GCSE
BIOLOGY
8461/1H
Paper 1H
Mark scheme
Specimen (set 2)
Version: 1.0
Keep secure
Please be aware that not all schools and colleges will be using these tests at
the same time.
Help us to maintain the security of these papers by ensuring they are not
distributed on social media or other platforms.
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/1H – SPECIMEN (SET 2)
Important – please note
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered,
together with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document. This mark
scheme has not been through the full standardisation process. 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.
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.
The Information to Examiners is included as a guide to how the mark scheme
will function as an operational document.
The layout has been kept consistent so that future operational mark schemes
do not appear different from these test materials.
If the printing process in your school alters the scale of a diagram, measure
the values on your printed papers and mark the scripts accordingly.
Copyright © 2017 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
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.
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/1H – SPECIMEN (SET 2)
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.
3
BIOLOGY
8461/1H
Paper 1H
Mark scheme
Specimen (set 2)
Version: 1.0
Keep secure
Please be aware that not all schools and colleges will be using these tests at
the same time.
Help us to maintain the security of these papers by ensuring they are not
distributed on social media or other platforms.
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/1H – SPECIMEN (SET 2)
Important – please note
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered,
together with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document. This mark
scheme has not been through the full standardisation process. 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.
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.
The Information to Examiners is included as a guide to how the mark scheme
will function as an operational document.
The layout has been kept consistent so that future operational mark schemes
do not appear different from these test materials.
If the printing process in your school alters the scale of a diagram, measure
the values on your printed papers and mark the scripts accordingly.
Copyright © 2017 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
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.
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/1H – SPECIMEN (SET 2)
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.
3
