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How to answer A-level Biology essay questions
The Synoptic essay questions in paper 3 of the AQA A-level biology course carries 25 marks, so can make a big difference to your overall grade. The essay encourages you to think across different topics (some call this “synoptic” or “holistic” thinking). This is also valuable for other areas of the exams, particularly the application questions .
Here are a few tips for tackling your A-level biology essay: (As an example, Let’s use the title “The importance of movement in cells and tissues”)
Think broadly…
Essay titles are deliberately vague to give you the chance to show your knowledge in a variety of topics. To help you to choose what’s most relevant, look out for subjective words like “movement” and “cells”. Think of the possible alternatives. “Cells”, for example, hints that you could discuss plants, animals, single-celled organisms etc. in your essay. “Movement” could mean short distances (across a membrane) or much further (circulation or mass flow) or even the whole tissue moving (phototropism).
Visualize and catastrophize!
If you can’t think of enough topics for an “importance” essay, flip the question around – what would happen if movement in cells suddenly ground to a halt? Or if ATP suddenly vanished, or our cells were robbed of their ions? Sometimes catastrophizing in this way frees up thoughts, and helps you see what is really important. Another way is to picture every diagram in your notes or textbook that features the thing-that’s-important-in-the-question. If it’s in a diagram, it could go in your essay.
Pick your strongest topics
It’s possible to drop marks on the essay for scientific errors. With that in mind, even if you have lots of ideas for things to include, always pick the topics you can write confidently about. For bonus marks, try to order them in a way that “flows” like a story. Take care to use A-level (and not GCSE) language too.
Keep an eye on the question
While you’re writing, keep asking yourself “Where am I placing the emphasis?”. If the essay is about movement, perhaps you don’t need a whole page about nervous responses, only the bits where movement is involved – sodium ions flowing through channels, waves of depolarisation etc. Movement is the focus of the essay, after all, not neurons. Always ask yourself “Does this sentence fit with the title of the essay?”
Use outside knowledge
The top marks for the essay are reserved for displaying “evidence of reading beyond specification requirements”. Often you can drop recent scientific research or news into your writing – how vaccines tackle COVID might work in an essay about viruses, for example. I often encourage students to have a quick look at the news pages of New Scientist pages (eg https://www.newscientist.com/subject/health/ ) before paper 3 for inspiration – you don’t need to spend ages doing this, just long enough to have one or two ideas up your sleeve…
Good luck with your essay!
If you’d like to work through some example essay questions, please get in touch with me at Woolton Tutors (or Woolton Biology) and we can set up some online biology tutoring sessions.
Best wishes,
Dr John Ankers
Specialist online A-level biology tutor
www.wooltontutors.co.uk
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Author: Dr John Ankers
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AQA A2 biology: writing the synoptic essay
Writing the Synoptic Essay, the first ever book handing you everything you need in order to gain the maximum marks in this most challenging part of the AQA Biology A-Level exam. Comes complete with 20 sample essays, an account of what's expected, advice on choosing the right essay. How to plan and organise your essay. What to do if you get stuck and help on getting your essay timing right.
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AQA Synoptic Essay (Paper 3)
Subject: Biology
Age range: 16+
Resource type: Other
Last updated
21 May 2019
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An introduction to the synoptic essay on paper 3 of the AQA Biology A-level. Lesson includes the following…
- choose topics relevant to the essay title
- understand the mark scheme and why essays are awarded each band of marks.
- Explore ways in which we can link topics to the main theme of the question ie the importance of (this is what students find hardest to do and what they need to be able to do gain the top 2 bands of marks)
I designed this ppt to introduce essays to my year 12s at the end of the AS course. Topics relevant to the essay titles from year 13 could certainly be added if you were using this year 13 students.
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A bit short for a fiver....it's one 15 slide PPT. The description of how marks are awarded is pretty much the same as the AQA resources and, of course, it's limited to the Y12 content (as you describe) but it means that a full discussion of 'the importance of.....' part of the question is rther threadbare.
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AQA A-Level Biology Revision
For each of the papers below, there are revision notes, summary sheets, questions from past exam papers separated by topic and other worksheets.
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Biology is detailed and comprehensive A-level content, uses appropriate terminology, and is very well written and always clearly explained. No significant errors or irrelevant material. For top marks in the band, the answer shows evidence of reading beyond specification requirements. 16-20. Relational.
