Six-mark questions
Six-mark questions will only appear in the Depth paper. There will be two six-mark questions in the Depth paper.
Six-mark questions are extended free-response questions, requiring the longest answers. It is wise to plan your answer rather than rushing straight into it. Without a plan it is easy to stray away from the key point and lose marks, get steps in a process in the wrong order or forget key bits of information.
To gain six marks, you will need to:
- use appropriate scientific words and terms
- write your answer in full sentences, not bullet points
- write clearly, linking ideas in a logical way
- maintain a sustained line of reasoning, rather than a random list of statements and sentences
- support explanations using scientific knowledge and understanding
Six-mark questions are marked using a levels based mark scheme. An answer that is not clear and logically sequenced, and which does not give a coherent argument supported by evidence, will be limited to the lower levels. Similarly, if the question asks you to discuss both sides of an argument, or explain two observations, you will be limited to the lowest level if your answer only considers one of them (no matter how brilliantly written or comprehensively explained that one is!).
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
The table below shows some data about the elasticity of arteries and veins when masses are attached to rings of tissue.
| Mass (g) | Length of artery with mass attached (mm) | Length of artery with mass removed (mm) | Length of vein with mass attached (mm) | Length of vein with mass removed (mm) |
| 0 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
| 10 | 45 | 25 | 36 | 36 |
| 20 | 53 | 27 | 38 | 37 |
| 30 | 58 | 28 | 40 | 39 |
| 40 | 63 | 33 | 41 | 39 |
| 50 | 65 | 33 | 41 | 41 |
| Mass (g) | 0 |
|---|---|
| Length of artery with mass attached (mm) | 20 |
| Length of artery with mass removed (mm) | 20 |
| Length of vein with mass attached (mm) | 21 |
| Length of vein with mass removed (mm) | 21 |
| Mass (g) | 10 |
|---|---|
| Length of artery with mass attached (mm) | 45 |
| Length of artery with mass removed (mm) | 25 |
| Length of vein with mass attached (mm) | 36 |
| Length of vein with mass removed (mm) | 36 |
| Mass (g) | 20 |
|---|---|
| Length of artery with mass attached (mm) | 53 |
| Length of artery with mass removed (mm) | 27 |
| Length of vein with mass attached (mm) | 38 |
| Length of vein with mass removed (mm) | 37 |
| Mass (g) | 30 |
|---|---|
| Length of artery with mass attached (mm) | 58 |
| Length of artery with mass removed (mm) | 28 |
| Length of vein with mass attached (mm) | 40 |
| Length of vein with mass removed (mm) | 39 |
| Mass (g) | 40 |
|---|---|
| Length of artery with mass attached (mm) | 63 |
| Length of artery with mass removed (mm) | 33 |
| Length of vein with mass attached (mm) | 41 |
| Length of vein with mass removed (mm) | 39 |
| Mass (g) | 50 |
|---|---|
| Length of artery with mass attached (mm) | 65 |
| Length of artery with mass removed (mm) | 33 |
| Length of vein with mass attached (mm) | 41 |
| Length of vein with mass removed (mm) | 41 |
Explain how arteries, veins and capillaries are adapted to their functions. [6 marks]
Use the diagrams, draw conclusions from the data and use your own knowledge in your explanation.
Remember not to write in bullet points or headings, but they are used here to show you clearly what the examiner will look for in your answer. You will be awarded a maximum of 6 marks, depending on the level of detail in your answer.
OCR 21st Century, GCE Biology, Paper J257, 2016.
To get all of the marks in this question you must take information from the diagrams, as well as use the data AND your own knowledge. You must refer to all three sections - arteries, veins and capillaries.
You will get marks for linking structure of each blood vessel to its function, then marks for using the information in the question.
Some points to include are:
How blood vessel structure relates to function:
- Arteries
- Carry blood away from the heart.
- Blood is at high pressure.
- Arteries have thick walls with a thick layer of muscle.
- They have elastic fibres in the walls to stand the high pressure.
- Veins
- Carry blood back to the heart.
- Blood is at lower pressure than in the arteries.
- Veins have thin walls and a thin layer of muscle.
- They have fewer elastic fibres than arteries.
