Exam marking

[Snorlax]

Hey guys, would love to know if the assessment report from past VCAA exams are actually useful in allowing you to know how to answer a question.
Should I be following the way they set out the answers? - For example, is it sufficient enough to answer a question in a brief dot-point form covering the main points?

Eg. Q: Briefly describe the process PCR.
A: *heat DNA to approximately 90 °C or to separate strands
    *cool to approximately 50 °C or to anneal/attach primers
    *heat to approx 72 °C or Taq/DNA polymerase copies strands
    *repeat cycle.

4 mark question. Is that how it should be answered?

What about a question asking to compare such as

Q: Describe how binary fission varies from that of mitosis.

Assessment report A:
Binary fission differs from mitosis as (two of)
*the chromosome does not line up on the equator
*the chromosome does not separate at the centromere
*there are no spindle fibres
*there are no phases; for example, prophase
*it is quicker.
(2 mark question, hence any two of the above)
I mean, If I answered the question with: 'The chrosmosomes do not line up on the equator in binary fission, as well as it being a quicker process'
Would that be accepted?

[Yacoubb]

Hey guys, would love to know if the assessment report from past VCAA exams are actually useful in allowing you to know how to answer a question.
Should I be following the way they set out the answers? - For example, is it sufficient enough to answer a question in a brief dot-point form covering the main points?

Eg. Q: Briefly describe the process PCR.
A: *heat DNA to approximately 90 °C or to separate strands
    *cool to approximately 50 °C or to anneal/attach primers
    *heat to approx 72 °C or Taq/DNA polymerase copies strands
    *repeat cycle.

4 mark question. Is that how it should be answered?

What about a question asking to compare such as

Q: Describe how binary fission varies from that of mitosis.

Assessment report A:
Binary fission differs from mitosis as (two of)
*the chromosome does not line up on the equator
*the chromosome does not separate at the centromere
*there are no spindle fibres
*there are no phases; for example, prophase
*it is quicker.
(2 mark question, hence any two of the above)
I mean, If I answered the question with: 'The chrosmosomes do not line up on the equator in binary fission, as well as it being a quicker process'
Would that be accepted?

For me, personally, I use the VCAA answers as a template, and add a few more things to touch it up. For instance, I use the 4 main points for PCR given in the VCAA answers, and then tweek it by adding a few more things I know.

1) DNA is heated to 95^oC for 2 minutes; the DNA complementary polynucleotide strands are separated as heat breaks the weak hydrogen bonds.

^ That is taking a VCAA answer and making it yours to pretty much show off what you know. But make sure what you add is actually correct before you run the risk of losing all marks because of contradictory info.

[Snorlax]

When should I put answers in dot point form, and when should I never?
Also, So are the answers the assessment report brings forth a sufficient guide in how we should go about answering questions?

[pi]

When should I put answers in dot point form, and when should I never?

If the answer is in steps, answer in dot points. Eg. explaining transcription/translation, DNA replication, etc.

[Scooby]

When should I put answers in dot point form, and when should I never?
Also, So are the answers the assessment report brings forth a sufficient guide in how we should go about answering questions?

You're always allowed to answer in dot points. It'll just suit some questions better than others (like pi said, when you're listing steps of a process or something)