Tips for SPM Biology

Do you want to know how to score in SPM for these 2 subjects? Here, I am posting the complete tips
for SPM Biology. These tips are intended for Form 4 and Form 5 students this year who are taking
SPM 2013 or SPM 2014.

Notice:
It is more difficult to get A+ for SPM Biology and ICT compared to other SPM subjects. In SPM 2010
especially, very few candidates got A+ for Biology, and no one in the whole Malaysia got A+ for
ICT.The minimum marks to get A+ for SPM ICT is very high, usually 95. The mark scheme for SPM
Biology is rather strict, and some questions can be quite difficult. If you aim to get A+ for these two
subjects, you need to understand them very well and master the answering techniques.


SPM Biology:

(Studying tips)
- When your teacher is teaching in class, pay attention to what your teacher says. Make sure you
understand everything taught by your teacher. If you do not understand anything, ask your teacher or
friends.
- You need a reference book because the textbook and practical book are not enough. I recommend
you to use the Success Biology SPM reference book by Oxford Fajar.
- When studying a chapter, read through all the explanations in the reference book sentence by
sentence. Make sure that you truly understand each sentence before moving on to the next sentence.
Certain topics may require understanding of earlier topics, so make sure you understand those topics.
You should also try to relate them to what your teacher had taught in school.
- You also need to read through all the experiments and activities in the reference book. You have to
understand the Aim, Problem Statement, Hypothesis, Variables and List of Materials & Apparatus,
Technique, Procedure, Tabulation of Data and Conclusion for all experiments. For the Procedure,
read through it step by step. Make sure that you truly understand each step before moving on to the
next step. To help you understand, try to imagine that you are carrying out the experiment.
Understanding the Procedure will make it very easy for you to remember the List of Materials &
Apparatus. You are also advised to be actively involved in all experiments carried out in school
because this can help you understand and remember the procedure of experiment.
- Then, you have to remember everything that you understood. You can memorise the sentences in
the book, or you can also create your own sentences that have the same meaning and memorise
them. If you create your own sentences, make sure that you do not change the original meaning, do
not leave out any important points and do not change the important keywords and scientific terms.
However, do not just memorise without understanding. Once you have understood, it will be quite
easy to remember and you will be unlikely to forget any of the points.
- For certain facts, there may be no explanation for them so it is not possible to understand them. In
that case, you have to remember and memorise those facts.
- For the calculations, you need to know how to apply what you have learnt to solve the questions. Go
through all the example questions in the revision book. Make sure that you understand how every
question is solved.
- You have to regularly revise every topics again and again. When revising, go through all the
explanation, facts, experiments and examples for calculation questions in the book. Make sure that
you do not forget anything that you have understood previously. Regular and repeated revision will
help you to remember all the explanation and facts for a long time.
- Then, you have to do exercises. Buy exercise books from the bookshop. You can start by doing
topical questions topic by topic. When you have understood all topics, proceed with doing SPM model
test papers, past year SPM trial questions and past year actual SPM questions. They should be
available from bookshops. After doing the exercises, refer to the suggested answer or mark scheme
and do self marking.
- You should sometimes refer to the mark scheme of past year SPM trial papers to find out how every
question is marked and which points need to be included in the answers for every question. Usually,
the same types of questions will have similar mark scheme, so this can help you when answering
exam questions.
- For Biology Paper 3, the pattern of questions set is similar for every year. You should familiarise
yourself with the pattern by looking at past year questions.
- When doing revision before exam, you should first go through the subtopics and experiments that
you think is more difficult or that you may have forgotten. Then, go through other topics as well if
possible.