- They have valves to make sure the blood flows in one direction.
- Capillaries
- Allow substances such as carbon dioxide and oxygen to diffuse into and out of the blood.
- The walls are thin and only one cell thick to maximise diffusion.
- The lumen (space inside the capillary) is small to allow the red blood cells to come close to the body cells.
- Analysing the data
- Arteries return back to their original length more easily than veins, showing they are more stretchy.
- This means arteries have more recoil than veins, linking to the fact that arteries carry blood at high pressure.
- For example, when a 50 g mass is added to a vein, the length of the vein does not return to the original value of 21 mm but stays at 41 mm.
- Compared to an artery which has a length of 65 mm with the mass attached, and then is only 33 mm when the mass is removed, which is much closer to the starting length of 20 mm.
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
After a meal blood glucose levels rise.
Explain how the body acts to return blood glucose levels to normal in a healthy individual.
Explain why the body cannot act in the same way in a person who has type 1 diabetes. [6 marks]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
Make sure that all parts of the question are answered. You need to talk about a healthy person and a person with type 1 diabetes. The answer shown here is written in bullet points but you should write in a paragraph.
Some points to include are:
- Healthy person
- Pancreas detects high blood glucose
- Insulin is released
- From the pancreas
- Targets muscle cells and the liver
- Causing them to take glucose form the bloodstream
- And store it as glycogen
- This reduces the blood glucose level and returns it to normal
- A process known as homeostasis
- Type 1 diabetes
- Pancreas detects increase in blood glucose
- But the pancreas cannot release insulin
- So blood glucose levels do not decrease
- So person must inject insulin into the bloodstream
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
The menstrual cycle is controlled by four hormones.
These hormones have an effect on target organs such as the ovaries and the uterus.
The diagram below shows the hormone levels of the four hormones and the relative thickness of the uterus lining during a typical 28 day menstrual cycle.
Use the graph and your own knowledge to explain the changes that occur to prepare a woman's body to receive a fertilised egg and then allow it to grow and develop. [6 marks]
OCR 21st Century, GCE Biology, Paper J257 - Higher, 2016.
In 6 mark questions it is important to read the question carefully and make sure that your answer addresses ALL of the parts of the question. Remember that the examiner is looking for a 'level of response' rather than just correct answers. You will be awarded a maximum of 6 marks, depending on the level of detail in your answer.
Note that the question asks you to use the graphs and the diagram as well as your own knowledge. If you do not do this then you won't be able to get the maximum marks for the questions. The question is also almost in two parts:
- explain the changes that occur to prepare a woman's body to receive a fertilised egg
- then allow it to grow and develop.
To show how the examiner will mark your answer, each part of the question is shown separately and with bullet points. You must write your answer as a continuous piece of writing with NO bullet points.
Explain the changes that occur:
- The lining of the uterus becomes thicker when oestrogen levels rise.
- High progesterone levels keep the uterus thick in the last stages of the menstrual cycle.
- In case a fertilised egg needs to implant into the uterus wall.
- And obtain its nutrients from the blood in the blood vessels of the uterus wall.
- Ovulation is when an egg is released from an ovary.
- Ovulation occurs when a follicle bursts, releasing the egg.
- Which is caused by high levels of the hormone LH.
- Ovulation is needed because there has to be an egg in the fallopian tube/oviduct for it to be fertilised by a sperm cell.
- The period does not happen if the woman has become pregnant.
- If the woman is not pregnant the progesterone levels fall and the woman has her period, where the uterus lining is shed. Another menstrual cycle starts.
Referencing the graph and diagrams:
- Days 7-14 is when the uterus lining gets thicker.
- Day 14 is when ovulation occurs.
- Days 15-28 is when fertilisation could occur.
- Uterus lining stays thick from days 15-28.
- Days 1-7 is when menstruation occurs and the lining of the uterus is shed as the period.
More guides on this topic
- How do substances get into, out of and around our bodies?
- How does the nervous system help us respond? - OCR 21st Century
- Why do we need to maintain a constant internal environment?
- What role do hormones play in human reproduction? - OCR 21st Century
- What can happen when organs & control systems stop working?
