Question 1

How do I get full marks on a 6-mark question in AQA GCSE Biology?

Accepted Answer

AQA's 6-mark questions are levels-of-response, which means examiners aren't just counting correct points. They're looking for a sustained line of reasoning that connects several biological ideas together.

The shapes AQA uses on 6-markers are predictable:

- Compare two scenarios
- Explain a process step by step
- Evaluate an experimental design

A useful way to approach them: plan a quick structure before you write (3 to 4 points + a link back to the question), use precise biological terminology, and make sure to link cause to effect rather than just listing facts. Our worked answers show exactly how the marks are awarded at each level.

Question 2

What do the levels in a Biology mark scheme actually mean?

Accepted Answer

AQA's 6-mark questions are marked using level-of-response descriptors rather than ticking individual points. The mark scheme splits the marks into three levels, and your answer is placed in whichever level best describes it overall.

| Level | Marks | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 1-2 | A few correct ideas, but missing explanation or links between them |
| Level 2 | 3-4 | Right ideas with some explanation, but reasoning isn't fully developed |
| Level 3 | 5-6 | Sustained explanation that connects facts into coherent reasoning |

The big shift from level 2 to level 3 is the reasoning: 'this happens, BECAUSE of this, WHICH MEANS this'. When you self-mark, look at the descriptors and ask honestly whether your answer just states what happens, or actually explains why.

Question 3

What's the difference between Cognito's exam practice and past papers?

Accepted Answer

Past papers are the actual papers AQA has set in previous exam series, marked by official mark schemes.

Our exam practice questions are written in AQA's style (same question types, same wording conventions) but grouped by topic and question format, so you can focus on the patterns you find hardest without working through full papers.

Most students use exam practice to build skill across topics first, then sit our [past papers](https://cognito.org/courses/gcse/biology-triple/aqa/higher/past-papers/by-year) under timed conditions closer to the exam.

Question 4

How long should I spend on each question in the exam?

Accepted Answer

Roughly a mark a minute. The paper is 100 marks in 105 minutes, so you've got a small buffer for reading and checking.

The 6-mark questions are the ones that catch people out, so budget about 7 to 8 minutes on each.

The most important thing is to pick up the marks you know you can get first. If you hit a question you're stuck on, put a small star next to it on the paper, move on, and come back to it at the end. You don't want to lose easy marks at the back of the paper because you burned ten minutes on one question in the middle.