ATAR Notes: Forum

Archived Discussion => Mathematics/Science/Technology => 2015 Exam Discussion => Biology => Topic started by: Bruzzix on October 30, 2015, 03:16:57 pm

Title: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Bruzzix on October 30, 2015, 03:16:57 pm
Here is the scanned copy of the exam. I'M SORRY FOR THE CRAPPY QUALITY IT WAS THE BEST I COULD DO WITH MY PRINTER!
http://bit.ly/1kfEyoQ

Biology24123 and I have written up solutions for the multiple choice which we have confidence are correct, but please remember that they may NOT be 100% definitely right. We are all prone to mistakes! If you see something that you think is wrong, please let us know. We will try our best to bring you suggested solutions to the short answer section as soon as possible. Hang in there avid biology students!  ;)


MC
1. C
2. B
3. D
4. A
5. D
6. B
7. B
8. C
9. C
10. A
11. D
12. C
13. B
14. C
15. B
16. B
17. D
18. C
19. A
20. A
21. C
22. B
23. A
24. D
25. B
26. C
27. D
28. B
29. A
30. D
31. B
32. D
33. C
34. A
35. C
36. D
37. A
38. C
39. A
40. B
SA
http://www.filedropper.com/suggestedshortanswersolutions
These are only solutions for questions 1-9. I don't have time to do the rest. Connect education have some very good suggested answers that you can also check out. Please note that the mark allocations are just my guess and the suggested solution may deviate from what VCAA will actually accept. I've done my best to replicate their marking schemes and standards.
UPDATE: SHORT ANSWER SOLUTIONS ARE OUT
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: bridgetkelly123 on October 30, 2015, 03:23:07 pm
Thanks :)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: heids on October 30, 2015, 03:28:23 pm
Any chance you could post this in Biology?  Exam discussion should theoretically be in that board not this :P

But seriously, awesome that you got that up, hope all went well and I'll be doing my own answers cross check too :P
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: cosine on October 30, 2015, 03:32:42 pm
Question 38; don't Australopithecus represent erect-walking hominins?

If not, 37/40 fml...
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: heids on October 30, 2015, 03:34:09 pm
38 should defs be C not D imo. (hominoids includes apes)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: cosine on October 30, 2015, 03:35:04 pm
38 should defs be C not D imo. (hominoids includes apes)

38/40 so happy haha..
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Gromekk on October 30, 2015, 03:35:50 pm
yeah thats what i thought as well
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Biology24123 on October 30, 2015, 03:38:12 pm
38/40 so happy haha..

38 as well
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Sine on October 30, 2015, 03:40:10 pm
are we thinking 38/40 is a good score on MC because I'm pretty sure I got 38-40/40 (got to check all my MC's)  :)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Biology24123 on October 30, 2015, 03:40:42 pm
are we thinking 38/40 is a good score on MC because I'm pretty sure I got 38-40/40 (got to check all my MC's)  :)


Yep 38 is great
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Gromekk on October 30, 2015, 03:40:47 pm
i only got 37, didnt read 11 properly and got 21,22 wrong as well
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Jay.C on October 30, 2015, 03:42:27 pm
36/40 wow this is not a good day
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: ClivePalmer on October 30, 2015, 03:43:07 pm
Agree with all answers bar one.
I believe 38 is c.) Australopithecus show early evidence that hominins were bipedal

here is a quote from a website;
"Fossil Evidence of Bipedalism

The fossil record offers clues as to the origins of bipedalism, which in turn helps us to identify those species ancestral to modern humans. One of the most abundant sources for early bipedalism is found in Australopithecus afarensis, a species that lived between approximately 4 and 2.8 Ma. A. afarensis postcrania clearly shows hip, knee, and foot morphology distinctive to bipedalism. "

(http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/37/79537-120-6376F78F.jpg)

D I believe is incorrect because the hominoid refers to members of the superfamily Hominoidea, both present and past. Today it comprises humans, the gibbons, and the great apes (orangutan, chimpanzee, and gorilla). Australithicus was most the earliest fossils of homonin but not hominoid.

Happy to be proven wrong (well not really but I'll cop it).
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Biology24123 on October 30, 2015, 03:43:35 pm
i only got 37, didnt read 11 properly and got 21,22 wrong as well

How is that bad
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: heids on October 30, 2015, 03:44:52 pm
Happy to be proven wrong (well not really but I'll cop it).

