Download the specification for Biology Unit 3B and Unit 6B:
http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/International-spec-Biology.pdfDownload the specification for Chemistry Unit 3B and Unit 6B:
http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/International-spec-Chemistry.pdfConsider the above suggested documents as possible starting points.
The latest Edexcel GCE specification was introduced in 2008.
Sample question papers with their marking schemes for the new Edexcel GCE 2008 spec. for Unit 3B and Unit 6B are here:
For Biology:
http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/Biology-Practical-Alternative-SAMs.pdfFor Chemistry:
http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/Chemistry-Practical-Alternative-SAMs.pdfThe Written Alternative to Practical papers are alternatives to the practical assessment. Thus the assessment criteria for the actual practical assessment is used to set the question papers for these written practical papers. I therefore suggest anyone preparing for these written practical papers to falso check with the assessment criteria of both Bio and Chem Unit 3A and Unit 6A. You will find the details of Unit 3A and Unit 6A in the main specifications.
Get the main Edexcel GCE Biology spec from here:
http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/UA024831%20GCE%20in%20Biology%20Issue%204%20250510.pdfGet the main Edexcel GCE Chemistry spec fom here:
http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/UA024832%20GCE%20in%20Chemistry%20Issue%204%20250510.pdfThe specification points that have been emboldened in the main GCE Biology and Chemistry specifications are the Core Practicals. Knowledge and understanding of the techniques employed while these Core Practicals are carried out will be tested in the Written Alternative to Practicals papers as well as the other written exam papers so ensure u learn them thoroughly.
The set of Practical investigations in the implementation and assessment guide for teachers for AS and A2 Chemistry and Biology contains the Core Practicals as well as a few other practicals.
I will later attach the Core Practicals for AS and A2 Biology.
Attached is a doc for Chemistry Unit 3B and Chemistry Unit 6B.
Here is a document which maps out all the practical related work in the Chemistry specification:
http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/GCE_Chemistry_8CH01Practical_work_Mapping_Green.pdfI found this on an A-level site. Very helpful guidance:
Biology Unit 3B: Practical Biology and Research Skills
Students are expected to develop experimental skills, and a knowledge and understanding of experimental techniques, by carrying out a range of practical experiments and investigations covered in Units 1 and 2.
The paper will contain two questions. Question One will definitely test you on the core practicals listed in the AS Biology Unit 1 + 2 specification. Question Two will test your reporting skills. In the original coursework unit for Unit 3, you would have had to complete a report so this is why you are being tested as such. Check page 80 of the original specification for more information on the report.
Biology Unit 6B: Practical Biology and Investigative Skills
Students are expected to develop a wide knowledge and understanding of experimental procedures and techniques throughout the whole of their Advanced Level course. They are expected to become aware of how these techniques might be used to investigate interesting biological questions. This unit will assess students’ knowledge and understanding of experimental procedures and techniques and their ability to plan whole investigations, analyse data and to evaluate their results and experimental methodology.
This paper is a step up from the AS paper. You will have to answer three questions. Question One tests knowledge and understanding of the experimental principles and applications of the practical work they have undertaken in Units 1, 2, 4 and 5. Yes, ALL units need to be studied for this paper. Core practicals from any given unit may turn up. The specification did not explicitly state that only core practicals will show up in question one. You may be provided with the procedure of an unfamiliar experiment which relates to a topic in your specification.
Question Two tests your data handling skills. This question will test students’ ability to tabulate and manipulate raw data and to recognise anomalous results and explain how they may be dealt with appropriately. They will be expected to be able to suggest suitable statistical tests and interpret their results.
Question Three will test students’ ability to plan a safe scientific investigation, suggest ways in which the data collected might be analysed and evaluate the limitations of their planned methodology. Note: the nature of the investigation will most likely not reflect any familiar examples of practical experiments mentioned in the specification. As such, you will have to carefully think about how you approach this question.
