GCSE BIOLOGY 8461/2F Paper 2 Foundation
Tier Mark scheme June 2023 V.1.0 FINAL
Version: 1.0 Final
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/2F – JUNE
2023
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.
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/2F – JUNE
2023
Copyright © 2023 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
3
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/2F – JUNE
2023
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 their judgement
the Assessment Objectives 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 (for example, a scientifically correct answer
that could not reasonably be expected from a student’s knowledge of the specification).
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.
Alternative words in the mark scheme are shown by a solidus eg allow smooth / free
movement.
2.4 Any wording that is underlined is essential for the marking point to be awarded.
4
Tier Mark scheme June 2023 V.1.0 FINAL
Version: 1.0 Final
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/2F – JUNE
2023
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.
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/2F – JUNE
2023
Copyright © 2023 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
3
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BIOLOGY – 8461/2F – JUNE
2023
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 their judgement
the Assessment Objectives 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 (for example, a scientifically correct answer
that could not reasonably be expected from a student’s knowledge of the specification).
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.
Alternative words in the mark scheme are shown by a solidus eg allow smooth / free
movement.
2.4 Any wording that is underlined is essential for the marking point to be awarded.
4
