Practice paper – Set 2
A Level Biology A
H420/02 Biological diversity
MARK SCHEME
Duration: 2 hour 15 minutes
MAXIMUM MARK 100
Version: 5
Last updated: FINAL
(FOR OFFICE USE ONLY)
This document consists of 18 pages
,H420/02 Mark Scheme Practice paper - Set 2
MARKING INSTRUCTIONS
PREPARATION FOR MARKING
SCORIS
1. Make sure that you have accessed and completed the relevant training packages for on-screen marking: scoris 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 scoris and mark the required number of practice responses (“scripts”) and the number of required standardisation responses.
YOU MUST MARK 10 PRACTICE AND 10 STANDARDISATION RESPONSES BEFORE YOU CAN BE APPROVED TO MARK LIVE SCRIPTS.
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 scoris 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 scoris messaging system, or by email.
5. Work crossed out:
Crossed Out Responses
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.
Rubric Error Responses – Optional Questions
Where candidates have a choice of questions 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.)
, H420/02 Mark Scheme Practice paper - Set 2
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 tick to confirm that the work has been seen.
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)
8. The scoris 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 scoris messaging system, or e-mail.
A Level Biology A
H420/02 Biological diversity
MARK SCHEME
Duration: 2 hour 15 minutes
MAXIMUM MARK 100
Version: 5
Last updated: FINAL
(FOR OFFICE USE ONLY)
This document consists of 18 pages
,H420/02 Mark Scheme Practice paper - Set 2
MARKING INSTRUCTIONS
PREPARATION FOR MARKING
SCORIS
1. Make sure that you have accessed and completed the relevant training packages for on-screen marking: scoris 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 scoris and mark the required number of practice responses (“scripts”) and the number of required standardisation responses.
YOU MUST MARK 10 PRACTICE AND 10 STANDARDISATION RESPONSES BEFORE YOU CAN BE APPROVED TO MARK LIVE SCRIPTS.
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 scoris 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 scoris messaging system, or by email.
5. Work crossed out:
Crossed Out Responses
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.
Rubric Error Responses – Optional Questions
Where candidates have a choice of questions 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.)
, H420/02 Mark Scheme Practice paper - Set 2
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 tick to confirm that the work has been seen.
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)
8. The scoris 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 scoris messaging system, or e-mail.
