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School-assessed coursework is also highlighted as experience that can apply to examination questions.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How should students handle Section B responses and annotations?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Students are instructed to follow examination instructions, including using a blue or black pen for Section B to ensure a clear image. If asked to annotate or draw a diagram, pencil is acceptable for answers that may need to be changed.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What were common difficulties for students in Section A and Section B?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Students often struggled to make comparative statements when required and to use and interpret data effectively. Spelling errors that reduce clarity and contradictions after correct answers were also identified as recurring problems.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},316095,1790507546,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":140,"language":141,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":142,"faqs":143,"seo_title":144,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":145,"read_time":113,"preview_page_count":4},4398048950312,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/400002538284de19e3c?_k=1778320343897328908","2018 VCE Biology examination report  \nGeneral comments  \nThe 2018 Biology examination was the second examination for the VCE Biology Study Design 2017–2021.  \nUnit 4, Area of Study 3 was important to the examination as students could draw on the knowledge and skills gained from designing and undertaking their own investigations. This was particularly useful for Question 11.  \nStudents’ examinations were again marked online. Students were required to write within the designated spaces on the pages of the examination, and this requirement was adhered to by most students. It is important that students follow the instructions provided on the examination, in particular using a blue or black pen for Section B to ensure a clear image is provided. If students are asked to annotate or draw a diagram, such as in Question 4a. , this may be done in pencil so that the answer can be changed by the student if necessary.  \nIn Section B, questions worth more than two marks generally required students to develop answers from the situations provided. This required a thoughtful approach, and students at times were required to provide extended answers.  \nIn many instances, students were required to make comparative statements – such as in Questions 5aii. , 8c. and 9b.– and some students found this difficult. Some students struggled to use and interpret data, such as in Questions 5aii. , 9ci. and 9cii.  \nMany students presented responses of an outstanding standard. Students who set out their answers logically were more likely to gain marks than those who produced answers that appeared to be rushed and lacking in thought. It is important that students read questions carefully, plan their answers prior to writing, and use the marks allocated and the answer space given as a guide to the required depth of the answer. Many students answered a question correctly but then contradicted that answer. When a question asks students to provide an explanation, it is important that they provide extra information to demonstrate their knowledge and they should not just repeat information from the stem of the question in their answers.  \nStudents need to make full use of the reading time; this is a particularly important time for them to understand the information provided and to formulate answers. It was clear that those students who organised their time well were able to convey their knowledge. Many students presented carefully written and well-expressed answers.  \nWhile spelling is not directly assessed, if a word has different possible meanings or the word is not identifiable, then the student will not gain the mark.  \nStudents should feel confident to use suitable abbreviations such as DNA, ATP and NADH, and chemical symbols such as H2O. If students wish to use another abbreviation and are not sure of its appropriateness, then they should write it out in full.  \nStudents are reminded that the set of key science skills (refer to pages 10 and 11 of the study design) are examinable, and school-assessed coursework provides students with firsthand experience that can be applied to examination questions.  \n© VCAA  \nSpecific information  \nThis report provides sample answers or an indication of what answers may have included. Unless otherwise stated, these are not intended to be exemplary or complete responses.  \nThe statistics in this report may be subject to rounding resulting in a total more or less than 100 percent.  \nSection A – Multiple-choice questions  \nThe table below indicates the percentage of students who chose each alternative. The correct answer is indicated by shading.  \n\n| Question | % A | % B | % C | % D | Comments |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1 | 11 | 76 | 10 | 3 |  |\n| 2 | 7 | 7 | 83 | 3 |  |\n| 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 87 |  |\n| 4 | 13 | 71 | 6 | 10 |  |\n| 5 | 5 | 19 | 69 | 6 |  |\n| 6 | 8 | 9 | 78 | 5 |  |\n| 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 82 |  |\n| 8 | 27 | 8 | 63 | 2 |  |\n| 9 | 60 | 11 | 20 | 9 |  |\n| 10 | 74 | 18 | 4 | 4 |  |\n| 11 | 4 | 19 | 63 | 14 |  |\n| 12","cbCaifUzpwxbl1h7","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaifUzpwxbl1h7","pdf",369943,12,"English","# General comments\n## Section A – Multiple-choice questions\n## Section B\n## Areas of concern in Section B","[{\"question\":\"What key skills and knowledge areas were emphasized for the 2018 VCE Biology examination?\",\"answer\":\"The report emphasizes Unit 4, Area of Study 3, and the set of examinable key science skills referenced in the study design. School-assessed coursework is also highlighted as experience that can apply to examination questions.\"},{\"question\":\"How should students handle Section B responses and annotations?\",\"answer\":\"Students are instructed to follow examination instructions, including using a blue or black pen for Section B to ensure a clear image. If asked to annotate or draw a diagram, pencil is acceptable for answers that may need to be changed.\"},{\"question\":\"What were common difficulties for students in Section A and Section B?\",\"answer\":\"Students often struggled to make comparative statements when required and to use and interpret data effectively. Spelling errors that reduce clarity and contradictions after correct answers were also identified as recurring problems.\"}]","2018 VCE Biology Examination Report - General Comments | PDF",1789909850]