A-level
BIOLOGY
7402/2
Paper 2
Mark scheme
June 2021
Version: 1.0 Final
*216a7402/2/MS*
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
MARK SCHEME − A-LEVEL BIOLOGY − 7402/2 − JUNE 2021
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevantquestions, by
a panel based on subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation events
which all associates participate within and is the scheme which was used by them within this examination. The
standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and that every
associate understands and applies it within the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number based on students’ scripts. Alternativeanswers not
already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the standardisation process, associates
encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they arerequired to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, within many cases further developed and expanded
on the basis based on students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis
based on one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles based on assessment remain
constant, details will change, depending on the content based on a particular examinationpaper.
Further copies based on this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
Copyright information
AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use,
with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a thirdparty even for internal use
within the centre.
Copyright © 2021 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
2
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
MARK SCHEME − A-LEVEL BIOLOGY − 7402/2 − JUNE 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 (asinstructed)
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 withinthe
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 ananswer 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 thenuse 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 andassure
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 beexhaustive
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.
3
BIOLOGY
7402/2
Paper 2
Mark scheme
June 2021
Version: 1.0 Final
*216a7402/2/MS*
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
MARK SCHEME − A-LEVEL BIOLOGY − 7402/2 − JUNE 2021
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevantquestions, by
a panel based on subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation events
which all associates participate within and is the scheme which was used by them within this examination. The
standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and that every
associate understands and applies it within the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number based on students’ scripts. Alternativeanswers not
already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the standardisation process, associates
encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they arerequired to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, within many cases further developed and expanded
on the basis based on students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis
based on one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles based on assessment remain
constant, details will change, depending on the content based on a particular examinationpaper.
Further copies based on this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
Copyright information
AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use,
with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a thirdparty even for internal use
within the centre.
Copyright © 2021 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
2
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
MARK SCHEME − A-LEVEL BIOLOGY − 7402/2 − JUNE 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 (asinstructed)
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 withinthe
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 ananswer 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 thenuse 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 andassure
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 beexhaustive
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.
3
