Answering KS4 GCSE Science
Extended prose 6 mark questions
Jason Harding - Enfield Science Consultant
Penny Travers – Enfield EMA Consultant
Striving for excellence
www.enfield.gov.uk
The Project – talking into reading into
writing
• Work with a Yr10 teacher to help improve pupil
responses to 6 mark exam questions.
• Triple Science group currently learning about
the Kidney.
• Pupils range from insecure level 5 to secure
level 7.
QWC and levels marking
Candidates are required to produce extended written material in
English, and will be assessed on the quality of their written
communication as well as the standard of the scientific response.
Candidates are required to:
•
use good English
•
organise information clearly
•
use specialist vocabulary where appropriate
Level 3 detailed:
•
knowledge of accurate information appropriately contextualised
•
detailed understanding, supported by relevant evidence and
examples
•
answer is coherent and in an organised, logical sequence,
containing a wide range of appropriate or relevant specialist terms
used accurately
•
the answer shows almost faultless spelling, punctuation and
grammar.
Taken from AQA Science 2011 sample material
Strategies
Lesson 1
• Highlighting the importance and understanding of command
words.
• Focusing on exam questions – explanation and annotation.
• Interpreting mark schemes – Finding out what the examiner
wants.
Lesson 2
• Deconstructing model answers.
• Improving reading strategies.
• Jointly constructing 6 mark answers.
• Speaking as an expert.
Lesson 3
• Defining the conventions for 6 mark questions.
• Independent construction – answering 6 mark questions.
Setting the context:
Q1 Kidney (6 mark question)
In this question you will be assessed on using good
English, organising information clearly and using specialist
terms where appropriate.
A person with kidney disease could be treated
either by using a dialysis machine or by a kidney
transplant operation.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of
these two methods of treatment.
Use your knowledge and understanding of the two
methods in your answer.
Taken from AQA Science 2011 sample material
Q1 Kidney (Mark Scheme)
1/2
Marks awarded for this answer will be determined by the Quality of Written
Communication (QWC) as well as the standard of the scientific response.
0 marks
No relevant
content.
Level 1
(1-2 marks)
Level 2
(3-4 marks)
Level 3
(5-6 marks)
There is a brief
description of
the two methods
of treatment.
There is at least
one
disadvantage or
advantage from
the examples
given.
There is a
scientific
comparison of
the two methods
of treatment,
including at least
one advantage
and one
disadvantage
but there is a
lack of clarity
and detail.
There is a clear
and detailed
scientific
comparison
between the two
methods of
treatment,
including at least
two advantages
and two
disadvantages.
Taken from AQA Science 2011 sample material
Q1 Kidney (Mark Scheme)
2/2
Examples of biology points made in the response
Advantages of transplant over dialysis:
• no build-up of toxins/keeps blood concentration constant
• prevent high blood pressure
• don’t need restricted diet/restricted fluid intake or time wasted on
dialysis
• infection may result from dialysis
• with dialysis, blood may not clot properly due to anti-clotting drugs
• cost issues (i.e. transplant cheaper)
Disadvantages of transplant over dialysis:
• rejection/problem finding tissue match
• use of immuno-suppressant drugs leading to other infections
• dangers during operation
Taken from AQA Science 2011 sample material
Deconstructing the text:
Inside Mr Harding’s brain
Spelling and punctuation
1/2
Answer must flow and make sense.
In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising
information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate.
What words do I need?
A person with kidney disease could be treated either by using a dialysis
machine or by a kidney transplant operation.
What’s good/bad…
…about dialysis and transplantation.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of these two methods of
treatment.
Use your knowledge and understanding of the two methods in your answer.
What do you know about how dialysis and transplants work?
Inside Mr Harding’s brain
2/2
Answer structure
1 mark:
describe dialysis
1 mark:
describe transplantation
2 marks:
What’s good about dialysis (two facts)?
What’s bad about dialysis (two facts)?
2 marks:
What’s good about transplantation (two
facts)?
What’s bad about transplantation (two facts)?
Key terms for answer – filtration, diffusion, disease,
infection, immuno-suppression, rejection.
Annotating questions
• Pupils were reluctant to annotate questions and
write plans for their answers.
• Practice materials were produced to specifically
address this issue.
Why does this get 6 marks?
Scientific knowledge
Dialysis
2 advantages
Dialysis
method
Transplantation
method
Transplantation
2 advantages
Dialysis filters blood to restore its concentration
levels via diffusion. Transplantation replaces a
diseased kidney with a healthy one. Dialysis is
available to all and is drug free. However, it is
expensive and time consuming and can lead to
secondary infections. Transplantation allows the
patient to lead a normal life free from dietary
restrictions. It is cheaper than dialysis and does
not cause secondary issues. Unfortunately,
patients have to take immuno-suppressant drugs
to stop organ rejection. All operations, including
transplants, carry a risk of complication.
Transplantation
2 disadvantages
Dialysis
3 disadvantages
Transplantation
2 more
advantages
Why does this get 6 marks?
Literacy/QWC
It is a well structured explanation text starting with topic sentences giving definitions.
Dialysis filters blood to restore its concentration
It is lexically
levels via diffusion. Transplantation replaces a
dense
diseased kidney with a healthy one. Dialysis is
including good available to all and is drug free. However, it is
use of
expensive and time consuming and can lead to
nominalisation:
secondary infections. Transplantation allows
transplantation
the patient to lead a normal life free from
infections
dietary restrictions. It is cheaper than dialysis
rejection
and does not cause secondary issues.
complication
Unfortunately, patients have to take immunosuppressant drugs to stop organ rejection. All
operations, including transplants, carry a risk of
complication.
