One and two mark questions
One to two mark questions will start with command words such as 'describe' or 'explain'. Some command words are easy to understand such as:
- 'calculate' or 'determine' for maths questions
- 'complete' to fill in a gap in a table or graph
- 'state what is meant by' to give the meaning of an important term
- 'comment on' where you use your knowledge in an unfamiliar situation
The command words 'describe' and 'explain' can be confusing. If you are asked to describe a graph, you will be expected to write about its overall shape, whether it is linear or curved, the slope of gradients etc. If you are asked to explain why a pattern or trend is seen in a graph, you will be expected to use your science knowledge, not just say what you see (which is a description), eg 'The graph shows a steep linear increase for the first three hours because鈥'.
Explain how and why questions often have the word 'because' in their answer. Describe questions don't.
The number of marks per question part is given in this form: '[2 marks]'. It is essential that you give two different answers if a question is worth two marks. Sometimes you can gain a second mark by giving the units in a calculation or stating specific data points, eg the speed of the object decreased by 8 m/s.
Edexcel questions courtesy of Pearson Education Ltd.
Learn about command words with Dr Alex Lathbridge
Listen to the full series on 大象传媒 Sounds.
Understanding the different command words in your science GCSE exams.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
The figure shows the structure of an oxygen-14 atom.
State the overall charge of the oxygen-14 atom. [1 mark]
There are eight protons and eight electrons, so the overall charge is zero.
Atoms are always neutral 鈥 they have zero overall charge.
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
A teacher uses a Geiger-M眉ller tube and a counter to measure background radiation. The reading on the counter tube is 34 counts per minute.
a) The teacher puts a source of beta radiation 15 cm in front of the same Geiger-M眉ller tube. The reading on the counter tube is now 468 counts per minute.
Calculate how much radiation detected by the Geiger-M眉ller tube comes from the source of beta radiation. [1 mark]
b) The teacher puts a thick sheet of aluminium between the source of beta radiation and the Geiger-M眉ller tube.
Estimate the reading on the counter tube. [1 mark]
a) We must always subtract the background count to find the extra counts from the source of beta radiation used.
Calculate: 468 - 34 = 434 counts per minute.
b) 34 counts per minute. A thick sheet of aluminium blocks beta particles, so no radiation from the source should reach the Geiger-M眉ller tube. Only background radiation will reach the detector so the answer should be 34 counts per minute.
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
State what is meant by the term 'half-life'. [1 mark]
The time taken for the activity of a radioactive nuclide to halve.
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
The nucleus of americium-238 can absorb an electron.
When this happens, one of the protons in the nucleus becomes a neutron, as shown below.
\(_{1}^{1}p + _{-1}^{0}e \rightarrow _{0}^{1}n\)
Describe how absorbing an electron affects the proton number and the nucleon number of a nucleus. [2 marks]
The proton number decreases by 1. The nucleon number stays the same.
The question has asked for two different things. Make sure you give an answer to both.