Sample Pearson Set Assignment Brief
Single Part Assessment
Unit 1 – Principles of Science
For use with:
Pearson BTEC International Level 2 qualifications in Applied Science
Award / Certificate / Extended Certificate / Diploma
Approximate Guided Learning Hours
Activity 1 (Biology) 5 hours Activity 2 (Chemistry) 5 hours Activity 3 (Physics) 5 hours
For completion by the centre
Qualification (select as appropriate)
Award / Certificate / Extended Certificate / Diploma
Assessment dates
Starts Deadline
Activity 1 Activity 2 Activity 3
Instructions to Teachers/Tutors
The Pearson Set Assignment will be assessed internally by the centre using the unit
assessment criteria detailed in the qualification specification. The assignment will be sampled by the Standards Verifier as part of the standards verification annual centre visit.
Conditions of supervision
The Pearson Set Assignment should be undertaken in conditions that assure the authenticity of outcome. This may require supervision.
We advise that the Pearson Set Assignment be completed in sessions that come to a total of 15 hours. The Pearson Set Assignment should not be shared with learners prior to the start of the assessment period. Teachers/tutors are responsible for security of the Pearson Set Assignment and materials.
Outcomes for submission
Learners may submit handwritten or word-processed evidence. Learners must save their work regularly and ensure that all materials can be identified as their work.
Learners must submit their own, independent work as detailed in the Set Assignment. Each learner must complete an authentication sheet.
Instructions to Learners
Read the Set Assignment Information carefully.
You will be asked to carry out specific activities using the information provided. You will be given a specific time period to complete the assignment.
The Set Assignment has three activities. You must complete all activities. At all times you must work independently and must not share your work with other learners. You must complete an authentication sheet and submit this along with your work.
Set Assignment Information
As a new school science technician, you have been asked to produce a resource pack that new students will be able to use on their BTEC course. This will have three parts: biology, chemistry and physics.
Set Assignment
You must complete ALL activities.
ACTIVITY 1 BIOLOGY Task 1a Cells
Produce a large illustrated poster that shows the structure of the specialist cells listed below, including their organelles. You must add your own labels to each illustration to identify the key features of each type of cell. With each cell you must explain what it does and how its key features and organelles enable it to carry out its function.
The cells to describe are: white blood cells, sperm cells, xylem cells, guard cells.
On a second poster, you must provide illustrations of each cell’s organelles, adding your own labels and stating the function of each of the organelles.
Task 1b Inheritance
First produce an illustrated article that describes the structure of DNA. Your article must say where in the cell DNA is found and describe complementary base pairs, genes and alleles.
Then, on a fresh sheet of paper, solve Problem 1 and Problem 2.
Problem 1
Sheep can have black wool or white wool.
A black sheep (Bb) was mated with a white sheep (bb), producing two offspring lambs.
One offspring had white wool and the other had black wool.
Figure 1 shows a pedigree analysis for the sheep.
Figure 1
Explain why one offspring had white wool and the other offspring had black wool.
You should include Punnett squares and genetic diagrams in your answer.
Problem 2
Pea plants can produce either green peas or yellow peas.
The allele for yellow peas is Y.
The allele for green peas is y.
The allele for yellow peas is dominant.
A parent pea plant with the genotype YY is crossed with a parent pea plant with the genotype yy.
Predict what proportion of the offspring plants will produce yellow peas. Explain your answer using a Punnett square.
Task 1c Control of the body
(i) Write down what is meant by ‘homeostasis’.
(ii) Figure 2 shows ‘heat maps’ of two people. Person A is too cold and person B is too warm.
Figure 2
Explain the sequence of physiological events that leads to person A warming up to the correct temperature and person B cooling down to the correct temperature.
(iii) Explain how blood glucose concentration is controlled. Make sure you explain responses to high blood glucose and low blood glucose.
In your answer you should explain how the nervous system and hormones send messages around the body and describe how the speed and duration of the response to nervous control are different to those of the response caused by hormones.
(iv) Use a labelled diagram you have produced to describe the structure of the human nervous system.
Student 1 accidently steps on a sharp pin. They quickly lift their foot away from the pin. Using illustrations, explain how the peripheral and central nervous systems make them lift their foot.
This activity covers learning aim A.
A.P1, A.P2, A.P3, A.M1, A.M2, A.M3, A.D1
ACTIVITY 2 CHEMISTRY
Task 2a Atomic structure and the periodic table Complete Worksheet 1 for this.
Task 2b Acids, bases and chemical reactions Complete Worksheet 2 for this.
This activity covers learning aim B.
B.P3, B.P4, B.P6, B.M4, B.M5, B.D2
Learner Assessment Submission and Declaration
Learner name: Assessor name:
Date issued: Completion date: Submitted on:
Qualification: BTEC International Level 2 Award/Certificate/Extended Certificate/Diploma
Assessment reference and title: Activity 2 (Chemistry) Worksheets 1 and 2
Learner declaration
I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own. I have clearly referenced any sources used in the work. I understand that false declaration is a form of malpractice.
