O-Level Biology Planning & ACE Workbook (Paper 3)

TL;DR
Paper 3 awards 15 % for Planning and the rest across MMO, PDO, and ACE. The 2026 syllabus makes those criteria explicit, so you can rehearse your written responses before ever stepping into the lab.
Use this workbook to pre-build plan sketches, data tables, and evaluation paragraphs that tick every SEAB bullet, then plug them into actual practical questions.

1 | Map the four skill strands against the syllabus

• Planning (P): identify variables, outline procedures, explain data treatment, and state risks + precautions.
• MMO: set up apparatus correctly, use instruments precisely, and record detailed observations.
• PDO: present data with appropriate formats, units, decimals, and significant figures.
• ACE: interpret data, draw conclusions, predict next steps, and evaluate errors/improvements.
• These requirements are explicitly listed in the Paper 3 section of the 2026 syllabus, so quote them when justifying your approach (SEAB).

2 | Planning templates that hit every checkpoint

• Hypothesis & rationale: State the predicted relationship and the syllabus concept that supports it. Example: "Increasing enzyme temperature to $\pu{40 ^\circ C}$ increases rate because particles collide more often."
• Variables: Identify independent, dependent, and at least three controls (volume, pH, substrate).
• Procedure outline: List key steps, apparatus, and measurement duration. Reference core apparatus from the syllabus list (thermometer $\pu{-10 ^\circ C}$