Open response questions

Extended open response questions require longer answers than structured questions that have fewer marks. Open response questions are usually worth six marks, but some are worth fewer marks.

It is wise to plan your answer first by making some notes. This will help you to include all the key points.

To gain full marks, you need to:

support explanations using scientific knowledge and understanding
use appropriate scientific words
write clearly and link ideas in a logical way
maintain a sustained line of reasoning

Open response questions often use these command words:

Describe means you should recall facts, events or processes accurately. You might need to give an account of what something looked like, or what happened.
Explain means you need to make something clear, or state the reasons for something happening.
Compare means you need to describe similarities and differences between things. If you are asked to compare X and Y, write down something about X and something about Y, then give a comparison. Do not just write about X only or Y only.
Evaluate means you must use information supplied, or your own knowledge, to consider the evidence for and against or to identify strengths and weaknesses. You must then complete your answer with a conclusion, stating which is better and why, for example.

Open response questions may be synoptic questions, which bring together ideas from two or more topics. For example, a question about fertilisers could include ideas about covalent substances, acids and alkalis, chemical calculations and effects on the environment.

The answers shown here give marking points as bullet points. You do not usually need to include all of them to gain full marks, but you do need to write in sentences, linking them logically and clearly.

This page contains AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.

Sample question 1 - Foundation

Question

The graph shows how the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere changed between 1900 and 2000.

A graph showing that carbon dioxide levels increased from 1900 to 200

Explain how the changes shown in the graph can have harmful effects on the environment. [4 marks]

Sample question 2 - Foundation

Question

All life on Earth depends on water.

Explain how the water molecules in an iceberg could end up as water in a lake. [4 marks]

Sample question 3 - Higher

Question

In the last 200 years the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere has risen.

Explain how a rise in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere can decrease biodiversity. [6 marks]

Sample question 4 - Higher

Question

Ivy plants can grow up trees and walls.

The figure below shows two ivy leaves. One leaf is from an ivy plant growing up a tree in the centre of a shady woodland area. The other leaf is from an ivy plant growing up a tree in a sunny area at the edge of the woodland.

An ivy leaf from the centre of the woodland on the left and an ivy leaf from the edge of the woodland on the right

The student makes the following hypothesis:

"The size of the ivy leaves decreases as light intensity increases."

How would you use a 100 metre tape measure, a 30 cm ruler and a light meter to test this hypothesis?

You should include details of how you would make sure the results are valid. [6 marks]

Sample exam questions - explaining change - AQA SynergyOpen response questions