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, e.g. 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 confusing. 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).
Explain how and why questions often have the word 'because' in their answer. Describe questions don't.
This page contains AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
The students measured the growth of the duckweed by counting the number of leaves.
Suggest a better method of measuring the growth of the duckweed. [1 mark]
Tip - suggest possible ways to measure growth. Think about other examples from your topics.
By recording the mass or weight of the leaves this would allow data to be collected for a number of duckweed leaves. [1 mark]
Ignore dry or fresh leaves, for this example this is unimportant here.
Or other sensible methods for example, such as the measuring the length of roots would be acceptable. Ignore 'size' of roots - this type of comment is too vague. Try and be more specific and refer to the length or something similar. [1 mark]
Question
Suggest why your method is better than the students' method. [1 mark]
Tip - a direct comparison between your suggested method and the described method.
Corresponding explanation:
Detailed responses here will help achieve these marks. For example including the roots or reference to including the whole plant, or commenting that leaves can and do vary in size, which also relates to differences in length or mass or surface area. Ignore any comment about difference in accuracy between the two methods. [1 mark]
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
The pie chart shows the impact on the health of the population caused by drugs from different sources.
Legal non-prescribed drugs have a greater impact on the health of the population than illegal drugs. Suggest two reasons why. [2 marks]
Tip - consider the availability of different types of drug within the population. Which drugs are commonly available and accepted generally.
Marks will be awarded from any of the following points:
- more people take / use legal / non-prescribed drugs [1 mark]
- legal / non-prescribed drugs are (more) readily available [1 mark]
- alcohol causes liver/brain damage or tobacco causes cancer [1 mark]
Sample question 3 - Higher
Howea forsteriana and Howea belmoreana are two species of palm tree. The two species grow together on a small island in the South Pacific.
Question
What is meant by the term species? [2 marks]
Tip - try and give two different points to obtain both marks here.
Species are organisms that can breed together [1 mark] and successfully produce fertile offspring [1 mark].
Question
The table gives some information about these two species of palm tree.
| Howea forsteriana | Howea belmoreana | |
| Optimum pH of teh soil for growth of the palm tree | pH 8 | pH 6 |
| Height above sea level of most common habitat | 30 to 60 metres | Above 120 metres |
| Month when most palm trees flower | October | December |
| Method of pollution | Wind carries pollen | Wind carries pollen |
| Optimum pH of teh soil for growth of the palm tree | |
|---|---|
| Howea forsteriana | pH 8 |
| Howea belmoreana | pH 6 |
| Height above sea level of most common habitat | |
|---|---|
| Howea forsteriana | 30 to 60 metres |
| Howea belmoreana | Above 120 metres |
| Month when most palm trees flower | |
|---|---|
| Howea forsteriana | October |
| Howea belmoreana | December |
| Method of pollution | |
|---|---|
| Howea forsteriana | Wind carries pollen |
| Howea belmoreana | Wind carries pollen |
Scientists believe that these two species of palm tree began to evolve from a single species over 2 million years ago. Suggest how these two different species developed. [5 marks]
In your answer you should use information from the table and your own knowledge.
Tip - 'suggest' where you use your knowledge in an unfamiliar situation. You won’t know exact details about these two species of palm trees, but you will be able to apply your knowledge here.
Two marks will be given from any of the following three comments:
- there are different pH conditions of soil where the two palm trees are located [1 mark]
- the two palm trees are located at different heights above sea level [1 mark]
- the two palm trees flower at different times [1 mark]
And then three marks will be given from any of the following four comments:
- genetic variation or mutations or different alleles are present in the isolated populations [1 mark]
- natural selection will act differently for these two populations [1 mark]
- different characteristics in the two populations will survive due to their different locations and genetic variation [1 mark]
- different alleles will be passed on to offspring in the two groups eventually resulting in interbreeding no longer possible [1 mark]
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Scientists at a drug company developed a new pain-killing drug, drug X.
The scientists compared drug X with two other pain-killing drugs, drug A and drug B. In their investigation the scientists:
- chose 600 volunteers. The volunteers were all in pain
- gave 200 of the volunteers a standard dose of drug A
- gave 200 of the volunteers a standard dose of drug B
- gave 200 of the volunteers a standard dose of drug X
Over the next seven hours the volunteers recorded how much pain they felt.
To get valid results the three groups of volunteers should be matched for as many factors as possible.
Suggest two of the factors that should be matched. [2 marks]
Tip - what general factors would need matching to achieve the two marks?
Marks will be awarded from any of the following points:
- Age - this is important, as different age groups may have different levels of pain tolerance.
- Sex - differences between males and females must be considered. So the same sex would remove that difference.
- Extent/severity of pain or how long they had pain before the trial - patients must have experienced similar levels of pain for a similar amount of time. For example, if a person had suffered pain for one year and was being compared to somebody who had only had the pain for two weeks, this would make it unreliable.
- Type of pain/illness/site of pain - similar illnesses, or similar sites of pain would again make the tests more reliable and repeatable.
- (Body) mass / weight / height - similar body mass and height are also important, as drugs can have slower effects if the body mass is much greater.
- Other medical issues/drugs taken/health/fitness - approximate fitness levels can be assessed, for example people who regularly exercise, or even if additional medication is being taken, as this may possible interact with the drug being tested.
- Ethnicity - this may be important, as specific ethnic groups can have predispositions to some diseases or medical conditions. So similar ethnic groups would be a good idea here.