I'm certain you're correct, I think the consensus is that all but Q38 were correct then! :)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Bruzzix on October 30, 2015, 03:45:29 pm
Thank you for all your feedback, I have changed the answer for 38 from D to C. :)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: wobblywobbly on October 30, 2015, 03:51:09 pm
Guys chill out. The exam seems much harder than last year and I got a 39/40 for the MC, so you would be expected to make a bit more mistakes (I know I did going through it). Looking with the answers, they seem all right, but a bit iffy with the hominoids question (I've forgotten what the definitions of the different human evolution terms are...)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: bridgetkelly123 on October 30, 2015, 04:01:35 pm
Got 39/40, which I'm fine with. 22 was the only one I got wrong, and I really couldn't figure that one out so was expecting it. I normally get 30-35 so I suppose it'll help me out a bit with my epic fail on SA....

 :'(
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: cosine on October 30, 2015, 04:02:49 pm
can someone go over 24 i am still in denial.. (I said C) and also 39 (I said D)

Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Gromekk on October 30, 2015, 04:09:59 pm
can someone go over 24 i am still in denial.. (I said C) and also 39 (I said D)

39 definitely isnt D, not everyone will have access to the screening and even if they did not everyone will get screened, so the allele will probably not get completely wiped out
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: heids on October 30, 2015, 04:15:24 pm
can someone go over 24 i am still in denial.. (I said C) and also 39 (I said D)

Why would two species have identical genomes?  If they did, they wouldn't be separate species... (Q24)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: plants on October 30, 2015, 04:19:43 pm
Can someone go over multiple choice q22? Not all the cells after image 10 are haploid because only one division has occurred -  only after the second division they would be haploid??
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: notverygood on October 30, 2015, 04:55:18 pm
I got 33/40 :( Is that good or bad?
Could've got more right but I overthought and rubbed out 3 correct answers UGH
All down to short answer..
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: heids on October 30, 2015, 05:00:32 pm
Can someone go over multiple choice q22? Not all the cells after image 10 are haploid because only one division has occurred -  only after the second division they would be haploid??

In the first division of meiosis, homologous chromosomes separate (so the cells becomes haploid as they only have one from each pair, 23 total and 46 chromatids); it's the second division that has sister chromatids separating, so unfortunately, you're not right :(
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: BakedDwarf on October 30, 2015, 05:23:23 pm
39/40...
I somehow got question 38 wrong.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: patphez on October 30, 2015, 07:22:23 pm
Ahah I did exactly the same   ;D
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Biology24123 on October 30, 2015, 08:10:25 pm
I got 33/40 :( Is that good or bad?
Could've got more right but I overthought and rubbed out 3 correct answers UGH
All down to short answer..

It's ok
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: cosine on October 30, 2015, 08:46:29 pm
what did you guys write about the translocated chromosome (the consequence on the genetic makeup of daughter cells)?

I said that the result of meiosis I (as crossing over happens during meiosis I) will result in non-identical sister chromatids in the daughters cells, something like this. Is this correct? I am so unconfident about this one :(
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Bruzzix on October 30, 2015, 10:43:10 pm
what did you guys write about the translocated chromosome (the consequence on the genetic makeup of daughter cells)?

I said that the result of meiosis I (as crossing over happens during meiosis I) will result in non-identical sister chromatids in the daughters cells, something like this. Is this correct? I am so unconfident about this one :(
Have a read of the solutions
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: StupidProdigy on October 30, 2015, 10:44:52 pm
Can someone explain q.35 please
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: BakedDwarf on October 30, 2015, 10:50:31 pm
For 7c, your solution states "Pituitary gland has different GC receptor to liver cells thus a different GCR-complex is
formed."

But i'm pretty sure that the receptors are the same. It's just that they have different signal transduction pathways within a cell that leads to different cellular responses.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: cosine on October 30, 2015, 10:55:12 pm
For the snyapse question, I had the same step 1 but step 2 i said that the neurotransmitter vesicles undergo exocytosis and are released into the synaptic cleft, then step 3 was they diffuse down to post synaptic membrane from high to low concentration, because the question said 'transferred across a synapse'. Would this still get me full marks?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: BakedDwarf on October 30, 2015, 10:58:44 pm
For the snyapse question, I had the same step 1 but step 2 i said that the neurotransmitter vesicles undergo exocytosis and are released into the synaptic cleft, then step 3 was they diffuse down to post synaptic membrane from high to low concentration, because the question said 'transferred across a synapse'. Would this still get me full marks?

