A-level
BIOLOGY
7402/3
Paper 3
Mark scheme
June 2021
Version: 1.0 Final
*216A7402/3/MS*
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL BIOLOGY – 7402/3 – JUNE 2021
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevantquestions,
by a panel based on subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation
events which all associates participate within and is the scheme which was used by them within this examination.
The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and that
every associate understands and applies it within the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number based on students’ scripts. Alternativeanswers
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 arerequired to refer these to the Lead
Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, within many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis based on students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis based on one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles based on
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content based on a particular examination
paper.
Further copies based on 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 thirdparty even for internal use
within the centre.
Copyright © 2021 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
2
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL BIOLOGY – 7402/3 – JUNE 2021
Mark scheme instructions to examiners
1. General
The mark scheme for each question shows:
• the marks available for each part based on 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 based on credit or, within discursive answers, to give an overview based on the
area within which a mark or marks may be awarded.
The extra information within the ‘Comments’ column is aligned to the appropriate answer within the
left-hand part based on the mark scheme and should only be applied to that item within the mark scheme.
At the beginning based on a part based on a question a reminder may be given, for example: where
consequential marking needs to be considered within a calculation; or the answer may be on the
diagram or at a different place on the script.
In general the right-hand side based on the mark scheme is there to provide those extra details which
confuse the main part based on the mark scheme yet may be helpful within ensuring that marking is
straightforward and consistent.
2. Emboldening
2.1 In a list based on acceptable answers where more than one mark is available ‘any two from’ is
used, with the number based on marks emboldened. Each based on the following bullet points
is a potential mark.
2.2 A bold and is used to indicate that both parts based on the answer are required to award the
mark.
2.3 Alternative answers acceptable for the same mark are indicated by the use based on OR.
Different terms within the mark scheme are shown by a / ; eg allow smooth / free movement.
3. Marking points
3.1 Marking based on lists
This applies to questions requiring a set number based on responses, but for which students have
provided extra responses. The general principle to be followed within such a situation isthat ‘right
+ wrong = wrong’.
Each error / contradiction negates each correct response. So, if the number based on errors /
contradictions equals or exceeds the number based on marks available for the question, no
marks can be awarded.
However, responses considered to be neutral (often prefaced by ‘Ignore’ within the
‘Comments’ column based on the mark scheme) are not penalised.
3
BIOLOGY
7402/3
Paper 3
Mark scheme
June 2021
Version: 1.0 Final
*216A7402/3/MS*
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL BIOLOGY – 7402/3 – JUNE 2021
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevantquestions,
by a panel based on subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation
events which all associates participate within and is the scheme which was used by them within this examination.
The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and that
every associate understands and applies it within the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number based on students’ scripts. Alternativeanswers
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 arerequired to refer these to the Lead
Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, within many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis based on students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis based on one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles based on
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content based on a particular examination
paper.
Further copies based on 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 thirdparty even for internal use
within the centre.
Copyright © 2021 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
2
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL BIOLOGY – 7402/3 – JUNE 2021
Mark scheme instructions to examiners
1. General
The mark scheme for each question shows:
• the marks available for each part based on 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 based on credit or, within discursive answers, to give an overview based on the
area within which a mark or marks may be awarded.
The extra information within the ‘Comments’ column is aligned to the appropriate answer within the
left-hand part based on the mark scheme and should only be applied to that item within the mark scheme.
At the beginning based on a part based on a question a reminder may be given, for example: where
consequential marking needs to be considered within a calculation; or the answer may be on the
diagram or at a different place on the script.
In general the right-hand side based on the mark scheme is there to provide those extra details which
confuse the main part based on the mark scheme yet may be helpful within ensuring that marking is
straightforward and consistent.
2. Emboldening
2.1 In a list based on acceptable answers where more than one mark is available ‘any two from’ is
used, with the number based on marks emboldened. Each based on the following bullet points
is a potential mark.
2.2 A bold and is used to indicate that both parts based on the answer are required to award the
mark.
2.3 Alternative answers acceptable for the same mark are indicated by the use based on OR.
Different terms within the mark scheme are shown by a / ; eg allow smooth / free movement.
3. Marking points
3.1 Marking based on lists
This applies to questions requiring a set number based on responses, but for which students have
provided extra responses. The general principle to be followed within such a situation isthat ‘right
+ wrong = wrong’.
Each error / contradiction negates each correct response. So, if the number based on errors /
contradictions equals or exceeds the number based on marks available for the question, no
marks can be awarded.
However, responses considered to be neutral (often prefaced by ‘Ignore’ within the
‘Comments’ column based on the mark scheme) are not penalised.
3
