2020 exam resources

[PhoenixxFire]

Hey y'all

With the exam coming up soon I figured it's time to make a list of some resources you may find useful as you study. Let me know if you find anything that you think should be added!

I've also attached a table of the revised 2020 study design for you to use to keep track of your mistakes as you do practice exams - put a mark next to the section of the study design that relates to a question you got wrong and you'll be able to see where the gaps in your knowledge are.

Resources:
- Adjusted study design for 2020
- 2017 Sample exam suggested solutions
- Northern hemisphere VCAA exams
- Feedback thread for exams you’ve self-marked
- Feedback and suggestions thread for improving your answers to questions you didn’t get full marks on
- A compilation of answers and feedback to past VCAA questions

- Study guides and other resources from past biology students
- Course notes from past biology students
-A thread of advice on how to study for the exam

- VCAA’s clarification of the study design
- My interpretation of that VCAA document, and tips from past exams and the study design


As always, you can ask any questions you have about content, studying, or the exam here or by making your own thread.

[homeworkisapotato]

Thank you so much PhoenixFire! You're such a legend <333

[Owlbird83]

Hey guys,
If any of you have biology Unit 1 exams from previous years. Please attach. Thanks

Hi biology1234,
Sorry but it's against forum rules for anyone to share copyrighted materials such as practice exams. Asking your teacher if they have extra resources that the school has bought, or checking if your local library has a copy of Unit 1/2 Checkpoints might be the best way to find extra practice questions!

[biology1234]

Oh thank you, I didnt know that.

[biology1234]

Could someone correct me and explain the cell cycle. If you are allowed, could someone send a simple diagram of this. Thank you.
prophase - nucleus membrane condenses,
metaphase- homongolous chromosomes line up , spindle fibres form
anaphase - spindle fibres pull sister chromatids to opposite ends
telphase- something with chromatin
two genetically identical cells produced.

[Billuminati]

Could someone correct me and explain the cell cycle. If you are allowed, could someone send a simple diagram of this. Thank you.
prophase - nucleus membrane condenses,
metaphase- homongolous chromosomes line up , spindle fibres form
anaphase - spindle fibres pull sister chromatids to opposite ends
telphase- something with chromatin
two genetically identical cells produced.

I'll edit this post to include a diagram later if I have time. I'll explain the cell cycle to a VCE level, but do keep in mind that if you do a bio-related degree in uni you will need more details than this.

Prophase: chromatin (DNA in nucleus) condense to form visible chromosomes, nuclear membrane disintegrates
Metaphase: chromosomes line up at equator of cell and spindle fibres from centrosomes attach to their centromeres
Anaphase: sister chromatids separate and are pulled towards the centrosomes located at 2 opposite ends of the parent cell
Telophase: nuclear membrane reforms, chromosomes decondense into chromatin, membrane of parent cell starts budding off such that there are 2 genetically daughter cells
G1 (interphase): growth and protein synthesis
S (interphase): replication of DNA
G2 (interphase): synthesis of proteins to be used for mitotic division
Back to M phase (mitosis)

Note in genetically damaged cells or cells that don't divide eg neurons, there's actually a G0 phase where the cell stops going through the cell cycle

[biology1234]

thank you for that summary it is really helpful. I have been conducting research and also found the last phase cytokinesis, what does this do?

[Billuminati]

thank you for that summary it is really helpful. I have been conducting research and also found the last phase cytokinesis, what does this do?

Cytokinesis isn’t a part of the mitotic phase (it depends on your textbook, it’s considered the beginning of interphase for uni molecular bio/biochem), it’s basically the formation of borders between the daughter cells which separate their cytoplasms