Linking questions
Linking questions span different topics. In linking questions, it is important that you plan your answer and not just rush into it. After all, you would plan an essay or short story before starting. Without a plan it is easy to stray away from the key point and lose marks, get steps in a process in the wrong order or forget key bits of information. Remember to write your answer in full sentences, not bullet points.
One way to answer linking questions is to follow these steps:
- Identify exactly what the question is asking (perhaps by underlining key parts).
- Identify what the link between the two parts of the question is.
- Make a short plan of these links (which will form the basis of your answer).
- Include as much information as you can to obtain full marks (see below).
The number of marks per question part is given in this form '[4 marks]'. It is essential that you give four different answers if a question is worth four marks. Sometimes you can gain an additional mark by giving the units in a calculation or stating specific data points, eg after twenty-four hours the pH of the milk at room temperature had decreased by 1.2.
Linking 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
- 'choose' for multiple choice questions
- 'complete' to fill in a gap in a table or graph
- 'define' to give the meaning of an important word
- 'suggest' where you use your knowledge in an unfamiliar situation
The command words 'describe' and 'explain' can be confused. 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 that the biodiversity is lower on the school field. This is because鈥'
Explain how and why questions often have the word 'because' in their answer. Describe questions don't.
These questions have been written by Bitesize consultants as suggestions to the types of questions that may appear in an exam paper.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
Giving examples, describe the similarities and differences between the role of hormones in the endocrine system and nerves in the nervous system. [6 marks]
Six from:
- Both hormones and electrical impulses in nerves send signals.
- Electrical signals in nerves move quickly and hormones travel more slowly.
- Hormones are involved with slower, long-term change such as puberty whereas nerves bring about immediate/rapid responses such as catching balls (2 marks - 1 mark for making the comparison, 1 mark for giving an example).
- Hormones move in the blood whereas the nerve signals pass along neurons.
- Both the endocrine system and the nervous system receive information from sensory receptors (1 mark) eg the level of sugar in the blood for the endocrine system, or the movement of an object from the eyes for the nervous system (1 mark).
Sample question 2 - Higher
Question
Plants are able to respond to stimuli in their environment such as light and gravity. Explain how the responses are brought about and why they are important. [6 marks]
- Phototropism is the growth of plant shoots towards the light. (1 mark) This is important as the leaves need light for photosynthesis (1 mark).
- The tip of the shoot produces auxin. Auxin causes cells further down the shoot to elongate unevenly so that the shoot curves towards the light.
- Gravitropism/geotropism is the growth of roots downwards. (1 mark) This is important because the roots need to grow down into the soil to anchor the plant/find water/minerals (1 mark).
- Auxin causes cells in the root to elongate unevenly so that it curves downwards.
- Auxin has the opposite effect on cell elongation in shoots compared to roots. Shoot cells elongate more, root cells elongate less.