BOTSWANA EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

Botswana Senior Secondary Education

CANDIDATE
NAME

CENTRE CANDIDATE
NUMBER NUMBER

BIOLOGY 1428/03
Paper 3 Alternative to Practical Test For Examination from 2025
SPECIMEN PAPER
1 hour 15 Minutes
Candidates answer on the Question Paper
Additional Materials: No additional materials required

INSTRUCTIONS
• Answer all questions.
• Write your candidate name, Centre number and candidate number in the spaces provided at the
top of this page and on all work you hand in.
• Write in dark blue or black pen.
• Write your answer to each question in the spaces provided.
• You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough working.
• Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
• DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.
• Electronic calculators may be used.

INFORMATION
• The total marks for this paper is 50.
• You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use appropriate units.
• The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

For Examiner’s Use

Total

This document consists of 9 printed pages and 1 blank page.

© BEC 2021 [Turn over

 2
For
Examiner’s
Section A Use

Answer all questions in this section in the spaces provided.

1 Fig. 1.1a is a cut surface of a grape and Fig 1.1b is an open groundnut pod. Carefully examine
the specimens.

Fig. 1.1a

Fig. 1.1b

© BEC 20XX 1428/03/O/N/XX

 3
For
Examiner’s
Use
(a) Make a large, labelled drawing of the cut surface of Fig. 1.1a in the space provided.

[6]

(b) (i) Measure and record the longest length of your drawing. Indicate with a line where you took
the measurement.

Measure and record the corresponding length of the cut surface of Fig.1.1a.

length of drawing …………………………………….………………..……………….….

length of specimen Fig.1.1a. ……………………………………………………….……

[2]

(ii) Calculate the magnification of your drawing using measurements from (b) (i).
Show your working.

Magnification ......................... [3]

© BEC 20XX 1428/03/O/N/XX [Turn over

 4
For
Examiner’s
Use
(c) Give two observable similarities and two observable difference between Fig. 1.1a and Fig 1.1b.

Similarities:

1 ………………………………………………………………………………………………..…

2 ………………………………………………………………………………………………..…

Difference:

Fig. 1.1a Fig. 1.1b

[4]

(d) Fig.1.1b seeds contain enzymes. Describe a process to test for the presence of enzymes in
Fig.1.1b.

…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………

…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………

…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………

…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………

…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………

[4]

[Total: 19]

© BEC 20XX 1428/03/O/N/XX

 5
For
Examiner’s
Use

2. Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical substance produced by cells and it is broken down into water
and oxygen.

A student set up an experiment to investigate the effect of temperature on enzyme activity using potato
strips placed in hydrogen peroxide.

She was provided with hydrogen peroxide, soap solution, 3 potato chips of the same length in each of the
three test-tubes labeled L1, L2 and L3.

L1 was placed in a beaker with ice cold water, L2 was placed in a beaker with hot water at 60 oC and L3
was placed in water at room temperature. The test-tubes were left in the beakers for 2 minutes.

Fig 2.1 shows the results obtained after 10 minutes.

Product

Hydrogen peroxide
and soap solution

Potato chip

Fig 2.1

(a) (i) Measure and record the height of the product formed in Table 2.1

Table 2.1

Test tubes Length of product/mm

L1

L2

L3
[3]

© BEC 20XX 1428/03/O/N/XX [Turn over

 6
For
Examiner’s
Use
(ii) Using the information from Table 2.1, draw a bar chart in the graph grid provided.

[5]

(iii) Explain the results obtained for test tubes L1 and L2

L1 …………………………………………………………………………………………...…

…………………………………………………………………………………………...…

…………………………………………………………………………………………...…

L2 …………………………………………………………………………………………...…

…………………………………………………………………………………………...…

…………………………………………………………………………………………...…
[4]

© BEC 20XX 1428/03/O/N/XX [Turn over

 7
For
Examiner’s
Use

(b) (i) Predict your observations if the cold water in the beaker for Test tube L1 was heated
and hot water in the beaker for test tube L2 was cooled after the investigation.

Prediction for L1 ………………………………………………………………………….…..

Prediction for L2 ………………………………………………………………………………

[2]

(ii) Suggest an explanation for your predictions in b (i).

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………. [2]

(c) Suggest an explanation why the potato chips were left for 2 minutes in step 1.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(d) Suggest ways for improving the accuracy and reliability of results obtained duringthe
investigation.

Accuracy ……………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………….……….……

Reliability …………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………….……….……
[2]
(e) State any safety precaution that should be taken during this investigation.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]

[Total: 20]

© BEC 20XX 1428/03/O/N/XX

 8
For
Examiner’s
Use
3. (a) Variegated leaves have green and white areas.
A student investigated the factors needed for photosynthesis to take place. He used a plant with
leaves that were all variegated as shown below.

(a) State which condition was under investigation?

……………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(b) He began by placing the plant in a dark room for 24 hours.

Explain why this was necessary.
.............................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................[1]

(c) He then picked a leaf, immediately prepared it and tested it for the presence of starch.

(i) Name the testing reagent he used. ............................................................................[1]

(ii) Which part of the leaf will turn blue-black

…………………………………………………………………………………….…………… [1]

(iii) Write down a word equation for photosynthesis.

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]
[Total: 5]

© BEC 20XX 1428/03/O/N/XX

 9
For
Examiner’s
Use

4. Describe an investigation to determine the effect of pH on germination of any named seed.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………...…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...…[6]

Permission to reproduce items where third party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (BEC) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included,
the publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

© BEC 20XX 1428/03/O/N/XX