You may loss a mark for not explicitly stating that the neurotransmitters bind to receptors at the post-synaptic membrane.


i'm cringing so hard because for the light-dependent inputs, i said light!! I wasn't aware it said molecules
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Bruzzix on October 30, 2015, 11:07:33 pm
For 7c, your solution states "Pituitary gland has different GC receptor to liver cells thus a different GCR-complex is
formed."

But i'm pretty sure that the receptors are the same. It's just that they have different signal transduction pathways within a cell that leads to different cellular responses.
Hmmmm I could be wrong, but in writing that solution I had question 3c from the 2013 VCAA paper in mind which was very similar. I think that if both cells had the same receptor then the same signal transduction pathway would be activated  leading to the same response since there are no other molecules (besides DNA) involved. Do you have a different explanation?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Bruzzix on October 30, 2015, 11:17:18 pm
You may loss a mark for not explicitly stating that the neurotransmitters bind to receptors at the post-synaptic membrane.


i'm cringing so hard because for the light-dependent inputs, i said light!! I wasn't aware it said molecules
That's nothing; I said mitosis instead of meiosis in the crossing over question *facepalm*
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: StupidProdigy on October 30, 2015, 11:20:44 pm

i'm cringing so hard because for the light-dependent inputs, i said light!! I wasn't aware it said molecules
I did the same, however I had 'photon' in brackets. There molecules aren't they haha?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: LoadedWithPotatoes on October 30, 2015, 11:26:03 pm
Comparative Anatomy? If you said comparative morphology is that -1?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Bruzzix on October 30, 2015, 11:27:48 pm
I did the same, however I had 'photon' in brackets. There molecules aren't they haha?
No but they are particles... and waves
Comparative Anatomy? If you said comparative morphology is that -1?
Both are correct
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: THEBEAST on October 30, 2015, 11:31:49 pm
Why couldn't q37 be c)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: jamesbw on October 30, 2015, 11:32:08 pm
Hey guys! If you'd like, have a look at our exam answers here!
https://www.connecteducation.com.au/hub/examanswers
Cheers!
James
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: cosine on October 30, 2015, 11:35:04 pm
i actually cant believe this, i lost 10 marks minimum this just stings..
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Toddman on October 30, 2015, 11:41:34 pm
for the innate cell found in the lymph nodes, could i have said natural killer cells?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Bruzzix on October 30, 2015, 11:44:27 pm
for the innate cell found in the lymph nodes, could i have said natural killer cells?
As far as I know, there are no NK cells in the lymph nodes. Dendritic cells or macrophages would have been acceptable answers though
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Toddman on October 30, 2015, 11:44:53 pm
Hey guys! If you'd like, have a look at our exam answers here!
https://www.connecteducation.com.au/hub/examanswers
Cheers!
James

How do you get an account tho?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: cosine on October 30, 2015, 11:45:43 pm
why is the last answer 20000 years ago? And also for the route, did the order of continents needed to be specified? (this was from connect)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: plants on October 30, 2015, 11:48:08 pm
i actually cant believe this, i lost 10 marks minimum this just stings..

Same bro we're in the same boat :/
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: jamesbw on October 30, 2015, 11:56:10 pm
How do you get an account tho?

Its free to sign up! all you need is an email address
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: vox nihili on October 30, 2015, 11:59:08 pm
For 7c, your solution states "Pituitary gland has different GC receptor to liver cells thus a different GCR-complex is
formed."

But i'm pretty sure that the receptors are the same. It's just that they have different signal transduction pathways within a cell that leads to different cellular responses.

It can be either way. For instance, adrenaline binds a wealth of different receptors, each with different signalling pathways. They'd award marks for either one.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: patphez on October 30, 2015, 11:59:23 pm
Yeah lost at least 10 as well :/
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: vox nihili on October 31, 2015, 12:21:51 am
I've had a look through the short answer questions, here are some thoughts that I'd add to the following:

1b
VCAA will award marks for a number of different answers here. Puncture a hole in the membrane would probably not get marks, as stated on the answers.
My guess is that VCAA were learning towards a more "gets in the way" kind of thing, interferes with normal cell processes because the aggregates accumulate. The reality is a lot more complex (aggregated amyloid beta, for instance, generates free radicals that wreak havoc etc.)

3a
Granum/grana would also get a mark

4a
Don't agree with the mark break up of this.

