This post is about Secondary Science: Open-ended questions answering techniques.
Looking for answering techniques on Science OEQs? Specific examples of common mistakes in Open-Ended Questions (OEQs) for the GCE O Level Physics !
Do you make these common mistakes in your secondary science OEQs?
Common Mistake #1
Question: “Explain why the speed of sound is faster in solids than in gases.”
Common Mistake: “The speed of sound is faster in solids because solids are denser. “
Question: “Explain why the speed of sound is faster in solids than in gases.”
Correction: “The speed of sound is faster in solids because the particles in a solid are closely packed, allowing sound waves to be transmitted more quickly through the vibrations of neighboring particles.”
Tips: Solids are indeed denser than gases however student need to point out why being denser affects the speed of sound.
Common Mistake #2
Question: “The diagram shows a ray of light passing through a glass block. Explain why the light ray bends as it enters the glass block.”
Common Mistake: “The light bends because of refraction”
Question: “The diagram shows a ray of light passing through a glass block. Explain why the light ray bends as it enters the glass block.”
Correction: “The light ray bends as it enters the glass block due to refraction. The light slows down when it enters the denser medium (glass) from air, causing it to bend towards the normal of the air-glass boundary”
Tips: This is a example of incomplete explanation. Student have to explain what happens during refraction and what causes the light ray to bend in a certain direction.
Common Mistake #3
Question: “Explain how a negatively charged rod can attract a small piece of paper.”
Common Mistake: “The rod attracts the paper because of static electricity.”
Question: “Explain how a negatively charged rod can attract a small piece of paper.”
Correction: “The negatively charged rod induces a positive charge on the side of the paper closest to it by repelling electrons. This induced positive charge is then attracted to the negative charge on the rod, causing the paper to move toward the rod.”
Tips: This is a wrong use of terminology. Students have to expound why a charged rod induces charges on the nearest side of the paper.
That’s it!
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