Cambridge IAL Biology exam-day guide
Cambridge IAL Biology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and entry documents
Bring the identification your exam centre requires (typically a passport or national ID card) plus any admission/statement of entry slip the centre has issued. Centres vary in what they accept, so confirm the accepted ID type and whether a statement of entry is needed with your centre before the day.
Confirmation of the practical paper and session time
Practical exams for this qualification are usually arranged by your centre rather than on a fixed national date, and sessions can be split into groups. Confirm the exact date, start time, venue, and which group you are in directly with your exams officer.
Black ballpoint pens, HB pencil, ruler, eraser, sharpener
Write in black ink unless the paper instructs otherwise; use pencil for any drawing or graph work. Bring a spare pen and a clear pencil case if your centre permits one.
Calculator (check your centre's model rules)
A basic scientific calculator is normally needed for calculations such as means, rates, and percentage change. Some centres restrict programmable or graphical models, so check the permitted calculator policy with your exams officer.
Know the apparatus and safety routine
Rehearse the standard handling of common equipment you may meet: measuring cylinders, pipettes, thermometers, balances, and light microscopes. Know how to read a meniscus at eye level and how to focus a microscope safely without forcing the coarse knob.
Practise the core practical skills you will be tested on
Be fluent in: recording results in a ruled table with units in headers; drawing tables for repeats; calculating means and rates; plotting axes with labelled quantities and units; drawing trend or best-fit lines; and identifying anomalous results.
Prepare for microscopy and drawing questions
Practise producing clear, unshaded line drawings with continuous lines, correct proportions, and a stated magnification or scale. Be ready to calculate magnification and actual size from measured image size.
Rehearse evaluation language
Learn to identify sources of error, distinguish random from systematic error, suggest specific improvements with reasons, and comment on precision, accuracy, reliability, and validity using evidence from the data given.
Bring water and a permitted snack
Practical sessions can be long and physically demanding. Confirm with your centre whether drinks or snacks are allowed in the laboratory area, since safety rules often restrict food and drink.
Plan your journey and arrive early
Aim to arrive well before the session so you can settle and listen to any safety briefing. Check local transport and allow extra time.
Know the emergency and safety procedures
Read the centre's laboratory safety notice: location of eyewash, fire exits, and spill kit, and the rule for reporting breakages or injuries immediately to the supervisor.
Plan the day
Rework the practical skills list rather than new content: table construction, significant figures, unit conversion, graph plotting, and error analysis. Do two or three timed practice tasks using past-paper style data so you practise interpreting unfamiliar results, not just recalling theory. Check your calculator works and that you know its key functions for logs, powers, and standard form.
Confirm logistics with your centre: exact time, room, group, ID requirements, and what is provided versus what you must bring. Sort out transport and a backup plan. Get a full night's sleep for the two nights before the exam rather than relying on a last-minute cram.
Do a light review only: a one-page summary of command words (describe, explain, suggest, evaluate, calculate), the structure of a good results table, and the checklist for evaluating an experiment. Pack your bag: ID, pens, pencil, ruler, eraser, calculator, and any permitted items. Avoid learning new material late; it raises anxiety without improving performance.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive early. Re-read only your summary sheet. During any pre-exam briefing, listen carefully to safety instructions and note where equipment is stored and how to ask for help. Read the front of the paper for time allowed, marks, and any instructions about apparatus.
Read the whole paper before writing. Note the marks per question and allocate time roughly in proportion, leaving a few minutes at the end to check units, table headings, and axis labels. Identify which questions ask you to record data, which ask for calculations, and which ask for evaluation.
Record raw readings to the precision of the instrument, with units. Use repeats where sensible and record them all rather than only the mean. Keep a rough column for observations and qualitative notes. If a reading looks odd, record it and flag it rather than silently discarding it.
Show working for calculations so method marks can be awarded. Carry units through and give answers to an appropriate number of significant figures. When plotting, use a sharp pencil, label both axes with quantity and unit, choose a sensible scale that uses most of the grid, and draw a clear line of best fit rather than joining every point.
Check that every table has headers with units, every graph has labelled axes and units, every calculation has a unit, and every evaluation point is tied to evidence. Answer all parts of each question, including the 'suggest one improvement and explain why' style prompts, and make sure you have attempted every question rather than leaving blanks.
Rules to check
Follow all laboratory safety instructions given by the supervisor. Tie back loose hair, wear eye protection where instructed, and report spills, breakages, or injuries immediately. Never taste or deliberately smell chemicals.
Bring only permitted items to your desk. Bags, phones, smart watches, and notes must be left where the centre directs; a phone on your person during the exam is treated as malpractice even if switched off.
Have your ID ready for checking on entry and keep it available until the session begins. If your ID is missing or does not match your entry details, tell the supervisor immediately rather than waiting.
Ask the supervisor if apparatus is faulty or instructions are unclear. Legitimate clarification about equipment or a misprint is normally allowed; asking for help with the biology content is not.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the session has started, and do not share apparatus or results. If you need to leave the room, follow the centre's escort procedure, which the invigilator will explain.
Write your answers in the spaces and format the paper specifies, in black ink unless told otherwise, and keep drawings in pencil. Cross out work you do not want marked rather than erasing it.
If you are entitled to access arrangements such as extra time or a reader, confirm well in advance that the centre has approved them; arrangements cannot usually be added on the day.
Scoring rewards correct method, appropriate precision, and clear communication as well as correct final answers. Confirm the exact mark allocation and any practical-specific regulations with your centre, since administrative rules vary between centres and sessions.