QWC Additional Travel Card
Command word:
Explain – Give reasons or mechanisms to address how or why something happens
Connectives:
Whereas, alternatively, unlike, equally, consequently, unless, if, as long as, however, such as, for instance, this means, . . .
Question
Alex is investigating the activity of an enzyme called salivary amylase.
The enzyme breaks down starch into glucose, and is present in saliva in the human mouth. Alex eats chicken and chips for her lunch. She wonders which parts of her lunch will start to be digested by salivary amylase in her mouth. She knows that chicken meat is made of protein. Explain why salivary amylase will start digesting the chips in her mouth but will not start digesting the chicken.
Value
6 marks
Route
Enzymes
QWC Additional Travel Card
Mark band
1-2
3-4
5-6
Success criteria
Answer does not talk about specificity of the enzymes active site for the shape of starch. Limited use of specialist terms. SPAG weak.
Answer describes some aspects of lock and key model. Specialist terms mostly used correctly. Occasional errors in SPAG.
Answer clearly describes lock and key model and explains substrate specificity. Few, if any, errors in
SPAG.
Science Points
• chips/potatoes/plants contain starch (as an energy store)
• salivary amylase has an active site
• the shape of the active site complements the shape of a starch molecule
• only a starch molecule will fit into the enzyme’s active site and form an enzymesubstrate complex
• this is the ‘lock and key’ model
• chicken meat is made of protein, not starch
• protein will not fit into the enzyme’s active site
• and will not form an enzyme-substrate complex
• so will not be digested
Route
Enzymes

QWC Additional Travel Card
Command word:
Outline – Set out key facts, steps or characteristics.
Connectives:
Whereas, alternatively, unlike, equally, consequently, unless, if, as long as, however, such as, for instance, this means, . . .
Question
Route
Photosynthesis
Value
6 marks
QWC Additional Travel Card
Mark band
1-2
3-4
5-6
Science Points
• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make
Success criteria
There is a brief description of photosynthesis. Some key words but very limited.
Poor SPAG food/glucose
• By combining carbon dioxide from the air;
• With water obtained from the soil
• Photosynthesis takes place in the leaves;
• In structures called chloroplasts, which contain chlorophyll
• Light is absorbed by chlorophyll
• Light is used to split water into hydrogen and
Clear description of photosynthesis and at least one example of how glucose is used. Some SPAG errors.
• oxygen atoms.
These atoms are rearranged/combine with carbon dioxide
• Oxygen is produced as a by product.
Uses of glucose
• Glucose can be used by the plant for
There is a clearly structured, respiration/to generate energy; for active balanced and detailed description of photosynthesis and uses of glucose. becomes a full organism. Excellent transport
• Glucose can be stored as starch
• Glucose can be combined with nitrates from the use of key words. soil to create proteins such as enzymes
Route
Photosynthesis

QWC Additional Travel Card
Command word:
Explain – Give reasons or mechanisms to address how or why something happens
Connectives:
Whereas, alternatively, unlike, equally, consequently, unless, if, as long as, however, such as, for instance, this means, . . .
Question
Value
6 marks
Route
Photosynthesis
3-4
5-6
QWC Additional Travel Card
Mark band
1-2
Success criteria
Names the3 factors that affect/speed up photosynthesis. Little detail about limiting factors.
SPAG poor.
Describes all three factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis. Explanation lacks detail or is confused.
Some SPAG errors.
Explains the term limiting factor clearly and how all three limiting factors effect the rate of photosynthesis. Few, if any, errors in
SPAG.
Science Points
3 factors can limit the speed of photosynthesis light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration and temperature. A limiting factor is a factor that controls a process. For it to be a limiting factor, there has to be a low supply of this factor. When a limiting factor is increased, the rate of reaction will increase until other limiting factors limit rate.
Each factor should be explained, for temperature the link with enzymes should be explained.
Photosynthesis is controlled by enzymes. As the temperature increases so does the rate of reaction, up until an optimum. After this point the enzyme is denatured/enzyme’s active site changes shape so no E-S complexes can form.
Route
Photosynthesis

QWC Additional Travel Card
Command word:
Compare and contrast –
What’s similar and different?
Connectives:
Whereas, alternatively, unlike, equally, consequently, unless, if, as long as, however, such as, for instance, this means, . . .
Question
Value
6 marks
Route
Transport
Mark band
1-2
3-4
5-6
Success criteria
Brief description of one difference or similarity. SPAG poor.
Answer includes a description of either similarities or differences.
There is good use of specialist terms. Some SPAG errors.
There are examples given for both similarities and differences. Most of the key points are included and used accurately. Few, if any, errors in
SPAG.
Route
Transport
Science Points
Similarities:
• Both osmosis and diffusion move molecules/particles down a concentration gradient/high to low concentration
• Both osmosis and diffusion are passive/do not require energy.
• Both active transport and osmosis require a partially permeable membrane.
Differences
• Active transport is different to osmosis and diffusion as it require energy/ATP; it moves molecules/particles against a concentration gradient.
• Active transport requires carrier proteins whereas diffusion and osmosis do not.