GCSE

BIOLOGY

8461/1H

Paper 1 Higher Tier

Mark scheme

June 2020

Version: 1.0 Final

*206G84611H/MS*

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MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/1H – JUNE 2020

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Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant

questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the

standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in

this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’

responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.

As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative

answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the

standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are

required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.

It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and

expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark

schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of

assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination

paper.

Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk

Copyright information

For confidentiality purposes acknowledgements of third-party material are published in a separate booklet which is available for free download from

www.aqa.org.uk after the live examination series.

Copyright © 2020 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/1H – JUNE 2020

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Information to Examiners

1. General

The mark scheme for each question shows:

• the marks available for each part of the question

• the total marks available for the question

• the typical answer or answers which are expected

• extra information to help the Examiner make his or her judgement

• the Assessment Objectives, level of demand and specification content that each question is intended

to cover.

The extra information is aligned to the appropriate answer in the left-hand part of the mark scheme and

should only be applied to that item in the mark scheme.

At the beginning of a part of a question a reminder may be given, for example: where consequential

marking needs to be considered in a calculation; or the answer may be on the diagram or at a different

place on the script.

In general the right-hand side of the mark scheme is there to provide those extra details which confuse

the main part of the mark scheme yet may be helpful in ensuring that marking is straightforward and

consistent.

2. Emboldening and underlining

2.1 In a list of acceptable answers where more than one mark is available ‘any two from’ is used, with

the number of marks emboldened. Each of the following bullet points is a

potential mark.

2.2 A bold and is used to indicate that both parts of the answer are required to award the mark.

2.3 Alternative answers acceptable for a mark are indicated by the use of or. Different terms in the

mark scheme are shown by a / ; eg allow smooth / free movement.

2.4 Any wording that is underlined is essential for the marking point to be awarded.

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