BTEC applied science level 3 year 2- Unit 7 exam revision pack
Guide to making notes for Unit 7 Contemporary Issues in Science
The exam is composed of two parts.
Section A - you are provided with 3 articles. You are required to prepare 4 sides of comprehensive
notes during 6 hours of supervised study. You are allowed to use internet access to further research
areas you have identified when reading through the articles. You are allowed to make additional
notes when conducting the research, but this needs to be condensed to fit on the 4 sides of A4.
These notes need to made independently and can be requested by the exam board to view if
required. These notes will then be locked away in the exam office and are given to you on the day of
the second part of the exam
Section B – This is a 2.5 hour written exam which is supervised by external invigilators under exam
conditions. You will be provided with your notes that you made during section A, and the 3 articles
are at the back of the exam booklet
Section A – what to include in your notes
Question 1. (1 hour 30 or 1hour 50 extended time)
QUESTION 1-4 WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME IN THE EXAM-
Q1- Discuss the implications of the scientific issue identified in the articles
1-12 marks: Draw a wide range of links to and between ethical/ social/ economic/ environmental
implications- Mentioning AND LINKING these implications together.
7-9 marks: Draw some links
4-6 marks: Attempts to draw some links
1-3 marks: no or limited attempts to draw links
Environmental impacts:
May be local or global
Global: Reduction of global warming, protection of habitats
Local: If a local park is destroyed or local for uses of harmful chemicals
Social impacts:
Vaccinations, plenty of food has positive social implications, travel in trains, cars, buses, planes, if
you are ill you are treated with medicine. Human population grown very quickly changing the way
we live.
Economic impacts:
Putting raw sewage into rivers or the sea pollutes and reduces diversity
Diseases are spread in water.
, Treating sewage costs money but cleaning up has economic benefits (less disease, more tourists
etc).
Ethical impacts:
What is right and wrong? Different people will have different views.
Is it right to let countries live in famine when others have technology or resources that could help?
Should we be more ethical and proactive?
Discuss the implications of the scientific issue identified in the articles (12marks)
Identify the contemporary issue then construct a table similar to that one below
Advantages Disadvantages
Social
Ethical
Environmental
Economical
For each article identify the social, ethical, environmental and economical implications whether an
advantage or disadvantage and fill in the relevant box. Identify areas that cross over or link
QUESTION 2 (45 mins or 56mins extended time) Identify two organisations and two scientists
mentioned in the articles and suggest how they have had an influence on the main scientific issues
(6marks)
Identify key people / organisations and how they would influence the issue discussed. These people/
organisations can be the authors of the articles or mentioned within the article.
To score highly ensure you make links between the individuals and organisations and the articles.
Responses must be able to explain how the identified party would be able to influence the issue,
who they may influence and to what extent.
It is not necessary for you to produce an exhaustive list of all the organisations or individuals
referenced in the articles but it would be advisable to provide an example from each of the
categories listed in the essential content for Unit 7: Government and global organisations; Non-
government organisations, professional bodies and associations; Universities and research groups;
Private and multinational organisations; Voluntary pressure groups
QUESTION 3 - Discuss whether article 3 has made valid judgements. In your answer you should
consider:
Guide to making notes for Unit 7 Contemporary Issues in Science
The exam is composed of two parts.
Section A - you are provided with 3 articles. You are required to prepare 4 sides of comprehensive
notes during 6 hours of supervised study. You are allowed to use internet access to further research
areas you have identified when reading through the articles. You are allowed to make additional
notes when conducting the research, but this needs to be condensed to fit on the 4 sides of A4.
These notes need to made independently and can be requested by the exam board to view if
required. These notes will then be locked away in the exam office and are given to you on the day of
the second part of the exam
Section B – This is a 2.5 hour written exam which is supervised by external invigilators under exam
conditions. You will be provided with your notes that you made during section A, and the 3 articles
are at the back of the exam booklet
Section A – what to include in your notes
Question 1. (1 hour 30 or 1hour 50 extended time)
QUESTION 1-4 WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME IN THE EXAM-
Q1- Discuss the implications of the scientific issue identified in the articles
1-12 marks: Draw a wide range of links to and between ethical/ social/ economic/ environmental
implications- Mentioning AND LINKING these implications together.
7-9 marks: Draw some links
4-6 marks: Attempts to draw some links
1-3 marks: no or limited attempts to draw links
Environmental impacts:
May be local or global
Global: Reduction of global warming, protection of habitats
Local: If a local park is destroyed or local for uses of harmful chemicals
Social impacts:
Vaccinations, plenty of food has positive social implications, travel in trains, cars, buses, planes, if
you are ill you are treated with medicine. Human population grown very quickly changing the way
we live.
Economic impacts:
Putting raw sewage into rivers or the sea pollutes and reduces diversity
Diseases are spread in water.
, Treating sewage costs money but cleaning up has economic benefits (less disease, more tourists
etc).
Ethical impacts:
What is right and wrong? Different people will have different views.
Is it right to let countries live in famine when others have technology or resources that could help?
Should we be more ethical and proactive?
Discuss the implications of the scientific issue identified in the articles (12marks)
Identify the contemporary issue then construct a table similar to that one below
Advantages Disadvantages
Social
Ethical
Environmental
Economical
For each article identify the social, ethical, environmental and economical implications whether an
advantage or disadvantage and fill in the relevant box. Identify areas that cross over or link
QUESTION 2 (45 mins or 56mins extended time) Identify two organisations and two scientists
mentioned in the articles and suggest how they have had an influence on the main scientific issues
(6marks)
Identify key people / organisations and how they would influence the issue discussed. These people/
organisations can be the authors of the articles or mentioned within the article.
To score highly ensure you make links between the individuals and organisations and the articles.
Responses must be able to explain how the identified party would be able to influence the issue,
who they may influence and to what extent.
It is not necessary for you to produce an exhaustive list of all the organisations or individuals
referenced in the articles but it would be advisable to provide an example from each of the
categories listed in the essential content for Unit 7: Government and global organisations; Non-
government organisations, professional bodies and associations; Universities and research groups;
Private and multinational organisations; Voluntary pressure groups
QUESTION 3 - Discuss whether article 3 has made valid judgements. In your answer you should
consider:
