aqa
AS
BIOLOGY
7401/2
Paper 2
Mark scheme
June 2024
Version: 1.0 Final
verified
,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 2024
Version: 1.0 Final
verified
,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