(Answering tips)
- Paper 1 consists of objective questions, Paper 2 consists of subjective questions (theory) while
Paper 3 consists of subjective questions (practical).
- For Biology Paper 1, read the question and all the options carefully. Write any rough workings on
the question paper if you need to. Cancel off the options that you consider as definitely wrong. Then,
choose the most suitable answer among the 4 options.
- Paper 2 consists of Section A and Section B. Section A consists of 5 structured questions where
you must answer all questions while Section B consists of 4 essay questions where you can choose
any 2 of them. You can answer extra questions in Section B if you have time. The examiner will mark
all questions and choose the questions where you score the highest marks.
- For both sections in Paper 2, when answering, read the question and all information given carefully.
Make sure that you know what the question is asking for. Answer the questions based on your
knowledge and understanding on the relevant topic in Biology. Certain questions may test you on
more than one topics. For some questions, you may have to apply what you have learnt in Biology in
order to answer them. You have to think carefully and relate the question to what you have learnt.
You may also be asked to give your own opinions.
- When writing your answer, you can use the same or similar words or sentences as those in revision
books if possible. However, sometimes you may need to make some changes in order to suit the
question. You can also answer in your own sentences that have the same meaning. If the question
asks on something that is not in revision books (the question requires you to apply what you have
learnt in Biology or give your own opinion), then you have to answer in your own sentences. For all
questions, your answer must be specific and not too general. Give the most suitable answer
according to the question.
- You should use the correct Biological terms in your answer. Do not replace them with other terms
that are inappropriate, even if their meanings are the same. The spelling for all Biological terms must
also be correct, otherwise marks may be deducted. For other non-Biological terms, marks are not
deducted for wrong spelling. If you make grammatical errors in your answer, marks will not be
deducted as long as the examiner can understand what you are writing. Do not use any short forms in
your answer, except when writing units for quantities. For all chemical substances, you should write
the complete name and do not write only the chemical formula.
- It is not compulsory to answer in continuous writing form. You are allowed to answer in table form or
other suitable forms. In suitable cases, you can also use diagrams, equations or graphs in your
answer. However, you are not advised to answer in point form. There is not penalty for answering in
point form, but some inexperienced examiners may deduct your marks if you do so.
- When answering questions on calculation, you must show all workings. You should not skip any
important steps, otherwise marks may be deducted. You must also write the correct unit for the final
answer. The number of marks allocated for the question usually shows the amount of working
needed. 1 mark will be given for each important step and the final answer. You are not allowed to
write extra solutions or answers. If you do so and any of the answers or solutions is wrong, marks will
be deducted.
- If the question says 'Explain', 'Describe', 'Discuss', 'Justify', 'Give reasons' or something similar, you
should give facts and elaborations in your answer. Your answer must be very detailed. You are
advised to answer in complete sentences so that your answer can be easily understood. The number
of marks allocated for the question usually shows the number of points needed in your answer. 1
mark is given for each correct point. Do not miss out any important points in your answer. You are
allowed to write extra points in your answer, but you must be careful not to write points that contradict
one another. Marks will only be given for the correct points. For points that are not acceptable,
whether they contain wrong facts or not, no mark will be given or deducted. However, for points that
contradict one another, no mark will be given for both the points, even if one of them is correct. You
are advised to write extra points if you are not completely sure of what the question is asking for.
- If the question says 'State', 'Give', 'Name' or something similar, you only need to write facts without
elaboration. Write the answer straight away. You need not answer in complete sentences. The
number of marks allocated for the question usually shows the number of answers needed. If the
question states the number of answers you have to write, then you are not allowed to write extra
answers. If you do so and any of them is wrong, marks can be deducted. If the question does not
state the number of answers you have to write, you are allowed to write extra answers, but you must
be careful not to write answers that contradict one another. Marks will only be given for the correct
answers. For answers that are not acceptable, whether they contain wrong facts or not, no mark will
be given or deducted. However, for answers that contradict one another, no mark will be given for
both the answers, even if one of them is correct.
- When plotting graph, draw both the horizontal and vertical axis on the graph paper correctly. Label
both axes correctly and state the unit (if any). Use a suitable scale for both axes. Plot all points on the
graph accurately. Then, if it is possible to draw a curve or straight line that passes through all points
on the graph, you should do so. If it is not possible, you can just use straight lines to join them point-
to-point. The graph should cover at least half of the graph paper.
- When drawing diagrams, make sure that all important details are included in the diagram you draw.
You have to label correctly all parts in the diagram. Your diagram should be clear and neat.
