Biology

1. What makes Biology distinct?

A Biology EE must:

• focus on living organisms, their processes or their interactions

• investigate measurable biological variables

• use biological concepts and theory such as physiology, biochemistry, ecology or genetics

• collect or analyse data that is scientifically valid and ethically obtained

• apply methods appropriate for biological investigation, for example controlled experiments or field sampling

• interpret results by explaining underlying biological mechanisms

• evaluate reliability, limitations and the biological significance of findings

Your essay should feel biological, not environmental, chemical or medical.

2. What counts as a suitable Biology topic?

A strong topic is:

narrow and linked to a specific biological process

supported by measurable and controllable variables

rooted in established biological principles

feasible using school level equipment and safe procedures

able to generate sufficient data for analysis

Examples of suitable topic types

• the effect of a variable on enzyme activity

• factors influencing photosynthesis or respiration

• responses of simple organisms to environmental conditions

• growth patterns in plants under controlled conditions

• small scale ecological interactions

Examples of unsuitable topic types

• broad environmental issues that belong in ESS

• medical or clinical topics requiring specialist knowledge

• investigations requiring advanced laboratory equipment

• projects involving humans without proper approval

• questions with variables that cannot be reliably controlled

Biology requires attention to mechanisms rather than broad environmental themes.

3. Using data in Biology

Your essay must draw upon biological data, such as:

• primary experimental results from controlled investigations

• field measurements collected ethically

• secondary datasets from reputable biological studies

• microscopy observations or quantitative imaging

• measurements taken with appropriate scientific equipment

Avoid

• anecdotal observations

• web sources with unclear methodology

• datasets that cannot be verified or reproduced

• measurements that are inconsistent or imprecise

Data must be interpreted through biological principles, not simply presented.

4. Research methods appropriate for Biology

Your methods may include:

• controlled laboratory experiments with one manipulated variable

• enzyme assays, colourimetric tests or spectrophotometry

• sampling techniques such as quadrats or transects

• growth measurements under defined environmental conditions

• microscopy or imaging based analysis

• interpretation of published biological datasets

The method chosen must match the research question and allow for valid data collection.

5. Expectations for analysis

Biology analysis should:

• link observed patterns to biological mechanisms

• interpret graphs and processed data through scientific reasoning

• explain unexpected findings using accepted biological ideas

• use tables, figures and diagrams purposefully

• remain tightly focused on the biological process being investigated

Analysis must show biological understanding rather than simple description.

6. Evaluation in Biology

Evaluation may include:

• precision and reliability of measurements

• limitations of experimental design

• influence of uncontrolled variables

• ethical or practical constraints

• extent to which findings may be generalised

• biological significance of results

A strong Biology EE explains what the findings mean and why they matter.

7. Common pitfalls in Biology EEs

Avoid these issues, as they frequently lead to weak outcomes:

• topics that are too broad to allow scientific depth

• insufficient or unreliable data

• methods that require inappropriate equipment

• essays dominated by description rather than explanation

• topics that fit better in ESS, Chemistry or SEHS

• use of human participants without proper approval

• projects with too many variables to control effectively

8. Model research questions

Here are high quality examples of Biology research questions:

1. How does increasing salinity affect the rate of photosynthesis in Selenastrum gracile?

2. To what extent does caffeine concentration influence the heart rate of Daphnia magna?

3. How does pH variation alter the activity of catalase extracted from potato tissue?

4. How reliably does chlorophyll concentration predict growth in Lemna minor under differing light intensities?

Each question is specific, biological and answerable using data.