1 mark for Ebola antigen/attenuated Ebola or the like stimulates B-cell response

1 mark that after the antigen/virus is cleared memory B-cells are left

1 mark that upon reinfection with Ebola memory B-cell population expands quickly

1 mark plasma B-cells produce antibodies to remove the Ebola virus

If you got the essence of vaccine makes memory B-cell population and upon reinfection this population props up and kills it off you would probably get the marks. If they really need to discriminate they'll shift a mark to "memory B-cells are long-lived" because they did specifically ask about long-term immunity

5a
Answer is correct. Just wanted to note that this is a really disappointing question, I daresay most would not have been taught this. The valves allow for unidirectional flow of lymph.

5c
You must mention secretion to get full marks for this. It's not enough to just say that the rough ER allows for protein to be produced. It's new on the course (since 2013), but you have to know that the RER is involved in secretion.

So one mark for large amounts of protein produced, another for that that protein is secreted. They may even expect you to acknowledge that the protein produced is an antibody

6bi
Maybe synapsis too

6c
Mention the genes. Some gametes will lose T, others gain T, U and V also implicated. Not going to elaborate on all of it, but best to mention the letters since they're given. This is a clear application question. You need to respond to the material you're given and prove that you understand it specifically.

7c
Different GC receptors and different secondary messengers are both acceptable. Not sure which is actually right in this case though.


Even though I've picked on some things, these are brilliant answers. If yours are anywhere near these, you've done exceptionally well.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: adnauseam on October 31, 2015, 08:03:50 am
for 8a.ii, couldnt there be two possible nucleotide substitutions.
AAT -> ATT or
AAT -> ACT
i wrote both could happen im scared
i need closure
...
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: julijulib on October 31, 2015, 08:05:07 am
Am I the only one that the 'download file' button is not showing up for the short answer solutions?   :'(
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: heids on October 31, 2015, 08:08:25 am
Am I the only one that the 'download file' button is not showing up for the short answer solutions?   :'(

It should say 'Link to share this file with anyone' - copy and paste that link into a new tab, and you should get your download there :)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: julijulib on October 31, 2015, 08:21:31 am
It should say 'Link to share this file with anyone' - copy and paste that link into a new tab, and you should get your download there :)

Wow that was so dumb, thanks so much!!  ;D
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 08:24:15 am


5a
Answer is correct. Just wanted to note that this is a really disappointing question, I daresay most would not have been taught this. The valves allow for unidirectional flow of lymph.


This. It took me around 2 minutes to recognise that the shitty diagram was pointing to valves - I can almost guarantee a fair few students wouldn't have known this.


Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: CarterGray12 on October 31, 2015, 08:42:24 am
Hmmmm I could be wrong, but in writing that solution I had question 3c from the 2013 VCAA paper in mind which was very similar. I think that if both cells had the same receptor then the same signal transduction pathway would be activated  leading to the same response since there are no other molecules (besides DNA) involved. Do you have a different explanation?

If you read the first part of this question again, it explains that the gene activated is the same, so would the best answer be to describe how alternative exon splicing can produce different proteins from the same gene?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 08:48:25 am
If you read the first part of this question again, it explains that the gene activated is the same, so would the best answer be to describe how alternative exon splicing can produce different proteins from the same gene?

To be honest from what I have seen on the exam for this question (briefly looked at this question), alternative splicing is probably the best answer. It is the way to account for the fact that the same genetic sequence can yield different proteins (alternative splicing of exons = different AA = different tertiary structures & 3D protein conformations). So yup :-)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: flozza on October 31, 2015, 08:58:08 am
The explanation given in 8ii is incorrect. Both BR/br and Br/bR will produce 4 phenotypes due to crossing over events. The most common phenotypes reveal the parental allele linkage. For BR/br the numbers in the table would be 47,3,3, 47 instead of 3,47,47,3.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Alsci on October 31, 2015, 09:21:21 am
If i was to get A+ A+ A for bio, what study score are we looking at?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Sine on October 31, 2015, 09:36:28 am
same guys lost at least 10 marks
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Jay.C on October 31, 2015, 09:44:39 am
When you think it's not pointing to the valve but to the vessel and you give the function of the lymph vessel  :-\ wow just wow, I really messed up this exam.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: cosine on October 31, 2015, 09:47:50 am
When you think it's not pointing to the valve but the vessel and you give the function of the lymph vessel  :-\ wow just wow, I really messed up this exam.

we all did, honestly. although it wasnt incredibly difficult, instead it was weird and non-representative of what majority of us studied. >20 marks on evolution, they really pushed us to the limits. If it makes you feel any better bro, I myself lost a minimum, and i put an emphasis on minimum of 10 marks, easy. I was hoping bio would be my best subject because of the effort I put into it, but hey VCAA never ceases to annoy me. I guess don't worry too much about it, not that I can speak myself because im probably more depressed than you right now, but ay it's over so focus on your real year 12 subjects for next year, you can redeem yourself i cant.. Good luck
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 09:56:55 am
Guys I see you're all down so I'm just going to post this!

