GCSE
BIOLOGY
8461/1H
Paper 1 Higher Tier
Mark scheme
AO / Spec.
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Ref.
01.1 any two from: 2 AO1
• (microscope) slide 4.1.1.5
• cover slip RPA1
• dye / stain allow named dye / stain
ignore water
• (mounted) needle
• pipette / dropper
• scalpel ignore knife
• forceps / tweezers
allow swab (to collect cells)
01.2 eyepiece / lens do not accept objective lens 1 AO1
4.1.1.5
RPA1
, 01.3 to focus (the image / cells) allow to make the cells / image 1 AO1
clear(er) 4.1.1.5
RPA1
allow to improve resolution (of
the image)
ignore to move the stage up /
down
do not accept reference to
magnification
01.4 any one from: 1 AO3
• no cells in the field of view 4.1.1.5
• slide not in the correct RPA1
position
• mirror not in correct position allow light / microscope not
switched on / plugged in
• (objective) lens not clicked
into place or
(objective) lens dirty
• (student is) looking at a
(large) air bubble
• (the microscope is) not
focussed
allow student did not stain the
cells
allow idea of magnification not
being high enough
01.5 Level 2: Scientifically relevant features are identified; the way(s) in 4‒6 AO2
which they are similar/different is made clear and (where
appropriate) the magnitude of the similarity/difference is noted.
Level 1: Relevant features are identified and differences noted. 1‒3 AO1
No relevant content 0
2
, Indicative Content
Differences: 4.1.1.2
• red blood cell has no nucleus or plant cell has a nucleus 4.2.2.3
• red blood cell has no cell wall or plant cell has a cell wall
• red blood cell is a biconcave disc or there are many different
shapes of plant cell
• red blood cell contains haemoglobin or plant cells do not contain
haemoglobin
• red blood cells do not contain chlorophyll or plant cells (may)
contain chlorophyll
• red blood cell has no chloroplasts or plant cell has chloroplasts
• red blood cell has no (permanent) vacuole or plant cell has
(permanent) vacuole
• red blood cells are (much) smaller than plant cells
Similarities:
both have:
• cytoplasm
• cell membrane
• pigments (although they are different)
ignore references to mitochondria and ribosomes
for Level 2, consideration of both red blood cells and plant cells is
required.
01.6 water enters (the cells) by allow water enters and the cell 1 AO2
osmosis / diffusion starts to swell
ignore explanations of osmosis
plant cell has a cell wall (which allow red blood cell has no cell 1 AO1
prevents it from bursting) wall (so it swells and bursts)
4.1.3.2
4.1.1.2
Total 13
AO / Spec.
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Ref.
3
BIOLOGY
8461/1H
Paper 1 Higher Tier
Mark scheme
AO / Spec.
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Ref.
01.1 any two from: 2 AO1
• (microscope) slide 4.1.1.5
• cover slip RPA1
• dye / stain allow named dye / stain
ignore water
• (mounted) needle
• pipette / dropper
• scalpel ignore knife
• forceps / tweezers
allow swab (to collect cells)
01.2 eyepiece / lens do not accept objective lens 1 AO1
4.1.1.5
RPA1
, 01.3 to focus (the image / cells) allow to make the cells / image 1 AO1
clear(er) 4.1.1.5
RPA1
allow to improve resolution (of
the image)
ignore to move the stage up /
down
do not accept reference to
magnification
01.4 any one from: 1 AO3
• no cells in the field of view 4.1.1.5
• slide not in the correct RPA1
position
• mirror not in correct position allow light / microscope not
switched on / plugged in
• (objective) lens not clicked
into place or
(objective) lens dirty
• (student is) looking at a
(large) air bubble
• (the microscope is) not
focussed
allow student did not stain the
cells
allow idea of magnification not
being high enough
01.5 Level 2: Scientifically relevant features are identified; the way(s) in 4‒6 AO2
which they are similar/different is made clear and (where
appropriate) the magnitude of the similarity/difference is noted.
Level 1: Relevant features are identified and differences noted. 1‒3 AO1
No relevant content 0
2
, Indicative Content
Differences: 4.1.1.2
• red blood cell has no nucleus or plant cell has a nucleus 4.2.2.3
• red blood cell has no cell wall or plant cell has a cell wall
• red blood cell is a biconcave disc or there are many different
shapes of plant cell
• red blood cell contains haemoglobin or plant cells do not contain
haemoglobin
• red blood cells do not contain chlorophyll or plant cells (may)
contain chlorophyll
• red blood cell has no chloroplasts or plant cell has chloroplasts
• red blood cell has no (permanent) vacuole or plant cell has
(permanent) vacuole
• red blood cells are (much) smaller than plant cells
Similarities:
both have:
• cytoplasm
• cell membrane
• pigments (although they are different)
ignore references to mitochondria and ribosomes
for Level 2, consideration of both red blood cells and plant cells is
required.
01.6 water enters (the cells) by allow water enters and the cell 1 AO2
osmosis / diffusion starts to swell
ignore explanations of osmosis
plant cell has a cell wall (which allow red blood cell has no cell 1 AO1
prevents it from bursting) wall (so it swells and bursts)
4.1.3.2
4.1.1.2
Total 13
AO / Spec.
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Ref.
3
