Unit 3 Exam - Short answers?

[jane1234]

Hey guys
I've done a fair few biology exams, and I feel I know the course fairly well... however I keeping losing so many marks in the short answer section! It's not that I don't know the material, I just can't seem to come up with the 'right' answer (or the one that they say) even if mine is still reasonable. My marks just don't seem to be improving, and I think this is largely due to the fact that I can't seem to come up with the answer they're looking for... 
Anyone else finding this? You know the work but you still get heaps of SA wrong? Anyone have any idea how to improve this?
Thanks

[Russ]

Give me a sample answer you wrote?
I build my short answers around sequential statements (dot points in paragraph format)

[jane1234]

From STAV 2008 (attached):

5. (e) What conclusion can be drawn from this experiment?

My answer: That the final exposure (of red or far red light) determines whether or not the plant germinates, instead of previous exposures.

Their answer: Red light and far red light reverse each other’s effects.

I know their answer is 'more' right, but I can't seem to answer questions in the way they want! Is there any systematic, formulaic way for approaching SA questions?

[Russ]

You had to choose a plant question...
Unless the question is 10+ marks (you don't get these at VCE) I try to avoid sentences that explain statements I've made or getting overly fancy/expository. For 4 marks, you just need 4 different points. Explaining one thing in great details doesn't help. That's about as formulaic as it gets. There's no way of predicting exactly what the examiner wants but they'll accept any reasonably correct answer.

Taking a theoretical SAQ from last year's exam (unit 4 in case you haven't done it yet)

Describe the sequence of events that occur during the process at Y [translation].

Check marks value - 3
Think of the 3 major points along the way - ribosome formation, tRNA matching of codons, loading/joining of amino acids
Connect them with extra information (names etc.) as I go:

At Y, the ribosome is forming around the transcribed mRNA. As it proceeds to "read" the transcript codons it will match complementary tRNA anticodons. Once a tRNA has been loaded into the ribosome, its amino acid will be transferred to the growing (nascent) polypeptide chain. As the ribosome proceeds along the transcript, tRNAs will be released back into the cytosol in order to acquire new amino acids. Eventually the ribosome will encounter a "stop" codon, which will cause termination of translation and release of the completed protein.

[Jdog]

be wary of using companies as gospel when it comes to short answers, use only VCAA when you are trying to remeber definitions, and also go back to early VCAA like from 2000 the course has only changed minimally, all questions from those exams are still relevant.

[jane1234]

You had to choose a plant question...
Unless the question is 10+ marks (you don't get these at VCE) I try to avoid sentences that explain statements I've made or getting overly fancy/expository. For 4 marks, you just need 4 different points. Explaining one thing in great details doesn't help. That's about as formulaic as it gets. There's no way of predicting exactly what the examiner wants but they'll accept any reasonably correct answer.

Taking a theoretical SAQ from last year's exam (unit 4 in case you haven't done it yet)

Describe the sequence of events that occur during the process at Y [translation].

Check marks value - 3
Think of the 3 major points along the way - ribosome formation, tRNA matching of codons, loading/joining of amino acids
Connect them with extra information (names etc.) as I go:

At Y, the ribosome is forming around the transcribed mRNA. As it proceeds to "read" the transcript codons it will match complementary tRNA anticodons. Once a tRNA has been loaded into the ribosome, its amino acid will be transferred to the growing (nascent) polypeptide chain. As the ribosome proceeds along the transcript, tRNAs will be released back into the cytosol in order to acquire new amino acids. Eventually the ribosome will encounter a "stop" codon, which will cause termination of translation and release of the completed protein.

Yeah I see the 3 marks = 3 points, but do these 3 points have to match exactly what they're after, or just be reasonable??

[WhoTookMyUsername]

depends, on the company exams they'll usually only state one answer and often there are many more reasonable answers. VCAA exam assessments are much more detailed, but you never need to say the same thing anywhere near word for word... If it is reasonable and makes sense you'll get the mark

[liuetenant]

hey, wondering do you have the solutions for the stav 08 exam? if it would be much appreciated!

[Zebra]

hey, wondering do you have the solutions for the stav 08 exam? if it would be much appreciated!

+1

[HERculina]

here

[Zebra]

thanks heaps hercules