PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
A Level
Biology A Gateway
H420/01: Paper 1
General Certificate of Secondary Education
Mark Scheme for 2025 Predicted Paper
, PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
H420/01 Mark Scheme
MARKING INSTRUCTIONS
PREPARATION FOR MARKING
RM ASSESSOR
1. Make sure that you have accessed and completed the relevant training packages for on-screen marking: RM Assessor Online Training; OCR
Essential Guide to Marking.
2. Make sure that you have read and understood the mark scheme and the question paper for this unit. These are available in RM Assessor.
3. Log-in to RM Assessor and mark the required number of practice responses (“scripts”) and the required number of standardisation
responses.
MARKING
1. Mark strictly to the mark scheme.
2. Marks awarded must relate directly to the marking criteria.
3. The schedule of dates is very important. It is essential that you meet the RM Assessor 50% and 100% (traditional 50% Batch 1 and 100%
Batch 2) deadlines. If you experience problems, you must contact your Team Leader (Supervisor) without delay.
4. If you are in any doubt about applying the mark scheme, consult your Team Leader by telephone, email or via the RM Assessor messaging
system.
, PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
H420/01 Mark Scheme
5. Work crossed out:
a. where a candidate crosses out an answer and provides an alternative response, the crossed out response is not marked and gains no
marks
b. if a candidate crosses out an answer to a whole question and makes no second attempt, and if the inclusion of the answer does not
cause a rubric infringement, the assessor should attempt to mark the crossed out answer and award marks appropriately.
6. Always check the pages (and additional objects if present) at the end of the response in case any answers have been continued there. If the
candidate has continued an answer there then add a tick to confirm that the work has been seen.
7. There is a NR (No Response) option. Award NR (No Response)
- if there is nothing written at all in the answer space
- OR if there is a comment which does not in any way relate to the question (e.g. ‘can’t do’, ‘don’t know’)
- OR if there is a mark (e.g. a dash, a question mark) which isn’t an attempt at the question.
Note: Award 0 marks – for an attempt that earns no credit (including copying out the question).
8. The RM Assessor comments box is used by your Team Leader to explain the marking of the practice responses. Please refer to these
comments when checking your practice responses. Do not use the comments box for any other reason.
If you have any questions or comments for your Team Leader, use the phone, the RM Assessor messaging system, or email.
9. Assistant Examiners will send a brief report on the performance of candidates to their Team Leader (Supervisor) via email by the end of the
marking period. The report should contain notes on particular strengths displayed as well as common errors or weaknesses. Constructive
criticism of the question paper/mark scheme is also appreciated.
, PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
H420/01 Mark Scheme
10. For answers marked by levels of response:
Read through the whole answer from start to finish, using the Level descriptors to help you decide whether it is a strong or weak answer. The
indicative scientific content in the Guidance column indicates the expected parameters for candidates’ answers, but be prepared to recognise
and credit unexpected approaches where they show relevance. Using a ‘best-fit’ approach based on the skills and science content evidenced
within the answer, first decide which set of level descriptors, Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3, best describes the overall quality of the answer.
Once the level is located, award the higher or lower mark:
The higher mark should be awarded where the level descriptor has been evidenced and all aspects of the communication statement (in
italics) have been met.
The lower mark should be awarded where the level descriptor has been evidenced but aspects of the communication statement (in italics)
are missing.
In summary:
The skills and science content determines the level.
The communication statement determines the mark within a level.
Level of response question on this paper is 24(a).
A Level
Biology A Gateway
H420/01: Paper 1
General Certificate of Secondary Education
Mark Scheme for 2025 Predicted Paper
, PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
H420/01 Mark Scheme
MARKING INSTRUCTIONS
PREPARATION FOR MARKING
RM ASSESSOR
1. Make sure that you have accessed and completed the relevant training packages for on-screen marking: RM Assessor Online Training; OCR
Essential Guide to Marking.
2. Make sure that you have read and understood the mark scheme and the question paper for this unit. These are available in RM Assessor.
3. Log-in to RM Assessor and mark the required number of practice responses (“scripts”) and the required number of standardisation
responses.
MARKING
1. Mark strictly to the mark scheme.
2. Marks awarded must relate directly to the marking criteria.
3. The schedule of dates is very important. It is essential that you meet the RM Assessor 50% and 100% (traditional 50% Batch 1 and 100%
Batch 2) deadlines. If you experience problems, you must contact your Team Leader (Supervisor) without delay.
4. If you are in any doubt about applying the mark scheme, consult your Team Leader by telephone, email or via the RM Assessor messaging
system.
, PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
H420/01 Mark Scheme
5. Work crossed out:
a. where a candidate crosses out an answer and provides an alternative response, the crossed out response is not marked and gains no
marks
b. if a candidate crosses out an answer to a whole question and makes no second attempt, and if the inclusion of the answer does not
cause a rubric infringement, the assessor should attempt to mark the crossed out answer and award marks appropriately.
6. Always check the pages (and additional objects if present) at the end of the response in case any answers have been continued there. If the
candidate has continued an answer there then add a tick to confirm that the work has been seen.
7. There is a NR (No Response) option. Award NR (No Response)
- if there is nothing written at all in the answer space
- OR if there is a comment which does not in any way relate to the question (e.g. ‘can’t do’, ‘don’t know’)
- OR if there is a mark (e.g. a dash, a question mark) which isn’t an attempt at the question.
Note: Award 0 marks – for an attempt that earns no credit (including copying out the question).
8. The RM Assessor comments box is used by your Team Leader to explain the marking of the practice responses. Please refer to these
comments when checking your practice responses. Do not use the comments box for any other reason.
If you have any questions or comments for your Team Leader, use the phone, the RM Assessor messaging system, or email.
9. Assistant Examiners will send a brief report on the performance of candidates to their Team Leader (Supervisor) via email by the end of the
marking period. The report should contain notes on particular strengths displayed as well as common errors or weaknesses. Constructive
criticism of the question paper/mark scheme is also appreciated.
, PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
H420/01 Mark Scheme
10. For answers marked by levels of response:
Read through the whole answer from start to finish, using the Level descriptors to help you decide whether it is a strong or weak answer. The
indicative scientific content in the Guidance column indicates the expected parameters for candidates’ answers, but be prepared to recognise
and credit unexpected approaches where they show relevance. Using a ‘best-fit’ approach based on the skills and science content evidenced
within the answer, first decide which set of level descriptors, Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3, best describes the overall quality of the answer.
Once the level is located, award the higher or lower mark:
The higher mark should be awarded where the level descriptor has been evidenced and all aspects of the communication statement (in
italics) have been met.
The lower mark should be awarded where the level descriptor has been evidenced but aspects of the communication statement (in italics)
are missing.
In summary:
The skills and science content determines the level.
The communication statement determines the mark within a level.
Level of response question on this paper is 24(a).