Remember that when VCAA sets a difficult exam, it often means that if YOU guys who are extremely bright and well-equipped with Biology knowledge will be rewarded because the bell-curve will be in your favour. I personally know someone who walked out of our Biology exam and was adamant he was going to get nothing above 36-37, and ended up surprising himself and getting a 50. Why? Because in Biology, you just never know. So while some of you may be gutted having checked the answers, I strongly recommend you realise it's not over. You never know, you may be pleasantly surprised when results come out!
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Gromekk on October 31, 2015, 10:00:44 am
To be honest from what I have seen on the exam for this question (briefly looked at this question), alternative splicing is probably the best answer. It is the way to account for the fact that the same genetic sequence can yield different proteins (alternative splicing of exons = different AA = different tertiary structures & 3D protein conformations). So yup :-)

I sure hope its alternative splicing!
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Sine on October 31, 2015, 10:12:50 am
Guys I see you're all down so I'm just going to post this!

Remember that when VCAA sets a difficult exam, it often means that if YOU guys who are extremely bright and well-equipped with Biology knowledge will be rewarded because the bell-curve will be in your favour. I personally know someone who walked out of our Biology exam and was adamant he was going to get nothing above 36-37, and ended up surprising himself and getting a 50. Why? Because in Biology, you just never know. So while some of you may be gutted having checked the answers, I strongly recommend you realise it's not over. You never know, you may be pleasantly surprised when results come out!
thanks, I really needed that

personally how did you feel coming out of your exam and having looked at both 2013 & 2015 exams is it safe to say cut-offs will be lower for 2015.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 10:18:42 am
thanks, I really needed that

personally how did you feel coming out of your exam and having looked at both 2013 & 2015 exams is it safe to say cut-offs will be lower for 2015.

When I came out of my exam, I was happy ( I sat it in 2013 and you can probably agree it is significantly easier imo than 2014 and 2015). But I still had doubts - my answers may have been a) completely off or b) not been to the liking of my assessors of what not. Biology you really never know, and I was ready to get a SS in my 30s too because you never know.

I 100% think cut-off will be lower than 2013, 2015 either will be a little bit lower or equal to 2014, but I reckon A+ cut off 87-92/110. That's just my prediction though!

& another thing; don't let a SS dictate your experience of a subject. I loved English, and still believe it was my strongest subject and I was incredibly disappointed when I got 42 for all the work I put in. However, my passion for English remains and wont be overshadowed by my SS. Neither should Bio if God-forbid you don't do as well as expected.That was my whole experience for VCE actually; my ATAR was  lower than I deserved and I was disappointed. But it's not going to dictate my ability or future :) Good luck guys!
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Sine on October 31, 2015, 10:23:49 am
When I came out of my exam, I was happy ( I sat it in 2013 and you can probably agree it is significantly easier imo than 2014 and 2015). But I still had doubts - my answers may have been a) completely off or b) not been to the liking of my assessors of what not. Biology you really never know, and I was ready to get a SS in my 30s too because you never know.

I 100% think cut-off will be lower than 2013, 2015 either will be a little bit lower or equal to 2014, but I reckon A+ cut off 87-92/110. That's just my prediction though!

& another thing; don't let a SS dictate your experience of a subject. I loved English, and still believe it was my strongest subject and I was incredibly disappointed when I got 42 for all the work I put in. However, my passion for English remains and wont be overshadowed by my SS. Neither should Bio if God-forbid you don't do as well as expected.That was my whole experience for VCE actually; my ATAR was  lower than I deserved and I was disappointed. But it's not going to dictate my ability or future :) Good luck guys!
just for reference 2014 was really easy A+ cut-off was 96/110

A+-cut-off predictions have been around 90 so that's a little bit of hope, thanks

Do you guys know anyone who was actually genuinely happy (and aiming for a high SS) coming out of that exam?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 10:28:39 am
just for reference 2014 was really easy A+ cut-off was 96/110

A+-cut-off predictions have been around 90 so that's a little bit of hope, thanks

Do you guys know anyone who was actually genuinely happy (and aiming for a high SS) coming out of that exam?