Learner signature: Date:
WORKSHEET 1
Atomic structure and the periodic table Task 2a (i)
Using a periodic table to help you, use the space below to draw diagrams of the atomic structures of hydrogen and helium. The diagrams should show the positions of protons, neutrons and electrons.
Task 2a (ii)
Use this table to show the relative charge, relative mass and position in the atom of each of the particles.
Particle Relative
mass Relative
charge Where in the atom Electron
Neutron Proton
Task 2a (iii)
Use these diagrams to show the electronic structures of the five elements shown.
Fill in the correct number of electrons and their arrangement.
Task 2a (iv)
Shade in and label Group 2.
Using the correct chemical symbols, show the position of sodium and the position of neon.
Explain why sodium and neon occupy their specific places in the periodic table.
Task 2a (v)
Using calculation, explain why copper has a relative atomic mass (RAM) of 63.5.
Worksheet 2
Acids, bases and chemical reactions
(i) Technician 1 put a short piece of magnesium ribbon into a test tube and then poured 2ml of dilute hydrochloric acid into the test tube.
Write down a word equation and a balanced chemical equation for the reaction.
(ii) Technician 2 added sodium carbonate to dilute sulfuric acid. A gas was produced and this gas turned lime water milky when it was bubbled through it.
Name the gas produced in this reaction.
Write down a word equation and a balanced chemical equation for the reaction.
(iii) Technician 3 has a pond in their garden in which they grow water flowers. They know these grow best when the pH of the water is 7. The plants have been dying and they think that the water might be at the wrong pH for the plants. They test a sample of the water with universal pH test paper and the paper changes from green in colour to turquoise when the technician puts the water on the test paper.
What does this tell them about the water in Technician 3’s pond?
(iv) Technician 3 has sodium carbonate powder, sodium hydroxide pellets and dilute hydrochloric acid available.
(v) Give a detailed explanation of your answer to (iv), including an example of a balanced chemical equation and explanations of the safety precautions to be taken when using the chosen chemical.
(vi) People who suffer from acid reflux will often take indigestion remedies to relieve the problem.
What is acid reflux?
(vi) Remedies for acid reflux often contain calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate or aluminium hydroxide. They do not contain calcium oxide or sodium hydroxide.
Evaluate the usefulness of each of these substances in the treatment of acid reflux by explaining how they would neutralise the acidity and the drawbacks.
You must include balanced equations for each chemical reaction.
ACTIVITY 3 PHYSICS
Use Worksheet 3 for this.
This activity covers learning aim C.
C.P7, C.P8, C.P9, C.M6, C.M7, C.D3
Learner Assessment Submission and Declaration
Learner name: Assessor name:
Date issued: Completion date: Submitted on:
Qualification: BTEC International Level 2 Award/Certificate/Extended Certificate/Diploma
Assessment reference and title: Activity 3 (Physics) Worksheet 3
Learner declaration
I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own. I have clearly referenced any sources used in the work. I understand that false declaration is a form of malpractice.
Learner signature: Date:
Worksheet 3 Physics
(i) Figure 1 shows a wave that has a wavelength of 3cm.
What are the frequency, amplitude and wave speed of this wave?
Figure 1
(ii) Figure 2 shows the electromagnetic spectrum. This consists of a series of electromagnetic waves arranged in order of increasing frequency.
Figure 2
Explain the beneficial uses and harmful effects of two of the electromagnetic waves in the spectrum.
time (s)
(iii) Using examples, describe renewable and non-renewable energy.
(iv) Student 2 is investigating energy transfers using the apparatus shown in Figure 3.
They set up a clamp stand with a metal rod attached and attach a metal pin to the metal rod at point B, using wax. They heat the rod at point A with a Bunsen burner.
After a few minutes, the metal pin falls off.
Figure 3
Explain in terms of particles and energy transfer why the metal pin fell off when the rod was heated.
(v) Figure 4 shows two light bulbs and gives information about their energy use.
These bulbs produce the same amount of light.
Figure 4
Halogen Bulb Fluorescent Bulb
Energy input 60W 11W
Light output 6W 7W
Heat output 54W 4W
Using Sankey diagrams, describe the energy transformations that take place in these bulbs.
Calculate the efficiency of both bulbs and state which is the most efficient.
(vi) Produce a report that explains how you could reduce the use of energy in the kitchen of your home.
The report should describe how energy is being used at the moment and explain how it could be used more efficiently.
Use Sankey diagrams in your explanations and calculate the amount of lost energy before making changes and after introducing changes to save energy.
You should think about how energy is used. This might include some or all of the following:
• lighting
• heating and/or cooling the room
• refrigerator and/or freezer
• cooker
• kettle
• hot water for the taps.