HKDSE Biology & Combined Science (Biology)

Report on Assessment

Ben Tsui

Manager (Biology), HKEAA

20 & 29 Nov 2013

1

Time

2:002:30

2:302:55

2:553:20

3:203:35

3:354:00

4:004:25

4:24–4:50

4:505:15

Content

Exam Statistics

Performance in Paper 1 Panel 1

Performance in Paper 1 Panel 2

Break

Performance in Paper 1 Panel 3

Performance in Paper 2 (A&C)

Performance in Paper 2 (B&D)

Q&A

Speaker

Mr Tsui Chi Shing

Mr Chan Pat Chun (20)

Mr Tsui Chi Shing (29)

Mr Li Ping Fai (20)

Mr Wong Yuk Hing (29)

Mr Tong Lan San

Mr Sin Wai Hung

Mr Leung Ho Wah (20)

Mr Chen Yau Hip (29)

Overview

Paper Biology CS(Bio)

1A (MC) Mean : 20 out of 35 

(i.e. 58%) Mean : 12 out of 24 

(i.e. 50%)

1 (Mixed) ~50% ~43%

2 ~50% N.A.

SBA ~71% ~69%

Subject ~54% ~48%

Candidature 17913 4435 3

   

     

 

 

Marking & Grading

Onscreen marking (OSM) panels

Biology CS(Bio)

1B1: Q.1,2,4,8

1B2: Q.3,7,9

1B3: Q.5,6,10

1B1: Q.1,3,6

1B2: Q.2,5

1B3: Q.4,7

2A: Human Physiology

2B: Applied Ecology

2C: Microorganisms & Humans

2D: Biotechnology

SBA marks stat. moderated with both Mean and SD�adjusted (outlining cases reviewed by Supervisors)� 4

   

Marking & Grading

Expert Panel (Examiners, 5 ~ 6 persons) determine level

boundaries/cut scores by making reference to

Level descriptors

Group Ability Indicator (GAI)

Viewing candidate samples

CS(Bio) graded by common items and viewing candidate

samples

Endorsement by Senior Management/Exam Board

5

Results

Biology

Level

Percentage

5**

1.6%

5*+

6.6%

5+

16.7%

4+

43.1%

3+

70.7%

2+

89.6%

1+

97.1%

CS(Bio)

Level

Percentage

5**

0.9%

5*+

3.5%

5+

8.7%

4+

27.8%

3+

57.7%

2+

83.5%

1+

95.3%

6

12 VS 13 Number of candidates at top levels

Level 2012 2013

DSE 5** 275 287

DSE 5* 1049 1182

DSE 5 2682 2992

 

   

 

   

 

   

Paper 1A

Biology (36 MC)

% of cand. correct >70% 50%70% 70% 50%70%

30% chose B, they did not aware that the lining of the air sac is a one cell thick layer to allow diffusion of gases, which is a passive process and hence, the amount of mitochondria is relatively low 

34% chose B, they treated enzymes as molecules found in cytoplasm, in fact, there are enzymes that are located on the membrane, for instance, some digestive enzymes are found on the membrane of the small intestine rather than in free forms 

33% thought cross X allows the deduction, but there is not enough proof from this cross

41% thought that monosaccharides was the key, they did not aware that the absorption of monosaccharides is mainly done by active transport.

69% chose B(i.e. Q) as the key, they did not aware that having a lower pressure means that air is still coming in from atmosphere

38% chose C, they mixed up antibiotics with antibodies

Structure 3 is the sperm duct

34% chose A, they thought that the male would fail to ejaculate after the sperm duct has been tied up and cut 

Paper 1B Biology (% mark)

>60% 60%40% 60% 60%40%

Paper 2 • Mark equating was applied to the 4 questions in paper 2 using performance in paper 1 as a reference

• After equating:

Elective Popularity Compare with paper mean

Human Physiology 95% > 0.8%

Applied Ecology 62%

Performance: Bio VS CS(Bio) Common items Performance

Bio CS(Bio) Bio vs CS(Bio)

1 1 > 8%

3 2 > 10%

4 3 > 4%

6 4 > 3%

7 5 > 4%

8 6 > 3%

10 7 > 10%

Correlation between written exam and SBA

Exam Year Paper 1 Paper 2

2012 0.64 0.60

2013 0.73 0.64

More questions related to SI in 2013 Exam P1B: 

Photomicrograph: Q.3, Q.4,Q6

Experiment setups and designs: Q.6, Q.7

Graph plotting and sampling method: Q.8

Subject Committee agreed to keep the level of difficulty and the types of questions comparable to 2013 exam 

2014 Exam 

Exam Date: 4/4/2014

Marking period: 13/4/201410/5/2014

Markers Meeting: 12/4/2014 AM (Tentative)

OSM Training: 14/4/2014 PM (Tentative)

Easter public holidays: 1821/4/2014

Release of Results: 14/7/2014 (Tentative)

Remarking: 20/7/201431/7/2014 (Tentative)

THANK YOU

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