A scientific or graphical calculator that meets JCQ regulations may be used (some GCSE Mathematics and Science papers are non-calculator). Graphical calculators must be set to exam mode; you must clear any stored programs, notes or data before the exam, and the calculator must not be able to retrieve stored text or formulae.
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific techniques and procedures. (40%)
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures. (40%)
AO3: Analyse information and ideas to: interpret and evaluate; make judgments and draw conclusions; develop and improve experimental procedures. (20%)
วัตถุประสงค์: Tabulate \(y\) across a range of \(x\) to locate sign changes (roots) and approximate maxima/minima.
ใช้เมื่อใด: Solving or sketching a function when you want to find where its graph crosses or turns.
ขั้นตอน
Enter the function in TABLE mode, set the start, end and step, then read where the sign of \(y\) changes or where it peaks.
ข้อควรระวังในการสอบ: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
Statistics mode (mean, SD & regression)
Scientific calculator (e.g. Casio fx-991 series)
วัตถุประสงค์: Read the mean \(\bar{x}\) and standard deviation directly, and the gradient/intercept (and \(r\)) of a linear regression for bivariate data.
ใช้เมื่อใด: Any data-handling, statistics, or required-practical analysis question.
ขั้นตอน
Enter the data in STAT mode (1-VAR or A+BX), then recall \(\bar{x}\), \(\sigma\) or the regression coefficients.
ข้อควรระวังในการสอบ: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
Carry exact values with Ans & memory
Scientific calculator (e.g. Casio fx-991 series)
วัตถุประสงค์: Keep full-precision intermediate values to avoid rounding errors.
ใช้เมื่อใด: Multi-step calculations where premature rounding loses the final accuracy mark.
ขั้นตอน
Use Ans, STO/RCL or the M+ memory to reuse the unrounded result of each step; round only the final answer.
ข้อควรระวังในการสอบ: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
Equation solver — to CHECK your working
Scientific calculator (e.g. Casio fx-991 series)
วัตถุประสงค์: Use the built-in EQN/SOLVE mode to verify roots of quadratics or simultaneous equations you have already solved by algebra.
ใช้เมื่อใด: As a check only, after solving by hand.
ขั้นตอน
Enter the coefficients in EQN mode (or use SOLVE) and confirm they match your worked solution.
ข้อควรระวังในการสอบ: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
ข้อผิดพลาดที่พบบ่อย
1highคะแนนที่เกี่ยวข้อง: 2Transport in cells
Failing to blot dry the surface of potato cylinders in the osmosis required practical.
วิธีหลีกเลี่ยง: Explicitly state that potato pieces must be dried/blotted with a paper towel before final mass is recorded to ensure excess surface water is not weighed.
2highคะแนนที่เกี่ยวข้อง: 3Cell structure
Dividing image size directly by real size without converting the image units from millimetres to micrometres.
วิธีหลีกเลี่ยง: Always multiply the image size in millimetres (mm) by 1,000 to convert to micrometres (\(\mu\)m) before dividing by magnification.
3highคะแนนที่เกี่ยวข้อง: 3Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
Describing disease symptoms or general body failure rather than explaining the underlying cellular biology (e.g. reduced oxygen flow and lack of aerobic respiration).
วิธีหลีกเลี่ยง: Always link circulatory or respiratory issues to cellular impact: detail how reduced blood flow reduces oxygen delivery, thereby limiting aerobic respiration and energy release.
4mediumคะแนนที่เกี่ยวข้อง: 1Transport in cells
Drawing dot-to-dot line segments on osmosis or photosynthesis graphs instead of a smooth, continuous curved line or line of best fit.
วิธีหลีกเลี่ยง: Use a sharp pencil to draw a single, smooth, continuous curve or straight line that passes evenly through the data points.
5highคะแนนที่เกี่ยวข้อง: 6Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
Simply repeating numbers from tables in evaluation questions (such as transplants vs dialysis) without providing comparative biological explanations.
วิธีหลีกเลี่ยง: Explain the biological reasoning behind the data points; for instance, state that immunosuppressant drugs prevent organ rejection but leave patients susceptible to secondary pathogens.
6mediumคะแนนที่เกี่ยวข้อง: 2Principles of organisation
Drawing more than one line from a box in matching/link tasks.
วิธีหลีกเลี่ยง: Ensure you trace exactly one clear, distinct line for each item on matching tasks to avoid immediately invalidating your marks.