Tips for answering section B

1. You are given 30 minutes.
2. Questions are based on diagram / pictures/bar charts/dialogues/statements.
3. Read the question carefully and understand it. The information given can guide you to answer the question.
4. Your answers should be short and brief.
5. Your handwriting should be neat and easy to read.
6. Differentiate the three variables.
7. Check your answers and make sure that your spelling are correct and use the correct science terms.


1. Observation

Use all the five senses to tell about some things
• smell
• taste
• texture
• size
• Condition

Maria’s duck Daniel’s duck



State an observation from the diagram.
A) Maria’s duck is bigger than Daniel's duck.
B) Maria’s duck is heavier than Daniel's duck.

2. Inference

To reach a decision by thinking or reasoning.

Observation because reason

State one inference from your observation.
a) Maria fed her duck with nutritious food than Daniel’s duck.
b) The quantity of food given to Maria’s duck is more than Daniel’s duck.
c) Maria’s duck gene is better then Daniel’s duck.

3. Controlling data

3.1 Constant variable/fixed variable
Things that are kept the same
Example : the same
• size of beaker /glass/box/room/plant…
• distance
• type of plant/ball/liquid/flower/duck…
• quantity of fruits/sugar/salt…
• volume/amount of water

3.2 Manipulated variable
Things that are changed
Example : the different
• type of materials/plant/liquid…
• size of books/room /balloon..
• quantity of sugar/salt/
• volume of water/liquid/coffee…
• distance or
• the presence of water/air/sunlight

3.3 Controlling Variables
Make sure that each variable is answered in a complete sentence.
comparison measurement (characteristic) of + object
higher/lower ............................................temperature water
larger/bigger ............................................volume oil/box
heavier/lighter..........................................mass iron ball/fruits
larger/smaller ..........................................shape container
more /less .................................................numbers ball/fruits/marbles
more/less ..................................................time taken for the ice cubes to melt
longer /shorter .........................................length string/rope
darker/brighter ........................................colour material / shirt /container
thicker/thinner..........................................thickness cloth/book
larger/bigger..............................................size box/cup/plate
further/nearer...........................................distance toy car to stop

3.3 Responding variable
The result of the experiment
Example :
• condition of materials/plants/rats after…
• the number of….
• time taken to …


3.4 State the following variables :

i – manipulated variable : the quantity of food
the quality of food
the gene of duck

ii – responding variable : the size of the duck
the weight of the duck

iii – controlled variables : the type of ducks


4. The aim of an investigation

a) To investigate the relationship between MV and RV

b) To study the relationship between MV and RV

4.1 What is the aim of the investigation?

i) To investigate the relationship between the quantity of food given to the duck and the size of the duck.

ii) To investigate the relationship between the quality of food given to the duck and the weight of the duck.


5. Hypothesis

An idea or suggestion, put forward as a starting-point for reasoning or an explanation.
An early idea that must be tested.

The more ( comparison of adverb/adjective ) MV the more (comparison of adverb/adjective) RV

Write one hypothesis based on the diagram.

i) The more quantity of food given to the duck the heavier the weight of duck.

ii) The better the quality of food given to the duck the bigger the size of the duck.

iii) The better the gene of the duck the bigger the size of the duck.


6. Conclusion

What is settle in the mind.
1. On the whole – plants/animals/humans/object etc
2. According to the question
.
What conclusion can be made from this investigation?

i) Ducks need high quality of food to grow bigger in size.

ii) Ducks with better gene will grow bigger.

ii) Ducks that are given more quantity of food will have heavier weight.


Maria and Daniel rear ten ducks in the same size coop.
The result are recorded for three month.



7. Predicting

Expecting what will happen based on the observation/ information/data/prior knowledge.

If the question ask for specific numbers that can be calculate, you have to give a specific numbers.

Example 1 :
Predict the weight of Maria’s duck after four month.
………………………………………………………
If the question is in the statement form /incomplete data

Example 2 :
Predict the weight of Maria’s ducks on the forth month if the quantity of food are reduce to one kilogram per day.
……………………………………………………………………………………