PREPARATION FOR ATP EXAMINATION

ATP(Alternate to practicals)
ATP examination does not require lab facilities. It consists of some number of questions(2-
4) based upon the experimental and investigative skills.
Experimental skills and investigations
Students should be able to:

1. follow a sequence of instructions;

2. use techniques, apparatus, measuring devices and materials effectively and safely;
3. make and record observations, measurements, calculations and estimates with due regard
to precision, accuracy and units;
4. interpret, evaluate and report upon observations and experimental data;
5. identify problems, design/plan and carry out investigations, including the selection of
techniques, apparatus, measuring devices and materials;
6. evaluate methods and suggest possible improvements.
To assess these basic experimental skills, the students are required to response the
following types of questions.

1. Describe similarities and/or differences between the given structures.

2. draw and label a diagram given in the paper
3. measure length, diameter or/width of the diagram.
4. calculate the magnification of the diagram.
5. calculate the percent change, average or mean etc.
6. design an experiment or my be question on experimental design.
7. make a table and put the given data in the table.
8. plot a graph using the data provided.
Similarities and differences between given structures
Example question October/November 2006/06 Some parts of this question are intentionally
not included.
2 Fig. 2.1 and Fig. 2.2 are photographs of some cells to the same
scale.

(b) Complete Table 2.1 to compare the cells in Fig. 2.1 with the cells in Fig. 2.2 by
listing two visible similarities and two visible differences. Table 2.1

[4]

How a student should response to this question.

Normally the structures given to be compared are chosen from the syllabus but essentially
might not be familiar
to the students. I recommend the students to follow the prompt SANSS.
Shape
Additional feature
Number
Size
Shading Look for the number of the stamens, carpels, petals etc and write differences. Then
compare the
shape of petals, sepals anthers etc and describe differences. See the differences in size of
the structures and compare shading. Try this with some more examples from past papers.

Draw and label the given diagram

Example question.
5090_S06_Q2(c). Some parts are intentionally not shown
MAKING A BIOLOGICAL DIAGRAM
Key points

Draw a diagram of some reasonable size i.e. neither to large nor to small. Very large
wastes your time
and very small does not provide sufficient details
Draw what you see. Do not draw what you know- not a text diagram
The parts of the diagram must be in right proportion
Use a soft pencil(2B) to draw and label your diagrams
Make very clear outline
Faint outlines will not be accepted. It makes difficult to examiner to assess your diagram
Do not shade with the side of your pencil.
Do not use crayons or colored pencils
Do not make fussy or broken out lines
Leave sufficient space at the sides of your diagram for labeling. Refer to size of the
drawing
Write a title at the bottom of each drawing
Label neatly and legibly
If a label consists of more than one word, write in one line Write labels horizontally
Space out your labels neatly
One structure should be labeled singular and more as plural
Labeling lines should not cross each other
Do not make long lines that cross the drawing from one to the other end.

Taking measurements
Example question
5090_W04_Q4(a and b). (a) Make a large, labelled drawing of part of Fig. 4.1 to show
the stamens,
style and stigma.
[5]
(b) Measure the length of one of the anthers. Length of anther on Fig. 4.1 =
.............................. . Indicate clearly on Fig. 4.1 which anther you measured, then use
this figure to calculate the magnification of your drawing as compared with the size of
the actual flower.
Show your working clearly.
Magnification = ......................... [4]]

Apply the following formula for calculating magnification

Length or width of drawing
Magnification = X ------------------------------------
Length or width of actual specimen

Indicate by means of two parallel lines in your drawing where you have taken your
measurement.
Design an experiment/Plan an investigation
Example question
(c) Describe in outline how you would carry out an experiment to investigate the
concentration of fertiliser solution that could be applied to produce maximum growth in
this type of seedling.
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Student response
CORMS
Control= + and -/ range of values;
Organism= species/size/age/sex;
Replication= more than one reading and average;
Measure= units/time delay;
Same= temp./pH/water/humidity;
An experiment is carried out to test the validity of a hypothesis. For example you make an
hypothesis that temperature affects the rate an enzyme controlled reaction. To test this
hypothesis plan an investigation that should have all five things from the prompt. Your
investigation should be a controlled experiment. An experiment should have one factor
present in one set and absent in the other. A controlled experiment provides fair test and
more reliable results. A controlled experiment can be designed for example by setting two
apparatuses for photosynthesis. One in light which provided all conditions for
photosynthesis to occur and the other in dark which has one factor(light) missing the effect
of which is being investigated. A factor that changes during the course of time in an
investigation is called a variable. There may be two variables in an experiment. The one
under you control is an independent variable whereas the other which is not in you control
is a dependent variable. All biological investigations use some specimen/organism. In a
controlled experiment the organisms used should belong to the same species, size, gender,
age or biomass etc. The experiment should be repeated so that the factor of human error is
eliminated. The measurements should accurately be taken in the same units.
Measurements can be recorded over a sufficient period of time. Other factors during an
investigation must be kept constant except the factor being investigated. If you have
understood the concept plan the investigation given in the above example. Try some more
at home.
more help
Making a graph
Example question Another student carried out a similar experiment and obtained the
following results.
Table

3.3
(i) On the grid, draw a graph of the change in mean length against the concentration of
sucrose solution using the data in Table 3.3 and draw a line of best
fit. [4]
Student response
You a provided a graph with two types of divisions. Bigger divisions and smaller divisions. it
can be divided into x-axis and y-axis.
SLAP
Suitable Scale
Label the axis
Area, maximum graph used
Point, neither to big nor to small
Guidelines to be followed for making any graph
Only pure numbers to be used when plotting points Each axis should be labeled clearly with
the quantity and SI units if appropriate Each axis must be marked with an appropriate scale
Data should be critically examined to establish whether it is necessary to start the scale(s)
at ZEROO. The independent variable should be plotted on the x-axis The dependent
variable should be plotted on y-axis
Guidelines to be followed for making a bar chart
Lines or blocks should be of equal width Data can be arranged in any direction but arrange
in descending order of size The title should be given The values on the x-axis should be
given in the middle of each bar. This chart can be made for any kind of data. If values on x-
axis are non numerical, bar chart can only be drawn
Guidelines to be followed for making a histogram
The blocks should be drawn touching this could be done by establishing the class
boundaries Both of the edges of a block should be labeled
Guidelines to be followed for making a line graph
Follow the instruction if any given in the question otherwise you can make free hand, ruled
line or best fit line. Any point extremely away from the trend in the data can be ommited.
Guidelines to be followed for making a pie chart
if you are provided percentages to be drawn in a pie chart. Use the following formula to find
the angle to be made on a pie chart. Percent value using data from the table given above
plot a graph.

Making a table Example question (a) These are the records the student made. First
experiment
Starting temperature 20 degrees Celsius.
After two minutes 29 degrees Celsius
Four minutes 34 degrees Celsius
Six minutes 37 degrees Celsius
Eight minutes 39 degrees Celsius
Ten minutes 40 degrees Celsius
Second experiment
Starting temperature 20 degrees Celsius.
After two minutes 24 degrees Celsius
Four minutes 28 degrees Celsius
Six minutes ??
Eight minutes 32 degrees Celsius
Ten minutes 34 degrees Celsius
(i) Draw a table of the students results.

Making a table A table is used to record a data. It consists of number of columns each with
appropriate heading.
The column heading must be labeled. The label should consist of the variable title and the
SI units of measurements. The values put in the columns must not have units written with
them.

Hope you have understood and have no question.