Extended Response

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Extended Response

• Higher Biology

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Types of Questions
There are two types of ER questions, structured
and unstructured.
On your exam you will be asked to do 1 of each
All questions are worth 10 marks but the
different types are assessed differently
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Strategy
Start with a plan
List as many RELEVANT points as you can think of
under headings (if given)
Put your points in a sensible order
Write into a coherent paragraph
Check your grammar if it doesnt make sense you
wont get the mark even if we know what you mean
You will be awarded 1 mark for each acceptable
point. Aim for 1.5 points per mark there will
be lots of things that arent going to be worth a
mark
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Structured
These questions are divided into sections and
marks are awarded to each section.

• Example Discuss transport in plants under the
  following headings
• Transport of food (5)
• Transport of water and dissolved minerals (5)

This means that you can get a MAXIMUM of 5 marks
per section.
You would aim to give 7 or 8 relevant points for
each section.
These need to be written in sentences to form a
paragraph.
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Unstructured
These questions are more open and you will be
awarded just 8 marks for the points you make.

• Additionally 1 mark will be awarded for
  relevance.
• this means you must not include points that dont
  answer the question
• To get this mark you need AT LEAST 4 marks from
  your points

The last mark is for coherence your answer must
be in the form of a sensible paragraph
Example Discuss transport in plants (10)
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Tips

1. Make a plan even if you think you know the
   answer well

2. Include labelled diagrams wherever possible
3. Writing must be as concise as possible.
Avoid trying to say the same thing in different
ways.
4. Include as much detail as you can this is
where the marks come from.
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Try this one!
Discuss transport in plants (10)
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Discuss transport in plants (10)
Materials in plants can be transported by phloem
or xylem.
Phloem transports dissolved glucose (food).
This food is transported from where it is
produced in the leaves all around the plant.
Phloem vessels are made of living cells.


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Water and dissolved minerals are transported in
the xylem
Xylem is made of hollow dead tubes that run from
the roots to all parts of the plant
Water can only travel in an upward direction
through xylem
Xylem tubes are strengthened by rings of lignin
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From the 2008 paper Write notes on (i) the
control of lactose metabolism in E. coli
(6) (ii) phenylketonuria in humans. (4)
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Marking Instructions from the SQA site
(i) 1. the regulator gene produces/codes for
repressor (molecule/substance/ protein) NOT
gene 1 2. lactose is the inducer 1 3.
lactose binds with repressor (molecule/substance/p
rotein) 1 4. in the presence of lactose
operator switches on structural gene 1 5. in
the presence of lactose/so enzyme/B galactosidase
made OR structural gene codes for enzyme NOT
wrong enzyme 1 6. in absence of lactose
repressor (molecule/substance/protein) binds to
operator 1 7. in the absence of lactose/so
operator cannot switch on/switches off
structural gene 1 8. in the absence of
lactose/so/when structural gene switched off
enzyme not made 1 9. (E. coli) conserves
resources/energy OR does not waste energy NOT
only made when required 1 Maximum 6
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Note repressor gene penalise only once
(ii) 10. phenylalanine is involved in a
metabolic pathway 1 OR show in diagram of
pathway 11. each step (in a metabolic pathway)
is controlled by an enzyme 1 12. PKU is caused
by mutation (of a gene)/inborn error of
metabolism and leads to an altered/absent enzyme
1 13. phenylalanine builds up/is not broken
down/converted to a toxic compound/phenylpyruvate
1 14. damage to nervous system
development/description, eg brain damage/ 1
mental retardation/learning difficulties
Maximum 4 Total (10)