I have two strong students who admitted that there were several questions that were tricky. One of my students who LOVED evolution hated the amount of evolution covered in the exam, so not that I have heard of, no!

And wow! I didn't check grade distributions for last year - I totally reckon 2013 was a better exam than 2014 though. 2013 really reflected a good Biology student's knowledge on the exam. Many people who I know that sat 2014 felt ripped off.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Sine on October 31, 2015, 10:32:32 am
I have two strong students who admitted that there were several questions that were tricky. One of my students who LOVED evolution hated the amount of evolution covered in the exam, so not that I have heard of, no!

And wow! I didn't check grade distributions for last year - I totally reckon 2013 was a better exam than 2014 though. 2013 really reflected a good Biology student's knowledge on the exam. Many people who I know that sat 2014 felt ripped off.
2014 was pretty much if you've done all the past vcaa exams you'd do well.

I know that you got 101/110 for your bio exam, did you check solutions and estimate an exam score?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 10:34:37 am
2014 was pretty much if you've done all the past vcaa exams you'd do well.

I know that you got 101/110 for your bio exam, did you check solutions and estimate an exam score?

I only checked multiple choice, and knew I'd scored 40/40 and stopped there. I didn't want to check short answer because I also had further maths exams and I didn't want to know if I had made mistakes on short answer for Bio because it would cloud my ability to study for further. I'm not one who likes to check answers lol!
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: heids on October 31, 2015, 10:36:36 am
Do you guys know anyone who was actually genuinely happy (and aiming for a high SS) coming out of that exam?

So far haven't met anyone really happy with that exam.

It was hard, guys.  It was hard.  Yacoubb is 100% correct.  If everyone finds it hard, then you won't have to score nearly as well to get the SS you were desiring.   You guys were looking for high SSes, and from watching your questions and answers, I can tell you it wasn't unfounded.  Believe in us - an SS is seriously compared with everyone else, and if everyone did bad like you (as I strongly imagine they would), you're still sitting in just the same place you were compared with everyone else.

Looking at many of those questions, I know I wouldn't have had a clue last year and would've got a much lower score on the exam than I did on the 2014 exam; even when trying it out myself yesterday, I couldn't answer all those questions closed-book-exam-conditions.

Basically, I want to say, don't focus on the marks you lost - chances are everyone else lost them too, and you're all right and tight as you were before the exam.  It's about how you sit compared with everyone else, and I highly doubt that AN's brains will suddenly have taken a hard hit while everyone else excelled.  I feel like repeating this a hundred times over, because it's seriously true and it hurts me to see you all so depressed!!!

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk stuff out... I'll be getting back to you all later today :)

(And yeah, imo 2014 was defs harder than 2013 which had the easiest MC imaginable, but 2015 harder than 2014)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: cosine on October 31, 2015, 10:37:10 am
I only checked multiple choice, and knew I'd scored 40/40 and stopped there. I didn't want to check short answer because I also had further maths exams and I didn't want to know if I had made mistakes on short answer for Bio because it would cloud my ability to study for further. I'm not one who likes to check answers lol!

so yacoubb you got 101/110 and were you rank 1 for the 47? the cut off was 93/110, so it doesnt work like if you get half the cut off, you get 45? im so desperate right now i should just study for spesh ...
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: StupidProdigy on October 31, 2015, 10:45:31 am
With that question on recombinant gametes where you had to fill in the box. I only did BR br and left the two other boxes blank..would they accept that?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 10:45:45 am
so yacoubb you got 101/110 and were you rank 1 for the 47? the cut off was 93/110, so it doesnt work like if you get half the cut off, you get 45? im so desperate right now i should just study for spesh ...

I know a friend who got 45 in Bio my year and scored 97 or 98 (I forget exactly). So I guess that's around the half-way mark. I was actually annoyed because when I got back my results (statement of study score) I realised that I lost marks from one assessor more than the other. Like one assessor I think took off like 4 marks, and the other took off like 14 marks. It just goes to show - you don't kno and it depends a lot on who is marking your work. The crazy Bio lady who wants everyone to fail because she didn't get above 45 in Bio, or the relaxed guy correcting exams on his balcony in CBD. Luck.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 10:46:47 am
With that question on recombinant gametes where you had to fill in the box. I only did BR br and left the two other boxes blank..would they accept that?

