Structured questions
Simple recall questions are usually worth one mark. They often have command words like 'Give', 'State', 'Name' or 'Identify'. Some questions may ask you to state two things, rather than just one, and will be worth two marks.
Structured questions, with command words such as 'Describe' or 'Explain', will be worth two or more marks:
- if you are asked to describe something, you need to give an account but no reason
- if you are asked to explain something, you must give reasons or explanations
More complex structured questions will be worth three to five marks. They include questions with complex descriptions and explanations, questions in which you need to compare and contrast two different things, or calculations with several stages.
The mark schemes given here may show answers as bullet points. This is to show clearly how a mark can be obtained. However, it is important that your answer is written in a logical, linked way.
Learn about command words with Dr Alex Lathbridge
Listen to the full series on 鶹Լ Sounds.
Understanding the different command words in your science GCSE exams.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
The word equation for rusting is:
iron + water + oxygen → rust (hydrated iron(III) oxide)
Balance the symbol equation for the formation of rust.
______ Fe(s) + 6H2O(l) + ______ O2(g) → 2Fe2O3.3H2O(s) [2 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Chemistry, Paper J248, 2016.
4 Fe(s) + 6H2O(l) + 3 O2(g) → 2Fe2O3.3H2O(s) [2]
Sample question 2 - Higher
Question
Iron is extracted from iron oxide, Fe2O3.
In the extraction process, the iron oxide is heated with carbon to form iron and carbon dioxide.
Write the balanced equation for this reaction. [3 marks]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
2Fe2O3 + 3C → 4Fe + 3CO2
- correct formulae on left hand side [1]
- correct formulae on right hand side [1]
- (correct formulae) balanced correctly [1]