Linking questions
Linking questions span different topics. In linking questions, 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.
One way to answer linking questions is to follow these steps:
- identify exactly what the question is asking (perhaps by underlining key parts)
- identify what the link between the two parts of the question is
- make a short plan of these links (which will form the basis of your answer)
- include as much information as you can to obtain full marks (see below)
The number of marks per question part is given in this form [4 marks]. It is essential that you give four different answers if a question is worth four marks. Sometimes you can gain an additional mark by giving the units in a calculation or stating specific data points, eg after twenty-four hours the pH of the milk at room temperature had decreased by 1.2.
Linking 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
The command words 'Describe...' and 'Explain...' can be confusing. If you are asked to describe a graph, you will be expected to write about its overall shape, whether it is linear or curved, the slope of gradients etc. If you are asked to explain why a pattern or trend is seen in a graph, you will be expected to use your science knowledge, not just say what you see (which is a description).
Explain how and why questions often have the word 'because' in their answer. Describe questions don't.
These questions have been written by Bitesize consultants as suggestions to the types of questions that may appear in an exam paper.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
The figure below shows the graph of human population.
During this time the number of extinctions has increased. Explain why. [6 marks]
Marks will be allocated by implementing the following points:
- As the human population increases so does demand for food, clothing and housing. In order to provide this more deforestation is occurring. This reduces biodiversity.
- More land is used in mining and quarrying which increases biodiversity.
- More people means more waste. Much of this waste goes into landfill which reduces biodiversity. More waste means more pollution.
- This includes air pollution by carbon dioxide which increases the greenhouse effect and then global warming.
- This also includes water pollution by toxic chemicals from factories and fertilisers from farm land. This also reduces biodiversity.
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
Explain how anaerobic decay of microorganisms can provide us with an energy resource. [2 marks]
Microorganisms in biogas generators decay substances like maize anaerobically. This produces methane and carbon dioxide. Methane can be collected and burned as a fuel.
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
Explain how burning fossil fuels results in the melting of the polar ice caps. [4 marks]
Marks will be awarded from these points:
- burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
- this increases the greenhouse effect
- this causes global warming which is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth
- this is causing the ice caps to melt
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Deforestation is the cutting down of trees. The water cycle shows the different processes water undergoes.
Explain how deforestation can affect the water cycle. [6 marks]
Remember to include as many processes from the water cycle in your answer.
The correct answer should have these points:
- deforestation does not directly affect the volume of water that evaporates from ponds, lakes and oceans
- it does however reduce the volume of water that evaporates from plants during transpiration
- transport of water in clouds is not affected
- but if water precipitates from clouds as rain or snow onto deforested areas, less will be absorbed by plant roots and more will runoff the surface
- this can cause floods and landslides
- at this point no more water can infiltrate the ground
You should also demonstrate that you understand how local deforestation can have a global impact. It is likely to contribute to global warming which in turn will have an impact on climate change. Higher global temperatures could cause an increase in evaporation rates from oceans and lakes, which in turn could lead to, increased rainfall.
