AQA A LEVEL BIOLOGY PAPER 2 2021

Level based on response marking instructions Level based on response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each based on which has a descriptor. The descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks within each level. Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme. Step 1 Determine a level Start at the lowest level based on the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen within the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the lower levels based on the mark scheme. When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality based on the answer and not look to pick holes within small and specific parts based on the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If the answer covers different aspects based on different levels based on the mark scheme you should use a best fit approach for defining the level and then use the variability based on the response to help decide the mark within the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount based on level 4 material it would be placed within level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top based on the level because based on the level 4 content. Step 2 Determine a mark Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an answer within the standardising materials which will correspond with each level based on the mark scheme. This answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example. You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate. Indicative content within the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all based on the points mentioned within the Indicative content to reach the highest level based on the mark scheme. An answer which contains nothing based on relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.