The importance of shapes fitting together in cells and organisms. 1) Enzyme properties and digestion. 2) Protein structure. 3) Plasma membrane structure and cell transport. 4) Antigens, antibodies, B cells & T cells. 5) Vaccines. 6) Structure of DNA. 7) DNA Replication (not PCR) 8) Transcription & translation.
AQA - Biology Unit 5 The Essay: 2 Marking the essay Scientific content Is the essay Good (12 marks) Medium (8 marks) ... required at A-level content If the essay has been classed as good, add 2 marks if there is one tick in the box, or 4 marks if there are two or more ticks. Breadth Topic Tick box if at least one "paragraph"
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Aqa a level biology synoptic essays aqa a2 biology: writing the synoptic essay dr robert mitchell ct publications aqa a2 biology: writing the synoptic essay. Skip to document. ... B1 - Exam questions on the energy and biomass module in Molec. Cell. Bio. 3 4 Booklet (pt2) V2 - a level aqa practice; 3 3 Booklet (pt1) - a level aqa practice;
The Synoptic essay questions in paper 3 of the AQA A-level biology course carries 25 marks, so can make a big difference to your overall grade. The essay encourages you to think across different topics (some call this "synoptic" or "holistic" thinking). This is also valuable for other areas of the exams, particularly the application.
The AQA A level biology synoptic essay can be daunting. But if you understand that most of the marks are 'Recall' it suddenly seem quite so scary does it?!I...
AQA A2 biology: writing the synoptic essay. Writing the Synoptic Essay, the first ever book handing you everything you need in order to gain the maximum marks in this most challenging part of the AQA Biology A-Level exam. Comes complete with 20 sample essays, an account of what's expected, advice on choosing the right essay.
This essay has described some of these roles learned during the a -level study and has ... [email protected] 0800 040 7901 4 AQA A2 Biology : Writing the synoptic essay ESSAY 02: DNA AND THE TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION Deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, carries the genetic code for all living organisms on this planet. It is variation in ...
I have been working with some tutees to improve their approach to the AQA Paper 3 Extended Essay - so here are a few tips, and all of the essay titles (and markschemes) since 2007. A Few Points Raised By The Exam Boards Feedback. The essay is designed to assess whether you can bring together material from a range of topics to illustrate and ...
View Answer. 1e 2 marks. In pepper plants, the largest increase in defensive enzyme secretion observed in response to the presence of the signal protein was 119.4 % (lines 19-20). The rate of secretion of the defensive enzymes before the presence of signal protein was 500 µmol dm−3 g−1 hour−1. Calculate the rate of secretion per second ...
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Al Waters. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Nov 15, 2016 - Education - 144 pages. ** Both essay titles for both the 2017 and 2018 exams were covered in this book **The only book written for the new (first sitting 2017) AQA Biology exam. This book gives clear, concise and updated advice for every title found in the last 20 years and ...
Age range: 16+. Resource type: Other. File previews. pptx, 451.3 KB. An introduction to the synoptic essay on paper 3 of the AQA Biology A-level. Lesson includes the following…. choose topics relevant to the essay title. understand the mark scheme and why essays are awarded each band of marks. Explore ways in which we can link topics to the ...
the 7402 essay question performs in general, as well as in comparison to the essay performance of the legacy A-level Biology 2410 specification. The third section contains guidance to some of the most commonly asked questions that AQA receives from teachers about the 7402 biology essay.
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The importance of membranes AQA A level biology. Practice answer - One of the essay questions on June 2023 AQA A level... View more. Module. Biomedical Science. 16 Documents. Students shared 16 documents in this course. University York St John University. Academic year: 2022/2023. Uploaded by:
Responding to Changes in Environment. Topic 7: Genetics, Populations, Evolution and Ecosystems. Topic 8: Control of Gene Expression. Practical Skills. All Topics, 1-8. Practical Skills. Revision for AQA Biology AS and A Level Papers, including summary notes, worksheets and past exam questions for each topic.
Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like There is a positive correlation between the size of snow geese and how far north they breed. A large size results in snow geese being adapted for breeding in colder conditions. Explain how. (2), Nitrogenase catalyses the reduction of nitrogen as well as reactions involving other substances. Explain what this suggests about the ...
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