Structured questions
Simple recall questions are usually worth one mark. They are often have command words like 'Give', 'State', 'Name' or 'Identify'. Some questions may ask you to state two things, rather than just one, and will be worth two marks.
Structured questions, with command words such as 'Describe' or 'Explain', will be worth two or more marks:
- if you are asked to describe something, you need to give an account but no reason
- if you are asked to explain something, you must give reasons or explanations
More complex structured questions will be worth three to five marks. They include questions with complex descriptions and explanations, questions in which you need to compare and contrast two different things, or calculations with several stages.
The mark schemes given here may show answers as bullet points. This is to show clearly how a mark can be obtained. However, it is important that your answer is written in a logical, linked way.
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
Crude oil contains a mixture of hydrocarbons that boil at different temperatures. It is separated into useful fractions by fractional distillation.
Describe how crude oil can be separated using a fractionating column. [4 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Chemistry, Paper J248, 2016.
The following are vaild points that could be included in your answer. It is important that you do not bullet point your answer but write your sentences in full.
- column heated at the bottom, so hot at the bottom and cool at the top [1]
- oil vapours rise and cool down [1]
- substances with low boiling points condense at the top [1]
- substances with high boiling points condense at the bottom [1]