Marking Guide

Cambridge Exam Marking Guide: Key Features

Specific Keywords and Phrases:

• Mark schemes often award marks for specific terms or scientific keywords expected in the answer.
• Avoid vague or generalized statements.

Stepwise Allocation of Marks:

• Questions typically have multi-part marking, with marks assigned for each correct point or explanation.
• For example:
  • 1 mark for naming a process.
  • 1 mark for a correct description.
  • 1 mark for an accurate example.

Application of Knowledge:

• Marks are awarded for applying knowledge to the context of the question, not just recalling facts.
• Example: Explaining diffusion in the context of gas exchange rather than defining it generically.

Clear and Logical Answers:

• Answers must be clear, logically organized, and relevant to the question to earn full marks.

Command Words:

• Marks depend on addressing the command words (e.g., “describe,” “explain,” “compare”).
• Failing to meet the requirement of the command word can result in lost marks.

Diagrams and Tables:

• When asked for, diagrams should be labeled and neat to gain credit.
• Incorrect labels or poor presentation may lose marks.

Units and Significant Figures:

• In calculations, marks are given for using the correct units and maintaining appropriate significant figures.

Spelling and Grammar:

• Scientific terms must be spelled correctly, especially for biological and technical words, to earn marks.
• Minor grammatical errors generally don’t affect marks unless they change the meaning.

Follow the Mark Scheme:

• Examiners award marks based only on what is explicitly stated in the mark scheme. Answers must align with the expected points.

Negative Marking:

• Cambridge typically does not penalize incorrect answers directly (no negative marking), but incorrect information that contradicts correct points can result in a lost mark.

Symbols and Punctuation:

Key Symbols and Meanings

1. A or Accept
   • Meaning: Indicates an alternative acceptable answer.
   • Example: For the question “Name a process that releases energy in cells,” the answer “respiration” or “aerobic respiration” would both be accepted.
2. R or Reject
   • Meaning: Highlights answers that are incorrect or unacceptable.
   • Example: If the question asks for “a type of asexual reproduction,” the answer “fertilization” would be rejected.
3. Bold Semi-Colon (;)
   • Meaning: Each semi-colon represents 1 mark for a distinct point.
   • Example:
     • “Oxygen diffuses into the cell; carbon dioxide diffuses out.” (2 marks: 1 mark for each point).
4. Slash ( / )
   • Meaning: Denotes alternative answers that are worth the same mark.
   • Example: “Lungs/trachea” means either answer is correct.
5. Brackets ( )
   • Meaning: Text in brackets is not required to earn the mark but does not invalidate the answer if included.
   • Example: “Mitosis (in somatic cells)” – “Mitosis” alone earns the mark.
6. Underlining
   • Meaning: Emphasizes essential words or phrases that must be included to earn the mark.
   • Example: If the mark scheme underlines “diffusion,” the answer must explicitly use the word “diffusion” to be awarded marks.

Additional Notes

1. AW (Alternative Wording)
   • Meaning: Acceptable if the essential meaning is conveyed, even if the wording differs slightly from the mark scheme.
   • Example: For “Describe the role of the cell membrane,” the mark scheme may accept “controls what enters and exits the cell” instead of “regulates the movement of substances.”
2. AVP (Additional Valid Point)
   • Meaning: Awards marks for relevant additional points made by students that are not explicitly listed in the mark scheme.
   • Example: In a question about photosynthesis, if the student mentions “oxygen is a by-product” and it’s not explicitly listed, they may receive an extra mark if labeled as AVP.
3. ORA (Or Reverse Argument)
   • Meaning: Accepts an opposite expression of the same idea.
   • Example:
     • Question: “What happens to enzyme activity as temperature increases?”
       • “Activity increases between 20°C and 40°C; ORA: activity decreases above 40°C due to denaturation.”
4. Max
   • Meaning: Indicates the maximum number of marks that can be awarded for a question or section.
   • Example: If a 4-mark question asks for functions of the liver, even if the student lists 6 correct functions, only 4 marks will be awarded.

Tips for Using the Mark Scheme

Focus on Keywords:

• Tip: Include key terms that are often underlined in the mark scheme to secure marks.
• Example: If the question asks “What is osmosis?” ensure your answer includes “movement of water,” “across a partially permeable membrane,” and “from high to low water potential.”

Be Precise:

• Tip: Avoid vague answers; use scientific language and terminology.
• Example: Instead of writing “plants make food,” write “plants produce glucose during photosynthesis.”

Provide All Necessary Details:

• Tip: Break your answer into clear, distinct points when multiple marks are available.
• Example: For “Describe the role of chloroplasts,” write:
• “Contain chlorophyll (1); absorb light for photosynthesis (1); convert light energy to chemical energy (1).”

Follow Command Words:

• Tip: Tailor your response to the specific command word (e.g., “describe,” “explain,” “state”).
• Example:
• Describe: “The enzyme fits the substrate like a lock and key.”
• Explain: “The enzyme fits the substrate due to complementary shapes, allowing a reaction to occur.”

Use Logical Structure:

• Tip: Organize your answers clearly, with separate points corresponding to marks.
• Example: For “Name two functions of the nucleus,” write:

“Controls cell activities (1); stores genetic material (1).”

Marking Guidelines:

Stepwise Allocation:

• Each marking point corresponds to a specific piece of required information.
• If a student includes partial information, no mark is awarded unless explicitly stated.

Contextual Requirements:

• Marks are often awarded only if the answer is relevant to the question’s context. Generic answers may not earn marks.

Accuracy over Length:

• Long answers with irrelevant information do not gain extra credit. Marks are awarded only for relevant, correct points.

Follow the Mark Scheme:

• Markers adhere strictly to the mark scheme and cannot infer correct answers if they are not explicitly stated by the student.