It is coherent and cohesive (i.e. the text ‘hangs together well’);
accurate use is made of the pronoun ‘it’ to refer back to the subject.
Advantages
and
disadvantages
are well
expressed;
there is
effective use of
a contrasting
connective
(however).
Reading around the topic – Catalyst
Reading around the topic - Guardian
Reading around the topic - Metro
Q2 – Joint Construction
• Pupils worked in groups to construct an answer
to a 6 mark question.
• Groups of pupils presented their answers using
a visualiser.
Q3 Kidney (6 mark question)
In this question you will be assessed on using good
English, organising information clearly and using specialist
terms where appropriate.
Explain how dialysis treatment preserves the
concentration of dissolved substances in the
blood and removes urea.
Read through the two responses to Q3 consult
the mark scheme, provide a mark and give
some feedback.
Q3 Kidney (Mark Scheme)
1/2
Marks awarded for this answer will be determined by the Quality of Written
Communication (QWC) as well as the standard of the scientific response.
0 marks
No relevant
content.
Level 1
(1-2 marks)
There is a brief
explanation of
how a dialysis
machine works.
Level 2
(3-4 marks)
Level 3
(5-6 marks)
There is a
scientific
explanation of
how blood
substances and
concentration
levels facilitate
dialysis.
There is a clear
and detailed
explanation of
how the
mechanism of
diffusion is
integral to the
dialysis process.
Q3 Kidney (Mark Scheme)
2/2
Examples of biology points made in the response
In a dialysis machine:
• recipient’s blood flows through a filter tubing
• made of semi-permeable membrane
• dialysis fluid is the same concentration as dissolved
blood substances
• e.g. blood, glucose and mineral ions
• this ensure they do not diffuse through the membrane
• urea passes through to the dialysis fluid because of
differences in concentration, i.e. blood concentration
high. Dialysis fluid concentration low
• treatment must be carried out regularly
How many marks would you give this
answer? Justify your mark.
Dialysis is used to help people whose kidneys are failing or
have failed by filtering the blood. There is a very long
waiting list for a kidney transplant operation which can cure
a person of kidney disease and allow them to live a normal
life where they are able to eat and drink anything they want
to, anytime they like. They still need to be careful as overeating and drinking can lead to obesity which is very bad
for your health and which could lead to kidney disease.
Dialysis is very time-consuming and a patient has to spend
a lot of time in hospital on a dialysis machine.
What about this one? Justify your mark
A dialysis patient’s blood must be regularly passed through
a dialysis machine. The blood comes into close contact
with dialysis fluid as it flows through semi-permeable
tubing. Dialysis fluid consists of dissolved glucose and
mineral ions which are at the same level of concentration
as the patient’s blood. As the two liquids come into close
contact there is no diffusion of these dissolved substance
because their concentration levels are equal. However, the
patient’s blood contains high concentrations of urea, not
present in the dialysis fluid. The urea diffuses through the
membrane out of the blood and into the dialysis fluid where
it is in low concentration.
Preparing for independent construction Mode Continuum
informal
Taken from Language in Learning Across the Curriculum (LILAC)
www.unlockingtheworld.com
formal
Preparing for independent construction Talking as an expert
Preparing for independent construction
– Defining the conventions for 6 marks
• In groups list the features of an extended prose
science answer.
• Be prepared to contribute to a list of success
criteria.
Q5 Kidney (6 mark question)
In this question you will be assessed on using good
English, organising information clearly and using specialist
terms where appropriate.
A patient suffering from kidney disease may
have to undergo dialysis. Describe how dialysis
works and explain the advantages and
disadvantages of the process.
Q5 Kidney (Mark Scheme)
1/2
Marks awarded for this answer will be determined by the Quality of Written
Communication (QWC) as well as the standard of the scientific response.
0 marks
No relevant
content.
Level 1
(1-2 marks)
Level 2
(3-4 marks)
Level 3
(5-6 marks)
There is a brief
description of
dialysis. There is
at least one
advantage or
disadvantage
given.
There is a
scientific
description of
dialysis. At least
one advantage
and
disadvantage is
given but the is
a lack of clarity.
There is a clear
and detailed
scientific
description of
dialysis.
At least two
advantages and
disadvantages
are given.
Q5 Kidney (Mark Scheme)
2/2
Examples of biology points made in the response
Dialysis process:
•
•
•
•
Dialysis restores dissolved blood substance concentrations to normal levels
Blood flows between partially permeable membranes
Dialysis fluid is the same concentration as useful dissolved blood substances
Glucose and mineral ions are retained while urea diffuses in to the dialysis fluid
Dialysis advantages:
•
•
•
•
Available to all
No immuno suppressant drugs needed
No surgery required
No chance of rejection occurring
Dialysis disadvantages:
•
•
•
•
Expensive
Time Consuming
Restricted diet required
Regular treatments needed
Independent Construction – pupils’
answers to a 6 mark question
• In lesson 1 all three pupils had provided
answers worthy of level 1 from the grade
descriptor and all had gained 1 mark for their
work.
Next steps…
• Continue to use the teaching and learning cycle for
writing to support learning objectives that include
extended prose when teaching scientific concept or
processes.
• Establish a culture of question annotation and planning
answers with the class.
• Empower pupils to feel confident in using success
criteria for GCSE extended prose and structured answer
questions.
• Show pupils how to signal to examiners where key
points in an answer are.