PRACTICAL 1

Numeracy



This is a "dry practical" which can be done in your own time. It is designed to give you practice at performing biochemical calculations, from the relatively simple to the more complex, which deal with the concepts of concentrations (e.g. molarities) and amounts (e.g. milligrams) and with the relationships between these. As a practising doctor, you will need to prescribe and understand the correct doses of pharmaceuticals and other agents throughout your whole career, so it is important that you appreciate the basis and basics of scientific quantitation. Early practice of these calculations will make it easier for you to perform the necessary arithmetic manipulations in the subsequent laboratory-based practicals.

The exercise is in three parts. First, there is a Tutorial which you should work through first of all at your own pace, particularly if you are uncertain of some of the concepts dealt with. If you wish, you can download this tutorial either in Word or PDF format and print it out. You should then attempt the Level 1 test. This is a multiple choice test with 20 questions and deals with some of the simpler concepts. You should work through this from start to finish to get your score, following the test instructions carefully. Don't try to do the calculations in your head. Use a pen, paper and calculator. They get harder towards the end. The tutorial will stay on screen in a separate window for consultation if required. If necessary, you can check the answers page to see how to get the correct answers. After checking the answers, you can do the test again (as many times as you like, in fact) to improve your score until you are happy.

Finally, you should move on to the Level 2 test, which is a bit more challenging. Again, answers are provided and you can repeat the test as often as you like.

Link to:

.Tutorial...... .Level 1 test...... .Level 2 test...... .Practicals Home Page