SKILLS

Life Sciences
PAT Exam

Skill Area 1: OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS

1. Identify coloured substances (e.g. in nutrient tests and pH indicators).
2. Observe and describe (in words) changes in colour, shape or level (e.g.
in enzyme experiments, nutrient tests, respiration and photosynthesis,
etc.)
3. Match similar items and identify small differences (e.g. in cytology).
4. Match an observed object from given information (e.g. drawings and
photographs with an object under the microscope).
5. Classify an object from given information (e.g. using keys).
6. Observe gross and fine features and differences in a given situation with
minimal cueing (e.g. in plant and animal anatomy).

Skill Area 2: MEASUREMENT SKILLS

1. Recognise, or supply the correct units for common measurements, e.g.
microns, m.sec-1 (in all quantitative work).
2. Read the scale of common measuring instruments (e.g. thermometer,
metre rule, measuring cylinder, balance, stop clock) and take appropriate
measurements, including fractional measurements, taking meniscus and
parallax into account (e.g. in potometer experiments, on syringes, etc.).
3. Use a grid to estimate areas (e.g. of leaf surface, mapped area in ecology,
etc.).
4. Make rough estimates of relative weight, time, length, etc. (in all quantitative
work).
5. Make valid measurements of variables, repeating measurements to
obtain an average where appropriate (in all quantitative work).

Skill Area 3: RECORDING SKILLS

1. Record simple information that has been presented (e.g. counting
populations, measuring lengths, etc.).
2. Makes a brief spoken or written summary of some information which has
been presented (e.g. discuss the variables in an experiment).
3. Make a correct biological drawing and label it clearly (e.g. in flower
drawings, anatomy, etc.).
4. Arrange information in the form of a suitable table with appropriate
headings (e.g. most quantitative practical work).
5. Construct a chart, line graph, histogram or bar chart as suited to the data,
choosing suitable axes and scales and with decimal and negative values
(e.g. in growth and enzyme experiments). Candidates should be given
explicit instructions, e.g. the type of graph to use, or which axes are
which.

Skill Area 4: MANIPULATIVE SKILLS

Demonstrate fine motor control in confidently using apparatus and materials
such as: compound microscope, hand lens, scalpel, scissors, potometer, test
tube and racks, respirometer, stopclock, clamps, tripod and gauze, spatula,
tongs, beakers, measuring cylinders, syringes, balance, thermometer, living and
dead specimens, glass slides, coverslips and stains.
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 SKILLS
Life Sciences
PAT Exam

Skill Area 5: PROCEDURAL SKILLS

1. Identify all commonly used items of laboratory apparatus and select
appropriate items for given task (e.g. when provided with some
apparatus).
2. Adopt procedures that minimise specific laboratory hazards, e.g.
protective gear with caustic substances (e.g. when boiling liquids, etc.).
3. Carry out simple procedures as instructed such as using a syringe to
produce desired volumes (e.g. enzyme experiments).
4. Set up apparatus or carry out a procedure from demonstration, verbal
and written instructions or diagrams (e.g. in all practical situations).

Skill Area 6: SKILLS OF INFERENCE

1. Able to make calculations involving data, e.g. averages, percentages,
number of stomata per mm2, etc.
2. Recognise patterns in data, extract information from results, interpolate
and extrapolate.
3. Distinguish observations (statements describing what has been seen,
heard, etc. whether qualitative or quantitative) from inferences
(statements made concerning the interpretation of observations).
4. Make plausible generalisations (inferential statements which attempt to
relate several observations, using particular properties or events evident
in the task in hand) from observations.

Skill Area 7: INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS

(Some of these apply to most quantitative and experimental work)
1. Identify investigative aspects of a problem, demonstrating understanding
of relevant concepts.
2. Suggest a broad strategy to adopt in the investigation.
3. State the aim of the investigation.
4. Identify an appropriate procedure and select suitable apparatus or scale
of suitable range to measure effectively.
5. Plan a suitable procedure to test a hypothesis, taking account of all
variables to be controlled.
6. Identify the independent (input) variable and alter over a suitable range.
7. Identify the dependent (outcome) variable and measure it.
8. Identify other relevant variables and suggest ways to control them.
9. Collect relevant data and select an appropriate form for the presentation
of results for any given procedure.
10. Combine observations and given information to formulate reasonable
hypotheses (inferential statements which go beyond generalisations by
proposing in testable form, relationships between variables in an attempt
to interpret observations and the information to hand).
11. Make deductions from hypotheses (inferential statements which are
logical consequences of hypotheses and which refer to the proposed
testing implicit in those hypotheses).
12. Use observations to confirm or refute existing hypotheses (i.e. to make
conclusion

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 SKILLS
Life Sciences
PAT Exam

13. Modify hypotheses to accommodate new observations.

14. Make a formal written description of the apparatus, materials and
procedures adopted in an investigation.

Skill Area 8: EVALUATION OF PROCEDURES

1. Identify potentially hazardous situations (e.g. using caustic chemicals,
boiling test tubes, etc.).
2. Anticipate hazards and adopt appropriate safety precautions and
procedures for all proposed laboratory investigations.
3. Recognise that results may be incomplete or inconclusive.
4. Make constructive criticism of the design of a set of apparatus or
experiment.

(Adapted from IEB document)

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