How to answer "Analyse" questions
Analyse means: Break down data or information and interpret what it shows.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
AO3. · Also phrased as: examine in detail, interpret
What the examiner is looking for
- Identify patterns, trends and relationships in the data.
- Use figures from the data; draw out what they mean.
How to structure your answer
- State the trend → quote supporting data → interpret its meaning.
Worked example
Q: Analyse the data on reaction rate against temperature. (3 marks)
Model answer: As temperature rises from 10 to 40 °C the rate increases (e.g. doubling roughly every 10 °C) [1], because particles move faster and collide more frequently with sufficient energy [1]; above 40 °C the rate falls as the enzyme denatures [1].
Common mistakes
- Describing the data but never interpreting what it means.
Practise it
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