| Biology | 1. How do cells function? • Use prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure, organelles, cell membranes, transport across membranes, cellular processes, the cell cycle, cell growth, cell death and cell differentiation.• For harder questions, include cell diagrams, experimental data, microscopy-style interpretation, membrane transport scenarios, model comparison, graph interpretation and explaining structure-function relationships.• For exam-style questions, require interpretation of supplied diagrams, data or experimental observations rather than recall alone.2. How do plant and animal systems function? • Use cell specialisation, tissues, organs, organ systems, regulation of internal environments, homeostasis, plant transport and regulation, animal systems, feedback mechanisms and coordination of multicellular organisms.• For harder questions, include plant or animal system diagrams, feedback-loop reasoning, data interpretation, comparison of plant and animal systems and explaining how structure supports function.• For exam-style questions, make the biological mechanism and evidence explicit so one answer is clearly best.3. How do scientific investigations develop understanding of how organisms regulate their functions? • Use biological investigation skills related to organism regulation, including investigable questions, hypotheses, variables, controls, methods, data collection, graphing, analysis, conclusions, limitations and communication.• For harder questions, include experimental scenarios, validity and reliability, biological data interpretation, identifying limitations, evaluating conclusions and proposing improvements.• For exam-style questions, prefer short practical scenarios with one clearly best method, conclusion, limitation or improvement. | 1. How is inheritance explained? • Use DNA, genes, alleles, chromosomes, genomes, genotypes, phenotypes, patterns of inheritance, monohybrid crosses, pedigrees, variation, mutation and inheritance reasoning.• For harder questions, include pedigree interpretation, genetic cross reasoning, inheritance-pattern identification, probability-style genetics, data interpretation and explaining genotype-phenotype relationships.• For exam-style questions, ensure inheritance symbols, pedigree features and data tables are unambiguous.2. How do inherited adaptations impact on diversity? • Use inherited variation, adaptations, selection pressures, natural selection, evolution, biodiversity, species diversity, population change, reproductive success and evidence for adaptation.• For harder questions, include evolutionary data, selection scenarios, graph interpretation, comparing adaptations, explaining cause-effect relationships and evaluating evidence.• For exam-style questions, avoid vague adaptation explanations; require precise links between variation, selection pressure, reproductive success and population change.3. How do humans use science to explore and communicate contemporary bioethical issues? • Use contemporary bioethical issues related to inheritance, genetic technologies, biodiversity, adaptation or biological applications, including evidence, stakeholder perspectives, risks, benefits and ethical reasoning.• For harder questions, include claim-evidence-reasoning, evaluating sources, comparing stakeholder views, identifying ethical tensions and communicating biological understanding accurately.• Keep questions evidence-based and curriculum-safe. Avoid asking for personal moral opinions without biological evidence. | 1. What is the role of nucleic acids and proteins in maintaining life? • Use DNA and RNA structure, genes, genetic code, transcription, translation, protein synthesis, protein structure and function, gene regulation, mutations, molecular biology techniques and biotechnology applications.• For harder questions, include sequence interpretation, codon tables, gene-expression data, molecular diagrams, mutation effects, experimental evidence and biotechnology method interpretation.• For exam-style questions, require evidence-based interpretation of molecular information, sequences, diagrams or experimental data rather than definition recall.2. How are biochemical pathways regulated? • Use enzymes, enzyme structure and function, factors affecting enzyme activity, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, inputs and outputs of biochemical pathways, regulation of pathways, inhibitors, coenzymes/cofactors where appropriate and metabolic control.• For harder questions, include pathway diagrams, rate graphs, enzyme data, experimental scenarios, limiting-factor reasoning, interpretation of biochemical evidence and explanation of pathway regulation.• For exam-style questions, make the relationship between evidence, pathway regulation and biological outcome explicit. | 1. How do organisms respond to pathogens? • Use pathogens, barriers, innate immune responses, adaptive immune responses, antigen recognition, antibodies, lymphocytes, memory cells, vaccination, immunity, disease transmission and immune system applications.• For harder questions, include immune-response diagrams, antigen-antibody reasoning, vaccination data, epidemiological graphs, experimental evidence and explaining immune memory or disease response.• For exam-style questions, distinguish clearly between pathogen transmission, immune response stages, vaccination effects and population-level disease data.2. How are species related over time? • Use genetic changes in populations, evolution, speciation, evidence for evolutionary relationships, molecular evidence, fossil evidence, comparative anatomy, phylogenetic trees, hominin evolution where appropriate, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' knowledge and perspectives where relevant.• For harder questions, include phylogenetic tree interpretation, genetic distance data, fossil comparison, evolutionary scenario reasoning, evidence evaluation and explaining relatedness over time.• For exam-style questions, require explicit evidence-based reasoning from supplied phylogenetic, fossil, molecular or comparative data.3. How is scientific inquiry used to investigate cellular processes and/or biological change? • Use student-designed scientific investigation skills related to cellular processes and/or biological change, including investigation questions, hypotheses, variables, controls, methods, data, graphs, analysis, conclusions, limitations, improvements, logbook records and scientific poster communication.• For harder questions, include experimental design critique, evaluating data quality, interpreting uncertainty, judging conclusion validity, identifying limitations, proposing improvements and communicating biological evidence.• For exam-style questions, use investigation-style prompts that require evidence-based reasoning, not generic practical-report wording. |
