Practical skills - Independent thinking — OCR A-Level Biology
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Practical skills - Independent thinking explained
This practical-skills statement asks you to apply investigative approaches and methods during practical work, not merely to describe them.
Read the full explanation
When carrying out a practical, choose an approach suited to the question: a controlled experiment to test a hypothesis, a series of measurements to find a trend, or a qualitative observation where appropriate. Plan how variables will be manipulated, measured and controlled, select suitable apparatus, and decide on repeats and sampling. During the work, follow the method accurately, record data in a suitable table with units, and adapt sensibly if a problem arises. This is a skill demonstrated through doing practical work; written or oral explanation can support your learning but does not replace carrying it out.
Your focus
- Select an investigative approach suited to a practical question.
- Carry out a method while controlling variables and recording data appropriately.
- Adapt the method sensibly when practical difficulties arise.
Practical skills - Independent thinking exam tips
Examiner Tips
- 💡Before starting, state the variables and how each will be handled.
- 💡Record data in a prepared table with headings and units as you work.
- 💡If a problem occurs, note the adaptation and why it was needed.
Common Mistakes
- Treating this as a written recall task; correction: the skill is demonstrated by applying investigative methods in practical work, with explanation only as support.
- Choosing an approach without linking it to the question being investigated; correction: select the method that can actually test the hypothesis or answer the question.
- Recording data without units or a suitable table; correction: design a clear results table with headings and units before collecting data.