AS

BIOLOGY
7401/1
Paper 1
Mark scheme
June 2023
Version: 1.0 Final

*236A7401/1/MS*
 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.

It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.

Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk

Copyright information

AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own
internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party
even for internal use within the centre.

Copyright © 2023 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Mark scheme instructions to examiners

1. General
The mark scheme for each question shows:
• the marks available for each part of the question
• the total marks available for the question
• the typical answer or answers which are expected
• Extra information to help the examiner make his or her judgement and help to delineate what
is acceptable or not worthy of credit or, in discursive answers, to give an overview of the area
in which a mark or marks may be awarded.

The extra information in the ‘Comments’ column is aligned to the appropriate answer in the left-
hand part of the mark scheme and should only be applied to that item in the mark scheme.
At the beginning of a part of a question a reminder may be given, for example: where
consequential marking needs to be considered in a calculation; or the answer may be on the
diagram or at a different place on the script.
In general the right-hand side of the mark scheme is there to provide those extra details which
confuse the main part of the mark scheme yet may be helpful in ensuring that marking is
straightforward and consistent.

2. Emboldening
2.1 In a list of acceptable answers where more than one mark is available ‘any two from’ is
used, with the number of marks emboldened. Each of the following bullet points is a
potential mark.
2.2 A bold and is used to indicate that both parts of the answer are required to award the
mark.
2.3 Alternative answers acceptable for the same mark are indicated by the use of OR.
Different terms in the mark scheme are shown by a/; eg allow smooth/free movement.

3. Marking points
3.1 Marking of lists
This applies to questions requiring a set number of responses, but for which students
have provided extra responses. The general principle to be followed in such a situation is
that ‘right + wrong = wrong’.

Each error/contradiction negates each correct response. So, if the number of

errors/contradictions equals or exceeds the number of marks available for the question,
no marks can be awarded.

However, responses considered to be neutral (often prefaced by ‘Ignore’ in the

‘Comments’ column of the mark scheme) are not penalised.

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

3.2 Marking procedure for calculations

Full marks can be given for a correct numerical answer, without any working shown.
However, if the answer is incorrect, mark(s) can usually be gained by correct
substitution/working and this is shown in the ‘Comments’ column or by each stage of a
longer calculation.

3.3 Interpretation of ‘it’

Answers using the word ‘it’ should be given credit only if it is clear that the ‘it’ refers to the
correct subject.

3.4 Errors carried forward, consequential marking and arithmetic errors

Allowances for errors carried forward are most likely to be restricted to calculation
questions and should be shown by the abbreviation ECF or consequential in the mark
scheme.
An arithmetic error should be penalised for one mark only unless otherwise amplified in
the mark scheme. Arithmetic errors may arise from a slip in a calculation or from an
incorrect transfer of a numerical value from data given in a question.

3.5 Phonetic spelling

The phonetic spelling of correct scientific terminology should be credited unless there is a
possible confusion with another technical term.

3.6 Brackets
(…..) are used to indicate information which is not essential for the mark to be awarded
but is included to help the examiner identify the sense of the answer required.

3.7 Ignore/Insufficient/Do not allow

Ignore or insufficient is used when the information given is irrelevant to the question or not
enough to gain the marking point. Any further correct amplification could gain the marking
point.
Do not allow means that this is a wrong answer which, even if the correct answer is
given, will still mean that the mark is not awarded.

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Sequence/order of amino acids; 2

01.1 (2 x
2. (Joined by) peptide bonds; AO1)

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

Accept
AA ‘3 bases’ for
1. (Universal) The same codon/triplet always codes
triplet
for the same amino acid;
2. (Non-overlapping) Each base is only part of one 2. Accept
triplet/codon ‘base/triplets/codons
3
only read once’
01.2 (3 x
OR
AO1)
(Adjacent) codons/triplets do not overlap;
3. (Degenerate) More than one codon/triplet codes
for each amino acid;

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Nucleus;
2. Nucleolus/nucleoli 2 max
Accept ‘membrane
(1 x
02.1 OR bound nucleus’ = 2
AO1, 1
marks
Nuclear membrane/envelope; x AO2)
3. Mitochondria/chloroplast contain DNA;

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

(In prokaryotes) Ignore ‘loop’

Circular not linear
Ignore ‘plasmid’
OR
1
02.2
Not associated with proteins/histones (AO1)

OR

No introns;

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Diaphragm (muscles)
contract and diaphragm flattens/pulled down;

2. External intercostal muscles

contract and ribcage pulled up/out; 3
02.3 (3 x
3. (Causes) volume increase and pressure AO1) 3. Accept lungs or
decrease in thoracic cavity (to below atmospheric thorax for ‘thoracic
pressure); cavity’

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. (Thicker capsule so phagocytes) less likely to

bind to murein (in cell wall)

OR 2
02.4 (2 x
(Thicker capsule so phagocytes) less likely to be AO2)
stimulated by murein (in cell wall); 2. Accept replicate/
2. Reduced phagocytosis so more bacterial multiplication but
growth/division/reproduction/binary fission; reject mitosis

