Overall scientific knowledge was strong and most candidates attempted every question.
Coverage across the syllabus was uneven — use the syllabus as a checklist to ensure every LO is revised.
Be precise with definitions (e.g., catalyst remains unchanged), read graphs carefully, quote units, and follow command words (describe vs explain).
Moderate (a)(i) Definitions imprecise: many wrote “changes the rate” instead of “increases”; must add that a catalyst is unchanged/not used up.
Moderate (a)(ii) Elements often correct, but some gave amino acids/CO? instead of required chemical elements.
Difficult (b) Optimum pH/denaturation explanations weak; few linked to collision frequency/enzyme–substrate complexes. Graph reading & units sometimes inaccurate.
Easy (c)(i) Correctly identified fats/oils as reactant; occasional glucose/glycogen errors.
Moderate (c)(ii) Bile neutralising gastric acid generally known; a few thought pancreas makes bile or mixed up “high pH” with “acidity”.
Moderate (a)(i–iii) Reading/stating sides of heart mostly fine; some used non-syllabus terms or mixed up directions. Best answers referenced the left ventricle for vessel C.
Difficult (b)(i) Command word was describe the graph; many tried to explain or gave too little detail. Misconception: when the line levels the energy release “stops”. Include trends + units.
Moderate (b)(ii) Anaerobic respiration equation — some added CO? or failed to balance.
Easy (b)(iii) Lactic acid was commonly correct; CO? was the frequent distractor.
Difficult (a)(i) Stimulus said plant kept in dark; many answered phototropism.
Moderate (a)(ii) Auxin known; fewer described shaded-side accumulation/diffusion and effect on cell elongation.
Moderate (c) Calculations mostly clear; errors from poor graph reading/rounding or subtracting from 100 incorrectly.
Moderate (a) Oestrogen & LH usually correct though some swapped/renamed.
Moderate (b) Likely day of ovulation known; “shedding” needed a range of dates.
Moderate (c) Role of progesterone widely known; fewer noted that its level remains high.
Moderate (d) Sites of progesterone production — ovary/placenta expected; some gave pituitary/uterus.
Difficult (e) Best answers described maturation of eggs; vague references to “growth/ovulation” lost credit.
Moderate (a)(i) Use visible features for insect pollination (e.g., large/spotted petals). Non-visible evidence (sticky pollen) was not credited.
Moderate (a)(ii) Good A/D for sexual reproduction; occasional vagueness and confusion between transmissible vs genetic disease.
Easy (b)(i) Calculation value usually correct; very occasional unit slips.
Moderate (b)(ii) Answers needed leaf area not “leaf size”.
Difficult (b)(iii) Natural selection explanation: many drifted into GM/selective breeding; remember selection over many generations acting on alleles.
Moderate (a)(i) Chlorophyll ? photosynthesis using CO?; a few wrongly used CO? for respiration.
Moderate (a)(ii) Role of zooplankton recognised; some just repeated stimulus.
Easy (a)(iii) Two correct processes often given; evaporation/photosynthesis were incorrect.
Difficult (a)(iv) Effects of ?CO? on global warming/environment required — not mechanisms/ozone.
Difficult (b)(i) Place primary consumers on a pyramid of energy — many mis-labelled trophic levels.
Moderate (b)(ii) Explain energy loss between trophic levels; best gave examples (e.g., heat, movement, egestion).
Difficult (b)(iii) Compare pyramids: energy vs biomass — reliability/time factor expected.
Moderate (c)(i) Define sustainable resource beyond “environmentally friendly”: produced as rapidly as it is used so it does not run out.
Difficult (c)(ii) Methods to conserve fish stocks with how they work (mesh size/quotas/closed seasons ? allow young fish to breed).
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