Particles - Six-mark questions
Six-mark questions are extended open response questions. These require longer answers than the structured questions with fewer marks. It is wise to plan your answer rather than rushing straight into it, otherwise you may stray away from the key points.
Six-mark questions are marked using a levels-based mark scheme because they are open ended. To gain full marks, you need to:
- support explanations using scientific knowledge and understanding
- use appropriate scientific words and terms
- write clearly, linking ideas in a logical way
- maintain a sustained line of reasoning, rather than getting lost or bogged down
You are likely to see command words such as:
- 'describe' - you need to give an account but no reason
- 'explain' - you must give reasons or explanations
- 'devise' - you must plan or invent a procedure using your scientific knowledge and understanding
- 'evaluate' - you must review information, including identifying strengths and weaknesses, and make a supported conclusion
Six-mark questions may be synoptic questions. This means they bring together ideas from two or more topics. For example, a question about fertilisers could include ideas about covalent substances, acids and alkalis, chemical calculations, and effects on the environment.
Remember that the topics covered in the first paper are assumed knowledge for the second paper, so questions in the second paper may need knowledge and understanding of those topics too.
The answers shown here give marking points as bullet points. You do not usually need to include all of them to gain six marks, but you do need to write in full sentences, linking them logically and clearly.
These questions have been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of questions that may appear in an exam paper.
Writing six-mark answers with Dr Alex Lathbridge
Listen to the full series on 大象传媒 Sounds.
How to write six-mark answers in your science GCSE exams.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
Describe the arrangement and movement of particles in each of the three states of matter. Explain what happens to the particles in a liquid during boiling.
[6 marks]
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:
- particles in solids are close together and regularly arranged
- particles in solids vibrate about fixed positions
- particles in liquids are close together and randomly arranged
- particles in liquids move around each other
- particles in gases are far apart and randomly arranged
- during boiling, energy is transferred to particles
- bonds between particles break/are overcome
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
Describe the structure of an atom, including properties of its subatomic particles.
[6 marks]
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:
- nucleus surrounded by electrons
- electrons arranged in shells
- nucleus contains protons and neutrons
- number of protons and electrons is the same
- protons are positively charged, electrons are negatively charged, neutrons are neutral
- overall charge on an atom is zero
- protons and neutrons have the same mass, electrons are lighter particles
- most of the mass is concentrated in the nucleus
- nucleus is very small compared to the overall size of an atom
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
John Dalton developed a simple model of the atom in 1803. Describe how and why the atomic model has changed over time. In your answer, include the work of Thomson, Rutherford and Bohr, and the Geiger-Marsden experiment.
[6 marks]
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.
Thomson:
- discovered the electron
- knew that atoms are neutral overall
- plum pudding model
- atoms are spheres of positive charge with electrons dotted around inside
Geiger-Marsden experiment:
- positively charged particles aimed at gold foil
- many particles changed direction
Rutherford:
- used results from Geiger-Marsden experiment
- developed the planetary/nuclear model
- atoms have central positively charged nucleus
- electrons orbit the nucleus
Bohr:
- electrons occupy shells or energy levels around the nucleus