Six-mark questions
Six-mark questions are often the questions that people find the most difficult. In all longer answer questions, but especially the six-mark ones, it is important that you plan your answer and not just rush into it. After all, you would plan an essay or short story before starting. 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. Remember to write your answer in full sentences, not bullet points.
Six-mark questions will start with command words such as ‘Describe...’ or ‘Explain...’.
Some command words are easy to understand such as:
- 'Calculate...' or 'Determine...' for maths questions
- 'Choose...' for multiple choice questions
- 'Complete...' to fill in a gap in a table or graph
- 'Define...' to give the meaning of an important word
- 'Suggest...' where you use your knowledge in an unfamiliar situation
- 'Evaluate...' where you use the information supplied as well as your knowledge and understanding to consider evidence for and against
The number of marks per question part is given in this form [6 marks]. It is essential that you give as many different points in your answer as possible (ideally six).
This page contains AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
In this question you will be assessed on organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate. Plants respond to different environmental factors.
Describe how different environmental factors affect:
- the direction of the growth of roots
- the direction of the growth of shoots
In your answer you should refer to the role of plant hormones. Do not refer to the artificial use of plant hormones by gardeners or scientists. [6 marks]
Examples of biology points made in the response should include some of the ideas listed below:
Environmental factors:
- the influence of light known as phototropism
- the influence of the direction of the force of gravity known as either gravitropism or geotropism
- the concentration of moisture or more specifically water known as hydrotropism
Effects on direction of growth:
- reference to the shoots growing upwards
- reference to the shoots growing towards the light, eg positive phototropism
- reference to the shoots growing against the force of gravity
- reference to the roots growing downwards
- reference to the roots growing towards the moisture
- reference to the roots growing towards the force of gravity
- reference to 'positive' and 'negative' in terms of tropisms as indicating a specific direction of growth is also allowed
Hormone details:
- reference to auxin (plant hormones)
- the unequal distribution of hormones within the plant tip which causes unequal growth rates at the tip
- other named hormone(s) are allowed, such as Gibberellins
- reference to higher concentrations of hormone causing faster growth in shoots
- reference to higher concentrations of hormone causing slower growth in roots
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
A student grew a plant in an upright pot.
She then put the pot in a horizontal position and left the plant in the dark for two days.
Explain fully why the plant responded in this way. [6 marks]
Examples of the points made in the response should include some of the ideas listed below:
- gravity is the force that stimulates [1]
- the redistribution of auxin/hormone to lower side of the stem [1]
- these hormones stimulate growth of cells on the lower side of the stem only [1]
- this results in uneven growth [1]
- the stem grows upwards [1]
- away from the force of gravity [1]
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
The diagram shows a bee flying towards a man's eye.
In the blink reflex, light from the bee reaches the light-sensitive cell in the eye. The muscles in the eyelid shut the man's eye before the bee hits the eye. Describe the pathway taken by the nerve impulse in the blink reflex. Explain why we have this reflex. [6 marks]
Tip - consider the pathway as a simple flow diagram to help you include all the relevant parts.
During this response, the 'nerve cell' will be accepted instead of a neurone.
Examples of the points made in the response should include some of the ideas listed below:
- light from the bee enters the eye/hits the retina [1]
- (electrical) impulses go from light-sensitive cells to the sensory neurone/optic nerve [1]
- the sensory neurone/optic nerve connects to the brain or CNS (central nervous system) [1]
- the brain or CNS (relay neurone or spinal cord is accepted) connects to the motor neurone [1]
- the motor neurone connects to the eyelid muscle [1]
- the eyelid muscle makes the eye blink [1]
- the main reason for this blink reflex is the protection of the eye [1]
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
A person accidentally touches a hot pan.
Her hand automatically moves away from the pan.
The diagram shows the structures involved in this action.
Describe fully how the structures shown in the diagram bring about this reflex action. [6 marks]
Examples of the points made in the response should include some of the ideas listed below:
- stimulus/heat detected by temperature receptors in skin [1]
- impulses travel along sensory neurone to spinal cord/CNS [1]
- chemical transmission across synapse [1]
- via relay neurone [1]
- impulses to muscle/effector via motor neurone [1]
- muscle/effector contracts, moving the hand away [1]
