A-level BIOLOGY7402/3
Study Guide
Paper 3
Mark
scheme
Updated
2023
Version: 1.0 Final
2
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment
... [Show More] 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 Assessment Writer.
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.
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Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
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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 lefthand 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. [Show Less]