independent reaction.”
- For AO3 Questions — Evaluate the Text
If the question asks for evaluation:
Is the method in the text reliable? Valid?
Were there controls? Replicates?
Any limitations or improvements?
📌 Tip: Use phrases like:
“A potential limitation is…”
“To improve validity, the experiment could have…”
“The data supports the conclusion because…”
Want a Formula?
AO2 Formula (Application):
Text info + Biological knowledge = Explanation in context
AO3 Formula (Evaluation):
Text detail + Scientific critique = Judgment on validity/reliability