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1
03.1 Everything other than the COOH inside drawn box;
(AO1)

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

(Triglyceride) 1, 2 and 3 Accept

converse
1. 3 fatty acids rather than 2; 2 max
1. Accept ‘only 2 fatty
03.2 (2 x
2. 3 ester bonds rather than 2; acids’
AO1)
3. No phosphate group;

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Phospholipid both hydrophobic and hydrophilic

OR

Phospholipid polar

OR
2. Accept
Phosphate group is charged; 3 ‘Triglycerides not
03.3 (3 x hydrophilic’
2. Triglycerides only hydrophobic AO1)

OR
3. Accept ‘faces
Fatty acid/triglyceride is non-polar; water’ for ‘attracts
water’
3. Ignore ‘fatty acids
3. Hydrophilic/phosphate group attracts water (to repel water’
either side of bilayer);

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Fatty acid A is saturated

OR
1.and 2. Accept
Fatty acid B is unsaturated; identification of A (as
saturated) or B (as
unsaturated) using
2. (At 4 months) less fatty acid A and more fatty
numbers from table 1
acid B

OR

Fish oil has more fatty acid B than fatty acid A;

3 max
(2 x
03.4 3. Increase in fluidity caused by increased
AO2, 1
unsaturated fatty acids
x AO3)
OR

Increase in fluidity caused by increased fatty acid

B (from the fish oil);

4. Double bonds/unsaturated fatty acids cause

bends/kinks in fatty acid tail

OR

(Membrane more fluid because) phospholipids

further apart;

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

58 = 2 marks
(Volume)
57.91 = 2 marks
3
Correct answer of 57.9 (μm ) = 2 marks;;
Accept 54.3/54 = 2
marks
OR Accept 61.6/62 = 2
marks
3
If volume incorrect, evidence of 2.35-2.45 (as
04.1 (3 x
radius) = 1 mark
AO2)

(Times larger) Allow 7.5 – 8.52

ECF Allow any

8 (times larger) (or ECF) = 1 mark; alternative for 8 which
shows 463 ÷ their
volume

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Accept
1. Nuclear membrane /nucleolus /vesicles/
invaginations of
lysosomes/ribosomes distinct/visible;
membrane
distinct/visible
2
2. EM has greater resolution; (1 x
04.2 1. Reject nucleus
AO1, 1
1. Reject
x AO2)
mitochondrion

2. assume ‘it’ refers to

electron microscope

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

Stimulating cytotoxic T cells

OR
Accept ‘activate’ for
1 stimulating
04.3 Stimulating B cells
(AO1)
OR

Stimulating phagocytes;

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Anticodon (on tRNA) binds to (complementary) 2

04.4 codon (on mRNA); (2 x
AO1)
2. (tRNA) brings/carries specific amino acid (to

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

ribosome);

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

Mark as columns
Shape Surface Volume / Surface Allow ECF for ratio
area / cm2 cm3 area to
volume Allow 2.1:1 and
ratio 2
2.13:1 for D
05.1 (2 x
C 96 64 1.5 : 1 AO2)
Ignore fractions for
ratio
D 136 64 2.125 : 1

; ;

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1
05.2 3520;
(AO2)

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

Accept ‘Replace with

Repeat with an undamaged (shape C) block;
an undamaged
1 (shape C) block and
05.3
(AO1b) repeat’
Allow ‘Repeat with a
new block (shape C)’

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

Any three for 2 marks;; Ignore

Any two for 1 mark; Mass, shape, volume
1. Temperature
2. Concentration of indicator 2 max
05.4 3. pH/concentration of solution/acid (2 x
AO3)
4. pH/concentration of alkali in blocks
5. Concentration/type of agar
6. Ensure total surface area of the block is in
contact with the solution/acid

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Comments

1. Diffusion (across the cell surface

membrane);
2. Large organisms have small(er) sa : vol ratio

OR
3 max
05.5 (3 x
Single-celled organisms have a large(r) sa : vol
AO1)
ratio;
3. Diffusion pathway would be too long 3. Must be in the
context of larger
OR
organisms
(Rate of) Diffusion too slow;

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1
06.1 Capsid and attachment protein;
(AO1)

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Accept (DNA)
1. (DNA) helicase and (DNA) polymerase;
ligase for either
enzyme.

2. (Helicase) breaks hydrogen bonds (to unwind 2. Reject ‘hydrolyse

DNA); hydrogen bonds’

3. (Polymerase) condensation reactions to join Reject mp3 if

(adjacent) nucleotides polymerase forming
3
hydrogen bonds or
06.2 OR (3 x
joining
AO1)
complementary base
(Polymerase) forms phosphodiester bonds pairs
between (adjacent) nucleotides;
3. Accept (DNA)
ligase joins DNA
fragments.

