INTRODUCTORY CLASS (SCIENCE SPM 2015)

SCIENCE: SPM PAPER

No

ITEM

PAPER (1511/1)

PAPER 2 (1511/2)

01

Type of instrument

Objective test

Subjective test

02

Type of item

Objectives (MCQ)

Subjective item
Section A:Structured Item
Section B: Response Item
Section C: Essay
Open response item
Limited response item

03

Number of Questions

50 (answer all)

Section A
4 (answer all questions) 20 marks
Section B
5 (answer all questions) 30 marks
Section C
Answer question 10 (SPS question) and
either question 11 or 12

04

Total of marks

50

70

05

Duration of test

1 hour 15 minutes

2 hour and 30 minutes

ANALYSIS OF THE SPM SCIENCE PAPER (2009-2014)

QUESTION PAPER

CHAPTER

2009
P1
P2

2010
P1
P2

2011
P1
P2

2012
P1
P2

1. Scientific Investigation
2. Body Coordination
3.Heredity and Variation
4.Matter and Substance
5.Energy and Chemical Changes
6.Nuclear Energy
7.Light, Colour and Sight
8.Chemicals in Industry

4
4
4
3
4
3
2

1
1
1
1
1
1

3
5
6
1
3
4
-

1
1
1
1
1
-

4
4
4
3
3
3
3

9.Microorganism and Their Effect on

Living Things
10.Nutrition and Food Production
11.Preservation and Conservation of

FORM 4
1
3
1
3
4
1
4
1
2
1
3
3
FORM 5
1
5

4
2

1
1

3
4

1
1

3
3

1
1

4
4

2013
P1
P2

1
1
1
1
1
1
1

4
4
4
3
4
3
2

1
1
1
1
1
1

4
2

1
1

2014*
P1
P2

the Environment
12.Carbon Compounds
13.Motion
14. Food Technology and Production
15. Synthetic Materials in Industry
6. Electronic and Information and
Community Technology
TOTAL

3
5
2
2
3

1
1
1

50
12
*Kindly do the analysis for year 2014

4
4
4
2
2

2
1
-

5
4
3
3
2

1
1
1
1
-

3
5
2
2
3

1
1
1
1
-

3
5
2
2
3

2
1
1

50

12

50

12

50

12

50

12

DESCRIPTION OF SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS

Basic Science Process Skills:
1. Observing - using your senses to gather information about an object or event. It is description
of what was actually perceived. This information is considered qualitative data.
2. Measuring - using standard measures or estimations to describe specific dimensions of an
object or event. This information is considered quantitative data.
3. Inferring - formulating assumptions or possible explanations based upon observations.
4. Classifying - grouping or ordering objects or events into categories based upon characteristics
or defined criteria.
5. Predicting - guessing the most likely outcome of a future event based upon a pattern of
evidence.
6. Communicating - using words, symbols, or graphics to describe an object, action or event.
Integrated Science Process Skills:
1. Formulating Hypotheses - stating the proposed solutions or expected outcomes for
experiments. These proposed solutions to a problem must be testable.
2. Identifying of Variables - stating the changeable factors that can affect an experiment. It is
important to change only the variable being tested and keep the rest constant. The one being
manipulated is the independent variable; the one being measured to determine its response is
the dependent variable; and all being kept constant are constants or controlled variables.
3. Defining Variables Operationally - explaining how to measure a variable in an experiment.
4. Describing Relationships Between Variables - explain relationships between variables in an
experiment such as between the independent and dependant variables.
5. Designing Investigations - designing an experiment by identifying materials and describing
appropriate steps in a procedure to test a hypothesis.
6. Experimenting - carrying out an experiment by carefully following directions of the procedure
so the results can be verified by repeating the procedure several times.
7. Acquiring Data - collecting qualitative and quantitative data as observations and
measurements.

8. Organizing Data in Tables and Graphs - making data tables and graphs for data collected.
9. Analyzing Investigations and Their Data - interpreting data, identifying errors, evaluating the
hypothesis, formulating conclusions, and recommending further testing where necessary.
10. Understanding Cause and Effect Relationships - what caused what to happen and why.
11. Formulating Models - recognizing patterns in data and making comparisons to familiar objects
or ideas.

10 STEPS INVOLVED IN AN INVESTIGATION/ EXPERIMENT

Identify a
problem

Write a
report

Identify
variables

Form a
conclusion

Form a
hypothesis

Analyse and
interpret data

Plan an
investigation

Collect data

Control
variables

Conduct an
investigation

ANSWERING STRATEGIES- Science Process Skill (SPS)

SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS (SPS) QUESTION IS A COMPULSORY QUESTION IN
PAPER 2 UNDER SECTION B, QUESTION NO.10
1. Among the matters raised in the question are:
a) Making qualitative and quantitative observations form the diagram or through the
measurements
b) Drawing diagrams, graphs, tables or charts according to data or information given
c) Making predictions, hypothesis, inferences and conclusions based on the candidates
scientific knowledge.
d) Identifying a variable that is kept constant, that is manipulated and responding.
2. Your answer should be brief but accurate based on information given or obtained from you
framework.
GUIDED EXAMPLE for SPS (QUESTION 10)
Aim
To study the effects of antibiotics on the growth of bacteria
Problem statement
How does antibiotic affect the growth of bacteria?
Hypothesis
Antibiotic prevent the growth of bacteria/When antibiotic presence, it shows a clear area around it

Variables
a) that is manipulated : Presence of antibiotics
b) that responds : Area of clear area/ Growth of bacteria
c) that is kept constant : Type of bacteria/ temperature
Materials and apparatus
steril nutrient agar, bacteria culture, penisilin disc, Filter paper disc and petri dish

Procedure
1. Prepare petri dishes with steril nutrient agar.
2. Add culture bacteria on the nutrient agar
3. Put the penicillin disc and filter paper discs on the nutrient agar
4. Leave the experiment for 48 hrs / 2 days
5. The diameter of clear area is measured
Result/ Tabulation of data
Type of Disc
Penicillin disc
Filter paper disc

Area of clear area

Large
Nil

Analysis and Interpretation of Data

1. The petri dish and agar are sterilized so that they do not contain bacteria at the beginning of
the experiment.
2. The petri dishes are inverted for incubation so that any extra liquid formed will not fall on
the surface of the agar and spoil it.
3. The white dots seen are colonies of bacteria
4. Bacteria cannot grow in the presence of penicillin which is a type of antibiotic.
Conclusion
Antibiotic stops the growth of bacteria