OCR AS LEVEL BOLOGY A JUNE 2022 MARKSCHEME PAPER 1

GCE

Biology A

H020/01: Breadth in biology

AS Level

Mark Scheme for June 2022

Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations

OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a wide range of

qualifications to meet the needs of candidates of all ages and abilities. OCR qualifications

include AS/A Levels, Diplomas, GCSEs, Cambridge Nationals, Cambridge Technicals,

Functional Skills, Key Skills, Entry Level qualifications, NVQs and vocational qualifications in

areas such as IT, business, languages, teaching/training, administration and secretarial skills.

It is also responsible for developing new specifications to meet national requirements and the

needs of students and teachers. OCR is a not-for-profit organisation; any surplus made is

invested back into the establishment to help towards the development of qualifications and

support, which keep pace with the changing needs of today’s society.

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and students, to indicate the requirements

of the examination. It shows the basis on which marks were awarded by examiners. It does not

indicate the details of the discussions which took place at an examiners’ meeting before marking

commenced.

All examiners are instructed that alternative correct answers and unexpected approaches in

candidates’ scripts must be given marks that fairly reflect the relevant knowledge and skills

demonstrated.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the published question papers and the report

on the examination.

© OCR 2022

H020/01 Mark Scheme June 2022

2

MARKING INSTRUCTIONS

PREPARATION FOR MARKING

RM ASSESSOR

1. Make sure that you have accessed and completed the relevant training packages for on-screen marking: RM Assessor Assessor Online

Training; OCR Essential Guide to Marking.

2. Make sure that you have read and understood the mark scheme and the question paper for this unit. These are posted on the RM Cambridge

Assessment Support Portal http://www.rm.com/support/ca

3. Log-in to RM Assessor and mark the required number of practice responses (“scripts”) and the number of required standardisation

responses.

MARKING

1. Mark strictly to the mark scheme.

2. Marks awarded must relate directly to the marking criteria.

3. The schedule of dates is very important. It is essential that you meet the RM Assessor 50% and 100% (traditional 40% Batch 1 and 100%

Batch 2) deadlines. If you experience problems, you must contact your Team Leader (Supervisor) without delay.

4. If you are in any doubt about applying the mark scheme, consult your Team Leader by telephone or the RM Assessor messaging system, or by

email.

5. Work crossed out:

Where a candidate has crossed out a response and provided a clear alternative then the crossed-out response is not marked. Where no

alternative response has been provided, examiners may give candidates the benefit of the doubt and mark the crossed-out response where

legible.

H020/01 Mark Scheme June 2022

3

Rubric Error Responses – Optional Questions

Where candidates have a choice of question across a whole paper or a whole section and have provided more answers than required, then all

responses are marked and the highest mark allowable within the rubric is given. Enter a mark for each question answered into RM assessor,

which will select the highest mark from those awarded. (The underlying assumption is that the candidate has penalised themselves by

attempting more questions than necessary in the time allowed.)

Multiple Choice Question Responses

When a multiple choice question has only a single, correct response and a candidate provides two responses (even if one of these responses is

correct), then no mark should be awarded (as it is not possible to determine which was the first response selected by the candidate).

When a question requires candidates to select more than one option/multiple options, then local marking arrangements need to ensure

consistency of approach.

Contradictory Responses

When a candidate provides contradictory responses, then no mark should be awarded, even if one of the answers is correct.

Short Answer Questions (requiring only a list by way of a response, usually worth only one mark per response)

Where candidates are required to provide a set number of short answer responses then only the set number of responses should be marked.

The response space should be marked from left to right on each line and then line by line until the required number of responses have been

considered. The remaining responses should not then be marked. Examiners will have to apply judgement as to whether a ‘second response’

on a line is a development of the ‘first response’, rather than a separate, discrete response. (The underlying assumption is that the candidate is

attempting to hedge their bets and therefore getting undue benefit rather than engaging with the question and giving the most relevant/correct

responses.)

Short Answer Questions (requiring a more developed response, worth two or more marks)

If the candidates are required to provide a description of, say, three items or factors and four items or factors are provided, then mark on a

similar basis – that is downwards (as it is unlikely in this situation that a candidate will provide more than one response in each section of the

response space.)

Longer Answer Questions (requiring a developed response)

Where candidates have provided two (or more) responses to a medium or high tariff question which only required a single (developed)

response and not crossed out the first response, then only the first response should be marked. Examiners will need to apply professional

judgement as to whether the second (or a subsequent) response is a ‘new start’ or simply a poorly expressed continuation of the first response.

6. Always check the pages (and additional objects if present) at the end of the response in case any answers have been continued there. If the

candidate has continued an answer there, then add a ‘seen’ annotation or a ‘large dot’ to confirm that the work has been seen or a tick if a mark

is awarded. If the extra pages are blank then add a ‘BP’ annotation to confirm the page has been seen.

H020/01 Mark Scheme June 2022

4

7. There is a NR (No Response) option. Award NR (No Response)

- if there is nothing written at all in the answer space

- OR if there is a comment which does not in any way relate to the question (e.g. ‘can’t do’, ‘don’t know’)

- OR if there is a mark (e.g. a dash, a question mark) which isn’t an attempt at the question.

Note: Award 0 marks – for an attempt that earns no credit (including copying out the question).

Annotate the script with an ‘omission mark’ to show the response has been seen

8. The RM Assessor comments box is used by your team leader to explain the marking of the practice responses. Please refer to these

comments when checking your practice responses. Do not use the comments box for any other reason.

If you have any questions or comments for your team leader, use the phone, the RM Assessor messaging system, or e-mail.

9. Assistant Examiners will send a brief report on the performance of candidates to their Team Leader (Supervisor) via email by the end of the

marking period. The report should contain notes on particular strengths displayed as well as common errors or weaknesses. Constructive

criticism of the question paper/mark scheme is also appreciated.

10. For answers marked by levels of response:

Read through the whole answer from start to finish, using the Level descriptors to help you decide whether it is a strong or weak answer. The

indicative scientific content in the Guidance column indicates the expected parameters for candidates’ answers but be prepared to recognise

and credit unexpected approaches where they show relevance. Using a ‘best-fit’ approach based on the skills and science content evidenced

within the answer, first decide which set of level descriptors, Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3, best describes the overall quality of the answer.

Once the level is located, award the higher or lower mark:

The higher mark should be awarded where the level descriptor has been evidenced and all aspects of the communication statement (in

italics) have been met.

The lower mark should be awarded where the level descriptor has been evidenced but aspects of the communication statement (in italics)

are missing.

In summary:

The skills and science content determines the level.

H020/01 Mark Scheme June 2022

5

The communication statement determines the mark within a level.

There is no level of response questions on this paper.