aqa
AS
BIOLOGY
7401/2
Paper 2
Mark scheme
June 2023
Version: 1.0 Final
verified
,Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers 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 are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
2
, Mark scheme instructions to examiners
1. General
The mark scheme for each question shows:
the marks available for each part of the question
the total marks available for the question
the typical answer or answers which are expected
extra information to help the examiner make his or her judgement and help to delineate what
is acceptable or not worthy of credit or, in discursive answers, to give an overview of the area
in which a mark or marks may be awarded.
The extra information in the ‘Comments’ column is aligned to the appropriate answer in the left-
hand part of the mark scheme and should only be applied to that item in the mark scheme.
At the beginning of a part of a question a reminder may be given, for example: where
consequential marking needs to be considered in a calculation; or the answer may be on the
diagram or at a different place on the script.
In general the right-hand side of the mark scheme is there to provide those extra details which
confuse the main part of the mark scheme yet may be helpful in ensuring that marking is
straightforward and consistent.
2. Emboldening
2.1 In a list of acceptable answers where more than one mark is available ‘any two from’ is
used, with the number of marks emboldened. Each of the following bullet points is a
potential mark.
2.2 A bold and is used to indicate that both parts of the answer are required to award the
mark.
2.3 Alternative answers acceptable for the same mark are indicated by the use of OR.
Different terms in the mark scheme are shown by a/; eg allow smooth/free movement.
3. Marking points
3.1 Marking of lists
This applies to questions requiring a set number of responses, but for which students
have provided extra responses. The general principle to be followed in such a situation is
that ‘right + wrong = wrong’.
Each error/contradiction negates each correct response. So, if the number of
errors/contradictions equals or exceeds the number of marks available for the question,
no marks can be awarded.
However, responses considered to be neutral (often prefaced by ‘Ignore’ in the
‘Comments’ column of the mark scheme) are not penalised.
3
AS
BIOLOGY
7401/2
Paper 2
Mark scheme
June 2023
Version: 1.0 Final
verified
,Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers 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 are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
2
, Mark scheme instructions to examiners
1. General
The mark scheme for each question shows:
the marks available for each part of the question
the total marks available for the question
the typical answer or answers which are expected
extra information to help the examiner make his or her judgement and help to delineate what
is acceptable or not worthy of credit or, in discursive answers, to give an overview of the area
in which a mark or marks may be awarded.
The extra information in the ‘Comments’ column is aligned to the appropriate answer in the left-
hand part of the mark scheme and should only be applied to that item in the mark scheme.
At the beginning of a part of a question a reminder may be given, for example: where
consequential marking needs to be considered in a calculation; or the answer may be on the
diagram or at a different place on the script.
In general the right-hand side of the mark scheme is there to provide those extra details which
confuse the main part of the mark scheme yet may be helpful in ensuring that marking is
straightforward and consistent.
2. Emboldening
2.1 In a list of acceptable answers where more than one mark is available ‘any two from’ is
used, with the number of marks emboldened. Each of the following bullet points is a
potential mark.
2.2 A bold and is used to indicate that both parts of the answer are required to award the
mark.
2.3 Alternative answers acceptable for the same mark are indicated by the use of OR.
Different terms in the mark scheme are shown by a/; eg allow smooth/free movement.
3. Marking points
3.1 Marking of lists
This applies to questions requiring a set number of responses, but for which students
have provided extra responses. The general principle to be followed in such a situation is
that ‘right + wrong = wrong’.
Each error/contradiction negates each correct response. So, if the number of
errors/contradictions equals or exceeds the number of marks available for the question,
no marks can be awarded.
However, responses considered to be neutral (often prefaced by ‘Ignore’ in the
‘Comments’ column of the mark scheme) are not penalised.
3
