Sample exam questions - life on Earth - past, present and futureFree response questions

Free response questions will appear throughout both exam papers (Breadth and Depth), and at both Foundation Tier and Higher Tier.

These questions provide answer lines for you to write your answer, and may sometimes also provide a blank space for you to draw a diagram or show your working out.

The number of answer lines and the number of marks for the question are guides to the amount of detail to include in your answer. A question worth 1 mark with only one answer line probably only requires a one-sentence answer, or perhaps just a single word or phrase. For questions with more marks and more answer lines you will have to go into more detail or give specific data points, eg:

• the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease increased [1 mark]
• the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease increased by 50% [2 marks]

Free response questions often start with a command word such as 'describe' or 'explain'. It's important to understand the different types of answers required by 'describe' and 'explain'. As a rule of thumb:

• describe what happens, when and where
• explain how and why it happens ("it happens because…")

Other command words you might see include:

• 'write down' (give a short answer, without explaining it)
• 'suggest' (use your scientific knowledge and understanding to give a sensible answer in an unfamiliar context)
• 'compare' (write about the similarities and differences between two things)
• 'discuss' (write about the issues related to a topic, and talk about arguments for and against)

Sample question 1 - Foundation

Sample question 2 - Foundation

Sample question 3 - Higher

Sample question 4 - Higher