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  1. 1-biological-molecules

    1-1-biological-molecules-carbohydrates
    11 主题
  2. 1-2-biological-molecules-lipids
    3 主题
  3. 1-3-biological-molecules-proteins
    5 主题
  4. 1-4-proteins-enzymes
    12 主题
  5. 1-5-nucleic-acids-structure-and-dna-replication
    8 主题
  6. 1-6-atp-water-and-inorganic-ions
    4 主题
  7. 2-cell-structure
    2-1-cell-structure
    7 主题
  8. 2-2-the-microscope-in-cell-studies
    4 主题
  9. 2-3-cell-division-in-eukaryotic-and-prokaryotic-cells
    8 主题
  10. 2-4-cell-membranes-and-transport
    7 主题
  11. 2-5-cell-recognition-and-the-immune-system
    7 主题
  12. 2-6-vaccines-disease-and-monoclonal-antibodies
    6 主题
  13. 3-exchange-and-transport
    3-1-adaptations-for-gas-exchange
    6 主题
  14. 3-2-human-gas-exchange
    10 主题
  15. 3-3-digestion-and-absorption
    5 主题
  16. 3-4-mass-transport-in-animals
    6 主题
  17. 3-5-the-circulatory-system-in-animals
    8 主题
  18. 3-6-mass-transport-in-plants
    6 主题
  19. 4-genetics-variation-and-interdependence
    4-1-dna-genes-and-chromosomes
    7 主题
  20. 4-2-dna-and-protein-synthesis
    6 主题
  21. 4-3-genetic-diversity-mutations-and-meiosis
    7 主题
  22. 4-4-genetic-diversity-and-adaptation
    6 主题
  23. 4-5-species-and-taxonomy
    4 主题
  24. 4-6-biodiversity
    9 主题
  25. 5-energy-transfers-in-and-between-organisms-a-level-only
    5-1-photosynthesis-a-level-only
    5 主题
  26. 5-2-respiration-a-level-only
    7 主题
  27. 5-3-energy-and-ecosystems-a-level-only
    9 主题
  28. 5-4-nutrient-cycles-a-level-only
    4 主题
  29. 6-organisms-respond-to-changes-in-their-environments-a-level-only
    6-1-response-to-stimuli-a-level-only
    12 主题
  30. 6-2-nervous-coordination-a-level-only
    10 主题
  31. 6-3-skeletal-muscles-a-level-only
    6 主题
  32. 6-4-homeostasis-a-level-only
    11 主题
  33. 7-genetics-populations-evolution-and-ecosystems-a-level-only
    7-1-inheritance-a-level-only
    6 主题
  34. 7-2-populations-a-level-only
    3 主题
  35. 7-3-evolution-a-level-only
    5 主题
  36. 7-4-populations-in-ecosystems-a-level-only
    7 主题
  37. 8-the-control-of-gene-expression-a-level-only
    8-1-genetic-mutations-a-level-only
    2 主题
  38. 8-2-regulation-of-gene-expression-a-level-only
    11 主题
  39. 8-3-using-genome-projects-a-level-only
    4 主题
  40. 8-4-gene-technologies-a-level-only
    13 主题
  41. exam-guidance-and-skills
    essay-guidance
    3 主题
  1. Biology_A-level_Aqa
  2. essay-guidance
  3. what-to-expect-from-the-essay-question
课 41, 主题 1
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what-to-expect-from-the-essay-question

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What is the essay question?

  • Paper 3 has a free-response essay question as the final question of the paper

  • Essay questions are designed to assess your ability to bring together learning from different parts of the A Level Biology specification

  • The essay assesses your overall understanding, and your ability to apply knowledge to the context given

  • Essay titles are drawn from big ideas in biology, such as:

    • DNA and the genetic code

    • control and regulation

    • cycles in biology

    • adaptation and evolution

    • survival and the environment

    • cells

    • molecules in biology

  • In the exam you will have two essay titles from which to choose; you should choose the title that best fits your knowledge and understanding

What should your essay contain?

  • Examiners are not looking for perfection, but will expect an essay to show:

    • knowledge and understanding of the A Level course

    • selection of material that is relevant to the title

    • selection of material from different areas of the course

    • the ability to present ideas coherently and logically

    • the use of appropriate biological language

How is the essay marked?

  • The essay question is worth 25 marks

    • 13 marks of AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures

    • 12 marks of AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures

  • A best fit approach, based on the AQA essay mark scheme (adaptation below), is used by examiners to award marks

    • Students who show knowledge but don’t link their ideas to the theme in the title will get a mark in the 11-15 range

    • Fundamental errors limit the mark range, so it is important to learn definitions of key words and explain key ideas correctly

Mark band

Breadth

Links with the question theme

Accuracy

Level of detail

Use of terminology

Relevance

21-25

At least four topics covered

The answer makes clear links between several different topics and the theme of the question

No significant errors

Biology is detailed and comprehensive A-level content

Biology is always clearly explained

Uses appropriate terminology consistently

No irrelevant material

16-20

At least four topics covered

Answer links several topics to the main theme to form a series of interrelated points which are clearly explained

Biology is fundamentally correct A-level content

Contains some points which are detailed, though there may be some which are less well developed

Appropriate use of terminology

One irrelevant topic may be present

11-15

At least four topics covered

Topics are not interrelated and links are not made to the theme of the question

Biology is usually correct

Some significant errors

A-level content

Usually clearly explained, but lacks detail

Generally uses appropriate terminology

Response mostly deals with suitable topics

More than one irrelevant topic may have been included

6-10

Only one or few aspects covered

May contain a number of significant errors

Biology presented shows some superficial A-level content that may be poorly explained, lacking in detail

Limited use of appropriate terminology

May contain a number of irrelevant topics

1-5

Response only indirectly addresses the theme of the question

May contain a large number of errors

Content is generally below A-level

Merely presents a series of biological facts which are usually descriptive in nature or poorly explained

Terminology is generally below A-level

May contain a large number of irrelevant topics.

0

Nothing of relevance or no response

Examiner Tips and Tricks

The essay is an exercise in synopsis, not an excuse to tell the examiners everything you know in detail about a few topics; that approach will not gain you high marks.

Things not to do:

  • Do not just think of every possible thing that relates to the title and write as much as you can about it, with no thought of the main theme/idea

  • Do not write at a very high level (above A-level) about one or two topics that cover many areas that you have learnt by rote