9744_04 H2 Biology Practical Notes A-Levels (2025)

9744 / 04 H2 Biology Practical Notes 2025 And Remember Kids 1. If anything said here contradicts what your teachers or tutors told you, prioritise them. 2. Stay calm and read the question carefully, don't assume you know whats gg on just because the apparatus is familiar 3. You’re not special, Cambridge is not going to set a specially difficult paper for you 4. Plot your graph points correctly!!! Losing 1 mark for being 1 square off is throwing!!!. 5. You have plenty of time so don’t stress if you’re stuck js move on 6. If there is an abnormal question you may find comfort in knowing that everyone else will be just as confused as you will be. Microscopy 1. Comparison Questions Generally for microscopy, compare arrangement, shape and size of cells (triangular / rectangular / oblong / oval) You can compare the presence of starch granules / vacuoles / choloplast but I wouldn’t recommend it bcos you can’t really tell the difference between them under a microscope and it may not be a valid marking point in answer scheme, unless it’s a last resort. Dicots VS Monocots Diameter ● Dicots are larger and Monocots are smaller Vascular Bundles (ie Xylem and Phloem) ● Arrangement: Dicot’s are arranged in a ring around the central pith, Monocot’s are clustered at the root ● Number: Dicot’s are limited in number, Monocot’s are numerous ● Shape: Dicot’s are uniform and larger in size. Monocot’s tend to have larger VB present towards the center and smaller VB at the peripherals Pith (central mass of cell) ● Well developed in Dicots, reduced and remains undifferentiated in Monocots Cortex ● Cortex area relative to root is larger in Dicots and smaller in Monocots Endodermis (tissue layer that circles the vascular bundles) ● Present in Dicots, absent in Monocots Number of tissue layers ● Dicots have more as the cells are more differentiated and hence have more distinct organisation Other Possible Comparisons ● Presence of ___ (hair, idk) ● Overall shape of ___ ● Thickness of ___ 2. Limitations / Improvements in microscopy ● Measure all the __(eg vascular bundles)__ ● Larger magnification, easier to measure onioninabox 1

9744 / 04 H2 Biology Practical Notes