This was the most popular in this section and a lot of candidates scored high marks in this question. Most candidates could correctly state the class to which specimens E/cockroach and F/soldier termite belong namely, class insect but a good number of candidates lost the score due to spelling errors e.g. class insecter instead of insect. The candidates could properly state similarities between the specimens, their economic importance; their habitats and their adaptations against predators. They however performed poorly in outlining the differences between specimens E and F.
Expected answers include:
Specimen E/Cockroach |
Specimen F/Solder Termite. |
- small head;
- wings present;
- has compound eye/has sigh;
- dark brown colour
- small mandibles present. |
- large head;
- wings absent;
- no eye/blind/no sight;
- light brown colour;
- large mandibles present. |
A few candidates made good drawings of specimen E/cockroach and scored good marks but a large number of candidates mad poor diagrams with blunt pencils leading to wooly and broken lines. Some candidates failed to remove the wings of the cockroach and so lost marks. Many candidates did not give titles to their diagrams, did not state the magnification and had guidelines of labels crossing each other. In addition a lot of candidates loss marks due to poor spelling of labels.
Expected answers include:
Title(T) Drawing of dorsal view of specimen E (Cockroach) Quality (Q)
Size: 8 – 10cm (Sz)
Clarity of lines (CL) (lines not wooly x ½ ; not broken/dotted x ½ )
Neatness of labels (NL) (ruled guidelines x ½ ; horizontal labels x ½ )
Magnification (mg) x 1.5 – 2.5;
Details (D)
At least five abdominal segments shown (AS)/spiracles shown (SS)
Label(L)
Head, antenna, compound eye. Thoracic segment/prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax, spiracle, abdominal segment, leg (jointed) circus.