Unless students happen to have a fully equipped science laboratory at home, the O-Level Science practical examinations are (likely to be the only) assessments for which it is not possible to practise or prepare for outside of school. Compared to other O-Level papers, there are also relatively fewer practice papers or exercises for the practical exam despite the many steps involved in the experiments.
As a result, students may be feeling anxious or less confident about the practical exams, which comprise a considerable percentage of the overall science marks of 15 to 20%, depending on whether the student is taking pure or combined Science. However, that does not mean that students are entirely left at sea for their practical examinations - there are still plenty of ways you can gear up for the practical, even if these are slightly different from how you would prepare for your other papers.
In this article, The Learning Lab provides some tips for students who are preparing for their O-level Science practical examinations to help them excel despite not having the means to conduct the actual experiment at home.
To start, it is helpful to have a quick look at the structure of the examination and its weightage in overall marks so students understand what they are dealing with.
For Pure Chemistry, Biology or Physics students, the exam entails:
- A 1h 50min paper
- 40 marks
- 20% weightage of overall O-level Chemistry paper
For Combined Science students, the exam entails:
- A 1h 30min paper
- 30 marks
- 15% weightage of overall O-level Science paper
With the above in mind, we can now turn our attention to how you can ace the O-level Science practical exams.
Practical exams are not the same as written exams and require students to change tack. Practical exams test students on their ability to apply the theories they have learnt to the specific conditions of the experiment they are carrying out and draw conclusions accordingly, while written exams feature questions which can be answered with memorised responses.
Students should remember that, as practical exams are based on particular conditions and variables, the results will always vary from test to test, and there is no textbook or one-size-fits-all answer to that. For this reason, you should focus on the concepts that lie behind the experiment rather than finding the “right” answer. It is also important to read the questions in the practical book thoroughly so that you can better understand the principles at work in the experiment. As you probably do not have lab apparatus at home to try your hand at any of the experiments that could come up during the examination, understanding these principles is the next best thing. By doing so, you will find that performing the experiment becomes much simpler when the time comes.
As opportunities to practise conducting experiments are limited, you should make full use of the access you do get to the school science lab during your lessons. While the experiments you are tasked to perform during the O-level exam will never be exactly the same as what was taught in class, they will not be too different or stray too far away from what you have done before.
This is good news for students, as there is a high chance that your school has covered all the possible practical topics in your weekly or bi-weekly practical classes. Attending and reviewing material from all practical classes helps students be sharper during the exam itself as you become more aware of what you are weaker in, the mistakes you have made, and the keywords required of you to score the marks. Another reason you should cherish the time you get to spend in the lab is that practical classes are the only avenues you have to pick up and hone your lab skills. Lab skills include the handling of the equipment or apparatus, as well as being familiar with the process and individual steps of typical experiments. Having a good grasp of lab skills means that you will be ready for whatever the exam throws at you, even if the questions differ slightly from what you have seen before. Attending practical classes can also help with your revision as you will be able to better visualise what you have previously done and relate that back to the questions in the exam paper.
There is much less to memorise for the practical exam than for the written exam, but memorisation is still useful for some components of the practical. For instance, students will almost certainly have to plan a hypothetical experiment in every practical exam. Students are required to identify key variables for a given question or problem, outline the procedure to investigate it, and stipulate how the data should be used as well as the risks or precautions that should be taken.
Given that there are multiple steps involved in the planning process, students should memorise the structure to ensure all important components are included in their answers. With this structure in mind, students can spend more time focusing on the other questions.
Questions pertaining to sources of error are also very likely to appear during the exam. Students should thus consolidate and memorise the set of errors that could potentially arise through the different practical classes that they have attended. This will help them identify the error most common to the experiment that they have to perform during the exam, enabling them to secure a few marks.
The idea is similar to a soldier who trains harder and more comprehensively than he expects to be pushed in a battle — when the actual battle comes, he is prepared for anything that is thrown at him.
When you have had more experience with higher-order thinking questions or application questions, you will be more confident and capable of answering standard 10-year series questions. Also, don’t worry about not being able to deal with the harder material. There are students of varying abilities at TLL and teachers check in regularly to ensure you are able to follow, and explain what you have learnt in your own way.
Each school has slightly different requirements when it comes to assessment, and the more your teachers hear from you the more they will be able to understand how they can help you succeed.
All our teachers are reachable by their TLL email addresses, and some even allow students to text them questions out of lesson time. Check with your teachers what they are comfortable with, and don’t forget to treat them with respect at all times.
Getting an early start in your O-Level preparation is crucial for laying a strong foundation that you can build and rely on in your upper secondary years.
At The Learning Lab, you will be immersed in a rigorous curriculum that stretches you intellectually, and be plugged into a supportive environment that enables you to seek help for and overcome your areas of weakness.
This means not only imparting the requisite skills to you but also the right mindset and attitude to approach any challenges that life puts in your way. Whether your're going onto Secondary 1, or moving up to Secondary 4, we would love to see you through the dreaded O-Level examination.
Click here to find out more about how your child can emerge victorious from the O-Level examination.
The Learning Lab has a wealth of resources you can benefit from. Check out our secondary students' guides to mastering English, Maths and Science below.
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The Learning Lab is now at 8 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
The O-Level Science practical exam presents a different challenge from what students are used to. However, it is a challenge that students can still prepare well for and excel at.
At The Learning Lab, we aim to equip our students with practical skills that complement classroom learning for the long haul.
The Learning Lab is now at 8 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may fill in the form below or contact us at 6733 8711 or enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
Find out more about how our programmes can help your child conquer the O-Level examinations.
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