AQA AS BIOLOGY 7401/2 PAPER 2 MARK
SCHEME ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ What does a small sample size in an experiment indicate?.
Answer: It may limit the reliability and generalizability of the results.
◍ What should the y-axis cover for the graph to be acceptable?.
Answer: The y-axis must cover at least half of the grid
◍ What is the significance of a strong negative correlation?.
Answer: Indicates an inverse relationship between two variables
◍ What is the effect of a limited number of speeds in an experiment?.
Answer: It may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the
relationship being studied.
◍ Personal Thinking.
Answer: Source must be mentioned for this to be credited; 1 mark each;
Maximum 2 marks
◍ Inferential Reasoning from sources.
Answer: 1 mark each; Maximum 3 marks
◍ What must be labeled on the x-axis and y-axis for the graph?.
Answer: Correct labels with cell phases on the x-axis and DNA mass per
cell on the y-axis
◍ What effect does temperature have on hemoglobin's oxygen affinity at low
pO2?.
Answer: At low pO2, hemoglobin unloads more O2 at higher temperatures.
◍ What is the acceptable rounding for 2.34 x 10^5?.
Answer: Acceptable rounding includes 234375 = 1 mark
, ◍ What should be done with irrelevant information in student responses?.
Answer: It should be ignored, but further correct amplification could still
earn marks.
◍ What does the 'Comments' column in the mark scheme provide?.
Answer: Extra information to help examiners make judgments and clarify
acceptable responses.
◍ What is a similarity between enzymes in biochemical reactions?.
Answer: Enzymes are not changed and can be reused.
◍ What is the maximum number of marks available for a question in the mark
scheme?.
Answer: Each question specifies the total marks available, which varies by
question.
◍ What is the importance of using a control variable in experiments?.
Answer: It ensures that the results are due to the independent variable being
tested.
◍ What happens to water potential when H+ ions are transported into a
vacuole?.
Answer: Water potential decreases, causing water to move into the vacuole
by osmosis.
◍ What does the term 'consequential marking' refer to?.
Answer: It allows for marks to be awarded based on the correct use of
values derived from previous answers, even if those values are incorrect.
◍ What happens to introns during mRNA processing?.
Answer: Introns are removed and exons are joined.
◍ What is the result of a mutation that increases chlorophyll ratio?.
Answer: Mutant absorbs more light and has increased chlorophyll a:b ratio
◍ What happens to chromosomes during non-disjunction?.
Answer: Both chromosomes or chromatids are pulled to one pole of the cell
SCHEME ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ What does a small sample size in an experiment indicate?.
Answer: It may limit the reliability and generalizability of the results.
◍ What should the y-axis cover for the graph to be acceptable?.
Answer: The y-axis must cover at least half of the grid
◍ What is the significance of a strong negative correlation?.
Answer: Indicates an inverse relationship between two variables
◍ What is the effect of a limited number of speeds in an experiment?.
Answer: It may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the
relationship being studied.
◍ Personal Thinking.
Answer: Source must be mentioned for this to be credited; 1 mark each;
Maximum 2 marks
◍ Inferential Reasoning from sources.
Answer: 1 mark each; Maximum 3 marks
◍ What must be labeled on the x-axis and y-axis for the graph?.
Answer: Correct labels with cell phases on the x-axis and DNA mass per
cell on the y-axis
◍ What effect does temperature have on hemoglobin's oxygen affinity at low
pO2?.
Answer: At low pO2, hemoglobin unloads more O2 at higher temperatures.
◍ What is the acceptable rounding for 2.34 x 10^5?.
Answer: Acceptable rounding includes 234375 = 1 mark
, ◍ What should be done with irrelevant information in student responses?.
Answer: It should be ignored, but further correct amplification could still
earn marks.
◍ What does the 'Comments' column in the mark scheme provide?.
Answer: Extra information to help examiners make judgments and clarify
acceptable responses.
◍ What is a similarity between enzymes in biochemical reactions?.
Answer: Enzymes are not changed and can be reused.
◍ What is the maximum number of marks available for a question in the mark
scheme?.
Answer: Each question specifies the total marks available, which varies by
question.
◍ What is the importance of using a control variable in experiments?.
Answer: It ensures that the results are due to the independent variable being
tested.
◍ What happens to water potential when H+ ions are transported into a
vacuole?.
Answer: Water potential decreases, causing water to move into the vacuole
by osmosis.
◍ What does the term 'consequential marking' refer to?.
Answer: It allows for marks to be awarded based on the correct use of
values derived from previous answers, even if those values are incorrect.
◍ What happens to introns during mRNA processing?.
Answer: Introns are removed and exons are joined.
◍ What is the result of a mutation that increases chlorophyll ratio?.
Answer: Mutant absorbs more light and has increased chlorophyll a:b ratio
◍ What happens to chromosomes during non-disjunction?.
Answer: Both chromosomes or chromatids are pulled to one pole of the cell
