Edexcel B2

6 Mark Question
Practice
LO: To develop and improve extended writing
skills
and exam technique

Marking
criteria
L
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5
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L
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Complex
answer
Extensive key
words
Logical order

Hints
Mitosis

Meiosis

Excellent
spelling,
punctuation
and
grammar
Detailed
answer
Many key
words
Clear order
Good spelling,
punctuation
and grammar
Simple answer
Few key words
No order
Poor spelling,
punctuation
and grammar

Box the command word Compare

Remember:
This requires you to describe the similarities and/or
differences between things, not just write about one.
If you are asked to compare x with y, you need to write
down something about x and something about y, and
should give a comparison.

Underline the key terms you need

to describe

Model answer 1

Model answer 2

Marking
criteria
L
e
v
e
l
3
5
t
o
6
m
a
r
k
s
L
e
v
e
l
2

3
t
o
4
m
a
r
k
s

Complex
answer
Extensive key
words
Logical order
Excellent
spelling,
punctuation
and
grammar
Detailed
answer
Many key
words
Clear order
Good spelling,
punctuation
and grammar
Simple answer
Few key words
No order
Poor spelling,
punctuation
and grammar

Hints
DNA structural features:
two strands
double helix
(contains) bases A, T, C, G
adenine / A paired with thymine / T
guanine / G paired with cytosine / C
hydrogen / H bonds joining bases
Contributions from Scientists:
-X-ray (crystallography) being used
-to show helical structure
-to show diameter of molecule
-how base pairs are arranged was
shown
-how strands are arranged was shown
modelling reference to using other
people's ideas

Box the
command
word
Describe
Remember:
You should recall
some facts, events
or process in an
accurate
You may need to
give an account
of what something
looked like, or
what happened.
Underline the
key term

Model answer 1

Level 2 answer

Marking
criteria
L
e
v
e
l
3
5
t
o
6
m
a
r
k
s
L
e
v
e
l
2

3
t
o
4
m
a
r
k
s

Complex
answer
Extensive key
words
Logical order
Excellent
spelling,
punctuation
and
grammar
Detailed
answer
Many key
words
Clear order
Good spelling,
punctuation
and grammar
Simple answer
Few key words
No order
Poor spelling,
punctuation
and grammar

Hints
water

through the xylem

capillary action

osmosis into cells in the leaf

evaporation from leaves

transpiration stream

diffusion into the atmosphere

through stomata
glucose

converted to sucrose

dissolved in water

through the phloem

bidirectional mineral salts

dissolved in water

through the xylem

from root to tip

Box the command word

Explain
Remember:
Candidates should make
something clear, or state the
reasons for something
happening.
The points in the answer
must be linked coherently
and logically.
The answer should not be a
simple list of reasons.
Underline the key
concept

Model answer

Marking
criteria
L
e
v
e
l
3
5
t
o
6
m
a
r
k
s
L
e
v
e
l
2

3
t
o
4
m
a
r
k
s

Complex
answer
Extensive key
words
Logical order
Excellent
spelling,
punctuation
and
grammar
Detailed
answer
Many key
words
Clear order
Good spelling,
punctuation
and grammar
Simple answer
Few key words
No order
Poor spelling,
punctuation
and grammar

Hints
fertilisation of egg by sperm
ref to fusion of nuclei
forming diploid cell
ref to zygote
(zygote) divides by mitosis
to form identical cells
several mitotic divisions
growth of foetus
examples of how foetus grows eg in height,
mass
stem cells in embryo
specialisation / differentiation of (stem) cells
into different cell types

Remember:
The answer must be
based on the
information given in
the question.
Unless the
information given in
the question is
used, no marks can
be given.

Model L3 answer

Model level 2 answer

Marking
criteria
L
e
v
e
l
3
5
t
o
6
m
a
r
k
s
L
e
v
e
l
2

3
t
o
4
m
a
r
k
s

Complex
answer
Extensive key
words
Logical order
Excellent
spelling,
punctuation
and
grammar
Detailed
answer
Many key
words
Clear order
Good spelling,
punctuation
and grammar
Simple answer
Few key words
No order
Poor spelling,
punctuation
and grammar

Hints
Names of enzymes:
carbohydrases
named carbohydrase eg amylase
proteases
named protease eg pepsin
lipases
named lipase
General points about enzyme action:
breakdown of large / insoluble / named
molecules into small / soluble / named
molecules
for absorption
catalysts
speeds up reactions
active sites that bind to substrate
Idea of Specific points:
carbohydrates/ starch are broken down
into sugars / glucose
proteins /named protein are broken down
into amino acids
fats / oils / lipids / named lipid are broken
down
into fatty acids /glycerol

Box the
command
word
Describe
Remember:
You should recall
some facts, events
or process in an
accurate
You may need to
give an account
of what something
looked like, or
what happened.
Underline the
key term

Model L3 answer