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

AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own

internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third

party even for internal use within the centre.

Copyright © 2022 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL BIOLOGY – 7402/1 – JUNE 2022

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Mark scheme instructions 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 and help to delineate what

is acceptable or not worthy of credit or, in discursive answers, to give an overview of the area

in which a mark or marks may be awarded.

The extra information in the ‘Comments’ column is aligned to the appropriate answer in the lefthand 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

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 the same mark are indicated by the use of OR.

Different terms in the mark scheme are shown by a / ; eg allow smooth / free movement.

3. Marking points

3.1 Marking of lists

This applies to questions requiring a set number of responses, but for which students

have provided extra responses. The general principle to be followed in such a situation is

that ‘right + wrong = wrong’.

Each error / contradiction negates each correct response. So, if the number of errors /

contradictions equals or exceeds the number of marks available for the question, no

marks can be awarded.

However, responses considered to be neutral (often prefaced by ‘Ignore’ in the

‘Comments’ column of the mark scheme) are not penalised.

MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL BIOLOGY – 7402/1 – JUNE 2022

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3.2 Marking procedure for calculations

Full marks can be given for a correct numerical answer, without any working shown.

However, if the answer is incorrect, mark(s) can usually be gained by correct substitution /

working and this is shown in the ‘Comments’ column or by each stage of a longer

calculation.

3.3 Interpretation of ‘it’

Answers using the word ‘it’ should be given credit only if it is clear that the ‘it’ refers to the

correct subject.

3.4 Errors carried forward, consequential marking and arithmetic errors

Allowances for errors carried forward are most likely to be restricted to calculation

questions and should be shown by the abbreviation ECF or consequential in the mark

scheme.

An arithmetic error should be penalised for one mark only unless otherwise amplified in

the mark scheme. Arithmetic errors may arise from a slip in a calculation or from an

incorrect transfer of a numerical value from data given in a question.

3.5 Phonetic spelling

The phonetic spelling of correct scientific terminology should be credited unless there is a

possible confusion with another technical term.

3.6 Brackets

(…..) are used to indicate information which is not essential for the mark to be awarded

but is included to help the examiner identify the sense of the answer required.

3.7 Ignore / Insufficient / Do not allow

Ignore or insufficient is used when the information given is irrelevant to the question or not

enough to gain the marking point. Any further correct amplification could gain the marking

point.

Do not allow means that this is a wrong answer which, even if the correct answer is given, will still mean

that the mark is not awarded.

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