Biology & Combined Science (Biology)

Report on 2020 ExamBen Tsui

Manager (Biology), HKEAA

Overview of Exam StatisticsPaper Biology CS(Bio)

1A (MC)Mean : 22.4 out of 36

(i.e. 62.2%)Mean : 10.3 out of 24

(i.e. 43.0%)

1 51.5% 32.1%

2 51.7% N.A.

SBA 72.8% 62.9%

Subject 55.8% (S.D. 16.3%) 41.4% (S.D. 15.1%)

Candidature 12826 239

ResultsBiology

Level 5** 5*+ 5+ 4+ 3+ 2+ 1+

Percentage 1.8% 7.4% 18.7% 45.3% 71.4% 89.7% 97.2%

Combined Science (Biology)

Level 5** 5*+ 5+ 4+ 3+ 2+ 1+

Percentage 0.43% 1.3% 2.6% 16.7% 38.2% 69.1% 86.3%

Number of candidates at top levels (Bio)

Level 2017 2018 2019 2020

DSE 5** 273 (1.9%) 236 (1.7%) 254 (1.9%) 231 (1.8%)

DSE 5* 1074 (7.5%) 992 (7.0%) 1056 (7.9%) 975 (7.6%)

DSE 52717

(18.9%)2496

(17.6%)2632

(19.7%)2449

(19.1%)

Candidature 14864 14148 13361 12824Subject mean 54 55.3 49.8 55.8

Performance in MC items(relative to this cohort)

Biology

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

Performance in conventional questions(relative to this cohort)

Biology

% mark >60% 40%-60% 60% 40%-60%

• Mark equating was applied to the 4 questions in Paper 2

• After equating:

Elective Popularity Mean % mark

Human Physiology 94% 52.8%

Applied Ecology 59% 47.4%

Microorganisms & Humans 14% 38.1%

Biotechnology 39% 59.1%

Mean marks for Paper 2

Distribution of questions in Paper 1Curriculum topics Suggested teaching time (%)

(Out of 180 hours*)% of mark

Section 1 24 19

Section 2 21 16

Section 3 47 57

Section 4 8 8

* 20 hours is allocated for Scientific Investigations

Question types in 1B

• Structure and functions (Q.1,4,10,11)

• SI and practical skills related (Q.5,8)

• Data interpretation (Q.7,8,9)

• Scenario-based (Q.2,3,6,7,8,9)

MC items

9 %

A 12 Did not know lipase is secreted from pancreas

B 21 Did not know insulin is a peptide hormone

C 22 Did not know amylase is secreted from pancreas

D 45 -

ER, i.e. synthesise protein secretions from pancreas

14 %

A 31 Hydrostatic pressure

B 53 -

C 5 Osmosis

D 11 Osmosis

20 %

A 34 -

B 14 Did not know clearly the relationship between DNA and chromosomes; wrongly thought that chromosomes shared equal amount of DNA

C 20 Did not know the daughter cells from mitosis are in diploid state

D 32 Did not know clearly the relationship between chromosome and chromatids; wrongly thought that the chromosome becomes two chromosomes instead of sister chromatids after DNA duplication

Ruled out the possibility of the affected gene being recessive, either autosomal or X-linked

35 %

A 37

B 24

C 20

D 18

36 %

A 8

B 27

C 41

D 25

Feedback to Teachers• HKDSE Question Papers

– Question papers

– Marking Scheme (with General Marking Guidelines)

– Reports on Candidates’ Performance

• Samples of Candidates’ Performance and Comments for each level – http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/HKDSE/assessment/subject_information/category_

a_subjects/bio/sp/2020.html (English version)

– http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/tc/HKDSE/assessment/subject_information/category_a_subjects/bio/sp/2020.html (Chinese version)

• Briefing Sessions

• HKDSE School Statistical Report(a school-specific report showing statistics of the school and those of all day schools)

https://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/HKDSE/assessment/subject_information/category_a_subjects/bio/sp/2020.htmlhttps://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/tc/HKDSE/assessment/subject_information/category_a_subjects/bio/sp/2020.html