AQA
A-level
BIOLOGY
7402/2
Paper 2
Mark scheme
June 2023
Version: 1.0 Final
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL BIOLOGY – 7402/2 –
2
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL BIOLOGY – 7402/2 –
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
A-level
BIOLOGY
7402/2
Paper 2
Mark scheme
June 2023
Version: 1.0 Final
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL BIOLOGY – 7402/2 –
2
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL BIOLOGY – 7402/2 –
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
