Structured questions
Simple recall questions are usually worth 1 mark. They often have command words like Give, State, Name or Identify. Some questions may ask you to state two things, rather than just one, and will be worth 2 marks.
Structured questions, with command words such as Describe or Explain, will be worth 2 or more marks:
- if you are asked to describe something, you need to give an account but no reason
- if you are asked to explain something, you must give reasons or explanations
More complex structured questions will be worth 3 to 5 marks. They include questions with complex descriptions and explanations, questions in which you need to compare and contrast two different things, or calculations with several stages.
The mark schemes given here may show answers as bullet points. This is to show clearly how a mark can be obtained. However, it is important that your answer is written in a logical, linked way.
Learn about command words with Dr Alex Lathbridge
Listen to the full series on BBC Sounds.
Understanding the different command words in your science GCSE exams.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
Rockets carry satellites into space.
(a) These satellites are kept in orbit around a planet by a force.
What is the name of this force? [1 mark]
(b) Write down the name of the Earth's natural satellite [1 mark]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016.
(a) Gravitational/centripetal (force)
(b) The Moon
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
Many power stations burn fuels to generate electricity. Fuels can be renewable or non-renewable.
(a) Wood is used in some power stations.
Why is it called a renewable fuel? [1 mark]
(b) Rachael has completed her homework on fuels used in power stations.
Look at her table below:
| Fuel | Type |
| Wood | Renewable |
| Plant and vegetable oils | Renewable |
| Peat | Non-renewable |
| Coal | Renewable |
| North Sea gas | Non-renewable |
| Uranium | Renewable |
| Fuel | Wood |
|---|---|
| Type | Renewable |
| Fuel | Plant and vegetable oils |
|---|---|
| Type | Renewable |
| Fuel | Peat |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-renewable |
| Fuel | Coal |
|---|---|
| Type | Renewable |
| Fuel | North Sea gas |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-renewable |
| Fuel | Uranium |
|---|---|
| Type | Renewable |
She has made two mistakes. Identify these in the table by putting a cross (✘) next to them. [2 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016.
(a) More can be grown
(b)
| Fuel | Type |
| Wood | Renewable |
| Plant and vegetable oils | Renewable |
| Peat | Non-renewable |
| Coal | Renewable ✘ |
| North Sea gas | Non-renewable |
| Uranium | Renewable ✘ |
| Fuel | Wood |
|---|---|
| Type | Renewable |
| Fuel | Plant and vegetable oils |
|---|---|
| Type | Renewable |
| Fuel | Peat |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-renewable |
| Fuel | Coal |
|---|---|
| Type | Renewable ✘ |
| Fuel | North Sea gas |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-renewable |
| Fuel | Uranium |
|---|---|
| Type | Renewable ✘ |
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
Voltage is increased before transmission through the National Grid.
It is increased from 25,000 V up to 400,000 V. This increases the voltage 16 times.
(a) How much would this increase in voltage affect the current? [2 marks]
(b) Use the formula power = current2 × resistance to explain why this voltage increase is important to power loss in transmission cables. [2 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016 - Higher.
(a) The current is reduced 16 times, this is because power = voltage × current. So if voltage increases, the current has to decrease.
(b) Power loss is related to the square of the current, so the formula shows there is a very large decrease in power loss.
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
State two features of a satellite in a polar orbit. Suggest a use for a satellite in a polar orbit. [3 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016 - Higher.
Any two features from:
- polar orbit travels over both poles
- travels faster than a geostationary satellite
- multiple orbits in a day
- lower orbit than geostationary satellites
Any one use from: mapping/weather/surveillance
