NAME: ………………………………………………………………………………...

REG. NO: ……………………………………………………………………………...

COMBINATION: …………………………………………………………………….

COURSE:……………………………………………………………………………....

LEVEL: ………………………………………………………………………………..

Designed By Gali Musa

Edited By Alh. Ibrahim S/Dinki

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Introduction
Biology practical is a part of Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in
biology subject in both WAEC, NECO and of course at Advance Level (A/L) Biology.
Biology practical include activities carried out at indoor or outdoor laboratory. It require
observation of provide specimens, accurate record of observation, accurate drawing with clear
line and neat labeling.

Why use Practical work in Biology?

Biology is practical science. Practical activity is not just a motivational and fun, it also enable
student to apply and extend his knowledge and understanding of biology in novel investigative
situation, which can aid learning and memory, and stimulate interest. Student in biology practical
sessions should have a prior knowledge of the specimens, so as to be able to observe, examine
and make inference on what has been collected.
Materials Require for Biology Practical

1. Sharp HB pencil
2. Ruler
3. Sharpener
4. Good and clear eraser
5. Sharp razor blade/scalpel
6. Hand lens
7. A pen or biro
8. Dissecting kit
9. Pair of forceps

Aspects of Specimen
What is specimen? Specimen is an individual animal, plant, piece of a mineral or anything used
as an example of its species or type for scientific study or display.
Biology specimens are viewed at different angles and or sides, depending on what is expected or
require to be observed. These view aspect includes;

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1. The anterior view – the head view
2. Posterior view – the back or tail region
3. Dorsal view – upper region
4. Ventral view – lower or belly region
5. Lateral view – side view
6. Longitudinal section (L/S) – cutting along the ventral or long region.
7. Transverse section (T/S) – cutting across or along the short region.
8. Mid-line – cutting along an imaginary line at the middle dividing the specimen into equal
have.

Dorsal

Anterior Posterior

Ventral

Figure 1different side of viewing specimen

Figure 2 transverse/longitudinal sections

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Qualities of Biological Drawing

Student should understand the following under-listed hints carefully before attempting to work
on biology practical questions. These hints are;
1. Observe the specimen that you want to draw closely and carefully (use hand lens for
small specimen).
2. Use sharp HB pencil for any diagram.
3. Line should be very thin but visible. Line should not be broken, woolly or wavy, i.e. it
should be continuous and uniformly drawn out as indicate below.
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4. Size of drawing should neither be small nor too big. It should cover about of the paper
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size to allow space on both sides for labeling.
5. Do not press your pencil too hard into the paper so as to be able to clean off wrong
drawings without spoiling the booklet.
6. If a particular dimension of size is given, e.g. 8cm – 10cm, the size of drawing should not
be less than 8cm and not more than 10cm in length.
7. Do not shade your diagrams either with pencil or colored pencil.
8. Use ruler to draw guide-lines. Guide-lines should be straight, horizontal and unbroken,
and they must touch the structure or point they represent.
9. Guideline must not cross each other, and do not bear an arrowhead.
10. Names of parts can be written in capital letter.
11. Do not label a single structure with a plural name and never double structure with a single
name.
12. Do not label inside the drawing.
13. Do not label below or above the guideline.
14. Title: Drawing should carry title, which is just like a name of what you have drawn.
Sometimes it carries a specification, example of view or section like transverse section
(T/S), longitudinal section (L/S), or may be posterior or anterior view as the case may be.
Title should preferably come below the drawing.

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 15. Magnification: Magnification is being calculated by dividing the size of the drawing by
the actual size of the specimen i.e.

¿ drawing
Magnification =
¿ the specimen

If a microscope is used, magnification is calculated by multiplying the number on the eyepiece

by the number on the objective lens. Example, on the Olympus microscope student used in the
laboratory, the eyepiece usually carries number (x10). If the lower power objective is used (x40),
the magnification now becomes 10x40 =400x or x400, depending on what power objective is
used.

Nature of drawing and labeling

Figure 3 Nature Drawing and Labeling of Specimen

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Reporting Biology Practical
A correct practical should contain the following basic elements, especially when an experiment
is involved;
Date: e.g. 1/1/2022

Topic: e.g. Photosynthesis

Aim: What is expected to be achieved after the experiment e.g. to show that Chlorophyll in
needed for photosynthesis.

Apparatus: Material needed for the experiment

Method: Show step(s) in carrying out the experiment.

Diagram: Give the pictorial set up of the experiment

Observation: The findings of the experiment, everything that has been observed

during the course of the experiment.

Conclusion: Summary of finding which shows achievement of aim or otherwise

In some experiments, results are show using graphical illustration, which may either in form of a
line graph, bar chart, pie chart or histogram.

Answering Questions in Biology Practical

There are formats in which practical biology questions are asked and expected to be answered.
The following steps should be considered;

1. Identification of specimen with reason. You are expected to name the specimen and list
the general characteristic or feature of that specimen.
2. Identification of specimen without reason. You are expected to give the name of the
specimen only.

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 3. Write the differences and similarities between specimen A and B. you are expected to
tabulate your answer when giving the differences, comparing specimen A and B. e.g.

Difference between specimen A and B

Specimen A Specimen B
1.
2.

NB: The answer or comparison on specimen A must tally with the answer or
comparison on specimen B. Answer on similarities may not have carry any tabular
form.

4. Classification of the specimens/organism.

5. Give the adaptive features of specimen. You are expected to look at the specimen
carefully, list the visible parts and functions of each part.
6. Habitats of the organisms/specimens
7. Feeding habit (mode of nutrition) of the organisms/specimen
8. Draw a specimen 10cm - 12cm long. You are to measure and draw an imaginary line
with higher dimension (i.e. 12cm). In this case, then make your drawing in between this
space. The drawing length should not be less than 10cm and not more than 12cm long.
9. Economic importance of the organisms/specimens
10. Drawing of food chains.

NB: Demonstration by the teacher and practice by the students, two weeks can be devoted.

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