2012 HKDSE Integrated Science Examination

Ms Grace YAU

Manager, HKEAA

9 Nov 2012

2012 HKDSE Integrated Science Exam

• No. of schools = 27

• No. of candidates = 122 (E) & 180 (C)

%

No.

Level

277217134632182

91.771.944.420.97.02.60.7

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

Level 5** awarded to the highest-achieving 10% (approximately) of Level 5 candidatesLevel 5* awarded to the next highest-achieving 30% (approximately) of Level 5 candidates

Question paper requirements of the HKDSE Integrated Science Examination

Assessment Objectives of Integrated Science

The assessment objectives are to evaluate the following abilities of candidates:1. to recall and show understanding of facts, concepts and principles of science, and the relationships between different topic areas of the curriculum framework;2. to apply scientific knowledge, concepts and principles to explain phenomena and observations, and to solve problems; 3. to formulate working hypotheses, to plan and to perform tests for them;4. to show practical skills related to the study of science; 5. to present data in various forms, such as tables, graphs, charts, drawings, diagrams, and to transpose them from one form into another; 6. to analyse and interpret data including numerical and non-numerical data such as those in the form of continuous prose, diagrams, photographs, charts and graphs; to make inferences, logical deductions and draw conclusions from them;7. to formulate arguments, justify claims, evaluate evidence and detect errors;8. to select, synthesise, and communicate ideas and information clearly, precisely and logically;9. to show understanding of the applications of science to daily life and the contributions of science to the modern world; 10. to show awareness of the ethical, moral, social, economic and technological implications of science, and to critically evaluate science-related issues; and11. to make suggestions, choices and judgements based on scientific knowledgeand principles.

Public Examination

• Paper 2 (35%)– 1½ hour

– Section A• 32 MCQs on C1 to C8

– Section B• A choice of 2 Qs out of 3

Qs; 20 marks/Q

• 1 Q on E1

• 1 Q on E2

• 1 Q on E3

• Paper 1 (45%)

– 2 hours

– 90 marks

– Questions on C1 to C8

• Structured Questions

• Essay

(2 marks for communication)

Assessing candidates’ ability to apply and integrate knowledge learnt from different modules in daily life / unfamiliar situations

Paper 1 Q.6

Assessing candidates’ability to

� apply the laws and principles of mechanics

learnt in C3 in a daily lifecontext

� Interpret graphical data and make conclusion

Paper 1 Q.1

Assessing candidates’ ability to

� apply and integrate knowledge learnt in different modules (C1 and C7) in a daily life context

Paper 1 Q.5

Assessing candidates’ ability to

� apply and integrate knowledge learnt in different modules (C7 and C8) in an unfamiliar context

An unfamiliar experiment

Paper 1 Q.7

� Data processing skills: presenting data in the form of a graph

Paper 1 Q.9

� Data treatment skill

� Data interpretation skill

Paper 1 Q.3(d) & Q. 11

�make judgement based on scientific knowledge

�Select, synthesise, and communicate ideas clearly, precisely and logically

Students’ Performance in Paper 2 Section A

(Multiple-choice Questions)

General performance

• 32 MCQs

• Highest : 32 Qs

• Lowest : 5 Qs

• Mean : 17 Qs

• Many candidates realised that safety helmets can reduce the impact force when the cyclist’s head hits the ground. However, some confused the rate of change in momentum (which is the impact force) with momentum. Some did not know that the impact force is reduced by lengthening the impact time.

Q.9(11%) (28%) (20%)(41%)

Q.8

• Candidates were expected to find out the acceleration using the formula v2 = u2 +2as and apply the same formula to determine the speed at point R. However, about half of the candidates wrongly thought that there should be a constant increase in speed of 5 m s–1 for every 25 m.

(4%) (14%) (31%)(51%)

Q.13

(10%) (27%) (24%)(39%)

• Candidates were weak in calculating the relative abundances of the isotopes.

• Given that 40K has negligible contribution to the relative atomic mass of potassium, candidates should make use of the fact that the sum of the relative abundances of 39K and 41K is 100% in calculating the relative abundances of the two isotopes (i.e. if the relative abundance of 39K is x%, the relative abundance of 41K will be 100 – x %).

Q.24

• poor understanding of a basic property of waves – wave pulses will continue to travel forward independently in their original shapes and amplitudes after they met.

• wrong concept : a ‘resultant wave pulse’ after superposition – either a wave pulse resulting from the sum of the two wave pulses (option A) orthe wave pulse with a smaller amplitude being ‘destroyed’ by the one with a larger amplitude (option B).

(40%)

(8%)

(17%)

(35%)

• Could not clearly differentiate the roles of the above microorganisms in the nitrogen cycle

• Over a quarter of the candidates failed to realise that nitrogen fixing bacteria are responsible for fixing atmospheric nitrogeninto nitrogenous compounds in lithosphere / in the root nodules of the leguminous plants. These candidates were wrong in thinking that nitrogen fixing bacteria were involved inreturning the nitrogen locked up in the dead bodies of organisms to the lithosphere.

Q.26

(10%) (28%) (18%)(44%)

Marking Paper 1 & Paper 2B

Some General Guidelines

• Mark by concept: candidates giving alternative answers conveying the same meaning or same idea as those listed in the marking scheme are accepted

• Candidates giving alternative answers that are not in the marking scheme but are correct and well reasoned are accepted

• * Correct spelling required

• Questions asking for a specified number of reasons or examples etc. : extra answers are not marked

(e.g. asked to provide two examples, only the first two are marked; extra ones are not marked)

(*) If CORRECT spelling required

Spelling mistakes

中文須完全書寫正確，接受簡筆字。

Accept singular or plural

= 转转转转 译译译译

Q4(a)(i) 轉轉轉轉 譯譯譯譯 ≠≠≠≠ 轉轉轉轉 繹繹繹繹

Awarding mark for

‘Organisation and presentation’ (Q.11)

– ‘0’ for ‘organisation and presentation’ if the answer scores no marks for the ‘knowledge’part

Mark scale: 2,1, 0

Attempting 3 Qs in Paper 2 Section B

• Candidates are free to choose ANY two

question in Paper 2 Section B

• On-screen Marking is adopted in the DSE

Examination

• Though all questions attempted will be marked

and the scores from the two Qs with the

highest scores will be taken, the candidates

risk insufficient time for answering the

questions well

Marking Schemes & Performance in individual questions

Samples of Candidates’ Performance

http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/tc/hkdse/hkdse_subj.html?A2&2&22_25

THANK YOU !