Note: Incorrect/no
enzymes named but
both roles outlined = 1
mark

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1
Reject meiosis
(AO2)
06.3 Uncontrolled cell cycle/division/mitosis; Ignore growth

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

For: Max 3 for mark points

1-5
1. Needs to be given early (age 10-12) before
exposure to HPV; 1. Accept ‘Needs to
be given before
2. Will reduce transmission to girls (for when they
sexual activity’
are older);
2. Accept ‘spread’ for
3. Boys can be infected with HPV
‘transmission’
OR
(Vaccination) prevents HPV infection;
4. (Need boys) to ensure herd immunity
OR 4 max
06.4 (4 x
(Need boys) to be above 50% vaccinated;
AO3)
5. Boys can have increased risk of cancer (from
HPV infection);

Against:
6. Boys at less risk of cancer (from HPV infection)
than females

OR

Cervical cancer only affects females;

7. May be side effects from vaccine;

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Species richness – number of species (in a

1. Reject number of
community/habitat/ecosystem/area);
species in a
2. Index of diversity – the relationship between the population.
number of species (in a community) and the
number of individuals in each species; 2. Accept equation
3. No SD overlap for species richness with N and n correctly
so significant difference shown explained

OR
4
No SD overlap for species richness so difference (2 x
07.1
not due to chance; AO1, 2
x AO2)
4. SD overlap so no significant difference in index
of diversity

OR

SD overlap so any difference shown due to

chance;

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. DNA/genome sequencing now used; 1. Accept RNA/amino

acid sequencing
2. (Now) can analyse every/more prokaryote 2 max
07.2 species (in the community); (2 x
2. Accept ‘identify’ for
AO2)
3. Rather than just recording analyse
measurable/observable characteristics;

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

(For farming method 2 has) Accept converse for

farming method 1
1. Better conservation as higher species richness,
higher (prokaryotic) biomass and more carbon
stored (than farming method 1);
2. More microbial mass – more organisms for food 2 max
07.3 web; (2 x
3. Higher species richness – more organisms for AO3)
food web;
4. More stored carbon, less CO2 in the atmosphere;
5. Lower yield so less food/less profit;

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

To break down links between cells/cell walls Accept: To stop

mitosis continuing
OR

To separate cells/cell walls Accept: To stop cell

division
OR

To break down/hydrolyse cellulose/cell wall Accept: To stop the

cell cycle
1
08.1 OR
(AO1)
Allowing the stain to pass/diffuse into the cells Ignore references to
enzymes
OR

Allowing the cells to be (more easily) squashed

OR

To stop mitosis;

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Eye protection; 1. Accept wear

goggles
2. Gloves; 2 max
08.2 (2 x
3. Add water to spills (immediately); Ignore references to
AO1)
using dilute acid
4. Do not pour away down sink;

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. There is no difference between the mitotic index 2 1. Ignore reference to

08.3 (at 200 and 300 μm); (2 x ‘significant’
AO3) 1. Reject correlation
2. t-test;

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

Correct answer within the range 19.95 to 20.03= 2

marks;;

Incorrect answer of 57 or 57.2 (correct unit

conversion and correct division) = 1 mark

OR 2
08.4 -5
(2 x
Incorrect answer of 2 × 10 (no unit conversion, AO2)
correct division and correct × 0.35) = 1 mark

OR

Incorrect answer of 2 x 10x except 20

e.g.0.2/2/200/2000 (incorrect conversion, correct
division and x 0.35); = 1 mark

Question Marking Guidance Comments

Max 2 from
1. Roots/plant of the same age;
2. Same growing conditions (for all roots); 2. Accept description
of growing conditions
3. Same distance from root tip;
4. Same time in acid
2 max
08.5 OR (2 x
AO3)
Same temperature of acid;
5. Same concentration of acid;
6. Same pressure of squash;
7. Several fields of view (for each species);
8. Same time of day;

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

Pressure increase at source generated by:

1. Sucrose co-tranported into phloem 1. Ignore facilitated
OR 3 diffusion
(2 x
09.1 Sucrose actively transported into phloem; AO1, 1
2. Causes decrease in water potential (inside x AO2)
phloem);
3. Water enters by osmosis (into phloem);

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

1. Carbohydrates made by photosynthesis (in the

leaf); 1. Accept ‘sugars’ or
any named
2. Less sucrose transported into phloem at carbohydrate
leaf/source
2
09.2 OR (2 x
AO2)
Less sucrose transported to sink/potato/root

OR

Less sugar stored as starch;

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

Marks can be
Mark as across the
awarded
1. Increased respiration;
whole answer

2. To provide more ATP for muscle contraction;

3. (More glucose being used so) concentration 3. For ‘transporter

gradient for glucose proteins’ accept
09.3 (4 x channel or carrier
OR AO2) proteins
Increased numbers of glucose transporter
proteins in the membrane;

4. (Glucose enters by) facilitated diffusion;

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 MARK SCHEME – AS BIOLOGY – 7401/1 – JUNE 2023

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

Answer key: 4 –
The secondary structure is held by hydrogen
1
09.4 bonds.
(AO2)
The tertiary structure allows the protein to be
positioned spanning the whole cell membrane.

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