- Paper 3 consists of 2 questions. Question 1 is structured question while Question 2 is essay
question.
- For Paper 3 Question 1, when answering, read the question and all information given carefully.
Make sure that you understand the experiment given and know what the question is asking for.
Answer the questions based on the experiment and its observations and results. You may need to
apply your Biology experimental skills to answer some questions. Certain questions may require your
knowledge and understanding in Biology to answer them. You may also need to give your own
opinions. Your answer must be specific and not too general. Give the most suitable answer according
to the question.
- You should use the correct Biological and experimental terms in your answer. Do not replace them
with other terms that are inappropriate, even if their meanings are the same. The spelling for all
Biological and experimental terms must also be correct, otherwise marks may be deducted. For other
terms, marks are not deducted for wrong spelling. If you make grammatical errors in your answer,
marks will not be deducted as long as the examiner can understand what you are writing. Do not use
any short forms in your answer, except when writing units for quantities. For all chemical substances,
you should write the complete name and do not write only the chemical formula.
- When answering parts of the question on calculation, you must show all workings. You should not
skip any important steps, otherwise marks can be deducted. You must also write the correct unit for
the final answer. You are not allowed to write extra solutions or answers. If you do so and any of the
answers or solutions is wrong, marks will be deducted.
- When answering parts of the questions that require explanation or description, your answer must be
very detailed. You are advised to answer in complete sentences so that your answer can be easily
understood. The number of marks allocated for each part of the question is always 3. The marks are
given based on the quality of your answer, so it does actually depend on the number of points in your
answer. However, you should not miss out any important points in your answer. You are allowed to
write extra points in your answer, but you must be careful not to write any points with wrong facts or
points that contradict one another. Marks will only be given for the correct points. For points that are
not acceptable but do not contain wrong facts, no mark will be given or deducted. However, for points
that contain wrong facts or points that contradict one another, marks may be deducted.
- When answering parts of the question that do not require explanation or description, write the
answer straight away. You need not answer in complete sentences. You are not allowed to write
extra answers. If you do so and any of them is wrong, marks can be deducted. For the Constant
Variable, you only need to write one answer, although there may be many.
- When recording numerical data from an instrument used in the experiment, the number of decimal
places used should be equal to the smallest division of scale of the instrument, unless if there is
special instruction in the question. (For example, if the instrument's smallest division of scale is 0.1,
you should record the data to the nearest 0.1, which is 1 decimal place.) Do not give more or less
number of decimal places. You must also write the correct units.
- When plotting graph, draw both the horizontal and vertical axis on the graph paper correctly. Label
both axis correctly and state the unit (if any). Use a suitable scale for both axis. Plot all points on the
graph accurately. Then, if it is possible to draw a curve or straight line that passes through all points
on the graph, you should do so. If it is not possible, you can just use straight lines to join them point-
to-point. The graph should cover at least half of the graph paper.
- For Paper 3 Question 2, when answering, read the question given carefully. You have to design a
suitable experiment based on the question. Your answer must include all the necessary details stated
in the question. When writing the Aim, Problem Statement, Hypothesis, Variables, Technique and List
of Materials & Apparatus, give the answer based on the experiment. You need not answer in
complete sentences. When writing the procedure, you must include all the steps to set up the
apparatus, steps to handle the manipulated, responding & fixed variable and the precautionary steps.
You should state the amount and concentration of the substances used. You are advised to answer in
complete sentences so that your answer can be easily understood. You do not need to draw the
diagram of set-up apparatus. When tabulating the data of experiment, you should include all the
manipulated variables and the header for the manipulated & responding variable, and you can leave
blank for the results of the experiment (responding variable).
- You can use the same or similar words or sentences as those in revision books if possible.
However, sometimes you may need to make some changes in order to suit the question. You can
also answer in your own sentences that have the same meaning. You are not allowed to write extra
answers. If you do so and any of them is wrong, marks can be deducted. For the Constant Variable,
you only need to write one answer, even though there may be many.
- You should use the correct experimental terms in your answer. Do not replace them with other
terms that are inappropriate, even if their meanings are the same. The spelling for all experimental
terms must also be correct, otherwise marks may be deducted. For other terms, marks are not
deducted for wrong spelling. If you make grammatical errors in your answer, marks will not be
deducted as long as the examiner can understand what you are writing. Do not use any short forms in
your answer. For all chemical substances, you should write the complete name and do not write only
the chemical formula.


Prepared by Mr.Govindan