I think you'd get part marks - given that 4 gametes are produced you'd had to have just shown 4 gametes (2 just repeated). I know it's such a stupid way of asking the question.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Sine on October 31, 2015, 10:49:04 am
I know a friend who got 45 in Bio my year and scored 97 or 98 (I forget exactly). So I guess that's around the half-way mark. I was actually annoyed because when I got back my results (statement of study score) I realised that I lost marks from one assessor more than the other. Like one assessor I think took off like 4 marks, and the other took off like 14 marks. It just goes to show - you don't kno and it depends a lot on who is marking your work. The crazy Bio lady who wants everyone to fail because she didn't get above 45 in Bio, or the relaxed guy correcting exams on his balcony in CBD. Luck.
would it go to a 3rd assessor if that was the case.

Also I'm pretty sure that bio examiners mark in sets of questions now e.g they go through 50 question 1's
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: cosine on October 31, 2015, 10:50:02 am
I think you'd get part marks - given that 4 gametes are produced you'd had to have just shown 4 gametes (2 just repeated). I know it's such a stupid way of asking the question.

thanks for that yacoubb.

that question was 2 marks, and there was 8 possible genotypes. do you think they would allocate only 1 mark if you got 4 of the 8 correct? or does it again depend on assessor?
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: plants on October 31, 2015, 10:50:41 am
Thanks Yacoubb and bangali_lok; I really appreciate your consoling words. :) It's difficult, for me, not to stress and fret over my answers on the exam but you guys have made me feel a bit better about everything.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 10:51:19 am
would it go to a 3rd assessor if that was the case.

Also I'm pretty sure that bio examiners mark in sets of questions now e.g they go through 50 question 1's

Probably! :)
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 10:53:23 am
thanks for that yacoubb.

that question was 2 marks, and there was 8 possible genotypes. do you think they would allocate only 1 mark if you got 4 of the 8 correct? or does it again depend on assessor?

Yeah probably 1 mark to 4/8 right :)

Thanks Yacoubb and bangali_lok; I really appreciate your consoling words. :) It's difficult, for me, not to stress and fret over my answers on the exam but you guys have made me feel a bit better about everything.

I know! & if it makes you feel any better, that was me after the Methods exam that I had worked so hard on studying for all year. We can't undo what is done :) It's all about moving forward! If you ever want to just rant PM me guys! Ranting is good sometimes!
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: heids on October 31, 2015, 10:57:24 am
RE GAMETES:

My personal opinion is that you don't need all 8 to score full marks.  I think only 4 are needed; I think they provided four boxes to 'trick' people, as in, they provided more options than necessary so it was up to you to decide how many possible gametes there were, rather than just telling you there were four.

I think it would be ridiculous to take off a mark for doing what is 'the right thing', because it IS correct if you fill out only 4 gametes (in fact a better answer I believe) - don't think they needed you to fill out all boxes.  Either way seems right to me.

I remember there was a question about how many nucleotides you'd need for a certain amino acid chain, and people went saying 'if you didn't add the extra three for the start codon you won't get the mark', but VCAA was happy with either 270 or 273.

Forgive me if I've misinterpreted this question.  Just wanna say that I believe VCAA will be flexible and award full marks to either answer.

(And equally, I'm open to the PM rants :) )
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Sine on October 31, 2015, 10:58:07 am
I know a friend who got 45 in Bio my year and scored 97 or 98 (I forget exactly).
hopefully it's even lower this year
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Yacoubb on October 31, 2015, 11:10:32 am
hopefully it's even lower this year
[/quote

Really sure it will be!
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Gromekk on November 02, 2015, 09:36:04 pm
Can anyone else not click on the spoiler tags? It's not working for me and I've tried on two browsers...

Edit: dw right as i post this it works -.-
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: banaidil on November 06, 2015, 08:25:15 pm
hey, how do check out the short answer solutions? all that comes up is a link and when i click nothing comes up.
Title: Re: 2015 Biology Exam PDF and Suggested Solutions
Post by: Bruzzix on November 06, 2015, 09:39:47 pm
hey, how do check out the short answer solutions? all that comes up is a link and when i click nothing comes up.
The link was broken for some reason. It's fixed now.