2.5 Genetic Variation & Change

Overview of the Achievement Standard

2.5 NZQA Achievement Standard.pdf

NZQA Document: Official description of the Achievement Standard.

Video: A quick overview of the 2.5 Achievement Standard.

Getting to Achieved, Merit, and Excellence

NCEA's Achieved, Merit, and Excellence levels are based on a rubric called 'Solo Taxonomy.' For you to achieve, it's important to keep reflecting on where you are against this Solo Taxonomy.

  • Pre-Structural = Not Achieved

  • Uni Structural = Not Achieved / Developing

  • Multi Structural = Achieved

  • Relational = Merit

  • Extended Abstract = Excellence

All 2.5 Success Criteria

2.5 Success Criteria

Revision Options

Revision means you've learned the concepts already and are now just going back to them to examine your weakest areas so you can target the areas you need more practice on.

DO NOT revise if you have NOT yet learned the concepts in the first place. Go back and learn the concepts first.

Learn the 2.5 Vocabulary using Quizlet

Here's a Quizlet of all the 2.5 Vocabulary

I've also created Quizlets for each sub-topics in the 2.4 standard.

Vocabulary for Sources of Variation

Vocabulary for Predicting Inheritance

Vocabulary for Population Genetics

Past NCEA Examinations

1) Make a copy of the document to the right.

2) Choose a topic you are least confident with.

3) Attempt an past NCEA exam question about that topic.

4) Write your answer in the appropriate box, mark your own work, then ask Ms. Adviento for feedback.

2.5 Practicing NCEA Questions.docx

2020 Exam Paper & Assessment Schedule:

  • Question 1: Punnett square, pedigree chart, meiosis

  • Question 2: Genetic drift, population bottleneck, founder effect.

  • Question 3: Mutation, natural selection.

2.5 NCEA Exam 2020.pdf
2.5 NCEA Marking Schedule 2020.pdf

2019 Exam Paper & Assessment Schedule:

  • Question 1: Dihybrid cross, linked genes.

  • Question 2: Migration, genetic drift, natural selection

  • Question 3: Multiple alleles, codominance

2.5 NCEA Exam 2019.pdf
2.5 NCEA Marking Schedule 2019.pdf

2018 Exam Paper & Assessment Schedule:

  • Question 1: Dihybrid cross, meiosis

  • Question 2: Genetic drift, population bottleneck

  • Question 3: Lethal alleles, codominance, natural selection.

2.5 NCEA Exam 2018.pdf
2.5 NCEA Marking Schedule 2018.pdf

2017 Exam Paper & Assessment Schedule:

  • Question 1: Dihybrid cross, linked genes, meiosis

  • Question 2: Founder effect, bottleneck effect, genetic diversity

  • Question 3: Natural selection, migration.

2.5 NCEA Exam 2017.pdf
2.5 NCEA Marking Schedule 2017.pdf

2016 Exam Paper & Assessment Schedule:

  • Question 1: Dihybrid cross, meiosis

  • Question 2: Mutation, natural selection

  • Question 3: Genetic drift, founder effect, migration

2.5 NCEA Exam 2016.pdf
2.5 NCEA Marking Schedule 2016.pdf

2015 Exam Paper & Assessment Schedule:

  • Question 1: Genetic drift, natural selection

  • Question 2: Multiple alleles, codominance

  • Question 3: Lethal allele, test cross, mutation.

2.5 NCEA Exam 2015.pdf
2.5 NCEA Marking Schedule 2015.pdf

2014 Exam Paper & Assessment Schedule:

  • Question 1: Dihybrid cross, linked genes, meiosis.

  • Question 2: Mutation, natural selection.

  • Question 3: Genetic drift, migration

2.5 NCEA Exam 2014.pdf
2.5 NCEA Marking Schedule 2014.pdf

2013 Exam Paper & Assessment Schedule:

  • Question 1: Dihybrid cross, linked genes, crossing over.

  • Question 2: Codominance, incomplete dominance, independent assortment, mutation.

  • Question 3: Founder effect, genetic drift.

2.5 NCEA Exam 2013.pdf
2.5 NCEA Marking Schedule 2013.pdf

2012 Exam Paper & Assessment Schedule:

  • Question 1: Mutation

  • Question 2: Dihybrid, multiple alleles.

  • Question 3: Genetic drift, natural selection, migration.

2.5 NCEA Exam 2012.pdf
2.5 NCEA Marking Schedule 2012.doc

2011 Exam Paper & Assessment Schedule:

  • Question 1: Meiosis, independent assortment, segregation, crossing over.

  • Question 2: Dihybrid cross

  • Question 3: Natural selection, mutation, Founder effect.

2.5 NCEA Exam 2011.pdf
2.5 NCEA Marking Schedule 2011.pdf