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OCR 21st Century Biology B7 GCSE - Unoficial Mark Scheme

OCR 21st Century Biology B7 GCSE
Unofficial Mark Scheme

The part of answers in brackets () refers to extra detail that may not be necessary
The square brackets [] denote comments on the question or answer

Question on designing questions to ask about somebody's lifestyle and medical situation in order to create a fitness regime on them:

Lifestyle (Any two answers):
Do you smoke?
What is your BMI?
What is your diet?
How often do you drink alcohol?
Any other valid question about lifestyle

Medical (Any two answers):
Do you have any family history of genetic illness (eg diabetes, heart disease, etc)?
Do you have any personal history of illness (eg diabetes, heart disease, etc)?
Are you taking any current medication?
Have you had any recent surgery? What for?
Any other valid question about medical history

Question on whether a person should be worried about their weight, what the consequences of this are, how they should improve their weight:
6 marks

Yes, because:
BMI = 31 (rounded), this is in the obese category, (therefore he's well above a healthy weight);
Body fat = 29%, this is well into the "above average" category for people his age, (so his weight is higher than the average person)

Consequences of this:
Heart disease (from fat blocking blood vessels);
Diabetes (from lowered insulin production or body not recognizing insulin);
Any other valid consequence of obesity

To improve:
He should eat fewer fatty foods, as (these are high in cholesterol which) leads to heart disease (especially in men and especially at his age);
He should exercise more, as this will make his muscles stronger and make him less fat, (making heart attacks and other diseases less likely);
Any other valid way of reducing fat

Question on changes in blood flow before vs during exercise:

(Any three answers):
Higher blood flow to muscles (use data from the table) as they are respiring more and so need more oxygen
Lower blood flow to digestive organs (use data from the table) as blood is needed in other organs for exercise
Higher overall blood flow (28.0 vs 5.0) as she needs to keep her cells supplied with oxygen + glucose from blood to move about during exercise

Question on what the blood flow is to her lungs before exercise and why this was not included in the table:

What the value was:5 (litres per minute)

Why it was not included:(The heart is a double pump/double circulatory system, and so) the amount of blood going to her lungs is the same as amount of blood going to her body - the blood is deoxygenated after giving its oxygen to cells, and so is pumped to her lungs to become oxygenated, therefore including it in the table was unnecessary.

Question on using bacteria to produce human insulin:
6 marks

[This was almost the exact same question as in a past paper, so I'm just copying in from the official mark scheme]

[Level 3]
Answer correctly uses the words โ€˜isolateโ€™, โ€˜replicateโ€™, โ€˜transferโ€™ and โ€˜vectorโ€™ to explain all of the steps in the process in the correct sequence. All information in answer is relevant, clear, organised and presented in a structured and coherent format. Specialist terms are used appropriately. Few, if any, errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling. (5 โ€“ 6 marks)

relevant points include:

isolate gene (that codes for) human insulin;
replicate the gene;
put gene into a vector;
such as a virus or plasmid;
use vector to transfer the gene into bacteria;
idea that DNA is a universal language that can be interpreted by any organism;
idea of expression of the gene in the bacteria (to produce human insulin);

Question on disadvantage of using bacteria for insulin production:

May cause disease






Disclaimer: This mark scheme is completely unofficial, and has no affiliation with OCR. Answers may or may not be correct, as they are solely based off of students' personal answers.
(edited 7 years ago)

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Reply 1
beauty of an exam!
Last question???
Well that test was ****ing stupid ๐Ÿ˜. Nothing about joints and joint injuries, blood, tissue fluid, controlling blood pressure and instead they shove in stuff about the life cycle assessment which is like c3. Not saying it was hard, but like 75% of the test was on ideas about science.
Original post by Unknown123321
Well that test was ****ing stupid ๐Ÿ˜. Nothing about joints and joint injuries, blood, tissue fluid, controlling blood pressure and instead they shove in stuff about the life cycle assessment which is like c3. Not saying it was hard, but like 75% of the test was on ideas about science.


Agreed. What do you think the grade boundaries will be like?

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by UnofficiaMS
Last question???


The last question was like the simplest question ever ๐Ÿ˜‘, they where literally spoonfeeding you the answer. The only disadvantage was that they cause diseases.
I really didn't like this exam, it barely tested any B7 knowledge and contained a whole load of 'LCA' and 'perceived risk' stuff which had already been tested on in the C4,5,6 paper and earlier in the B1,2,3. Anyway, oh well. For the first question, for lifestyle questions you could also say
'How often do you drink alcohol?'

And for medical history
'Are you taking any current medication?'
'Have you had any recent surgery? What for?'
Original post by Ananya._c
Agreed. What do you think the grade boundaries will be like?

Posted from TSR Mobile


I wouldn't say it was hard so about 45 a*, but I just don't like the fact that most of the questions where ones which anyone could answer even if they didn't have knowledge of b7. Even the 2nd six marker the page right after names some effects of deforestation. Like you could literally copy and paste that **** in.
Original post by Unknown123321
I wouldn't say it was hard so about 45 a*, but I just don't like the fact that most of the questions where ones which anyone could answer even if they didn't have knowledge of b7. Even the 2nd six marker the page right after names some effects of deforestation. Like you could literally copy and paste that **** in.


Yeah 45 or so seems fair, if a little low, I would say maybe more like 48 A*, as a past paper was 45 A* and was definitely harder than this one
Original post by Rocco123
I really didn't like this exam, it barely tested any B7 knowledge and contained a whole load of 'LCA' and 'perceived risk' stuff which had already been tested on in the C4,5,6 paper and earlier in the B1,2,3. Anyway, oh well. For the first question, for lifestyle questions you could also say'How often do you drink alcohol?'And for medical history'Are you taking any current medication?''Have you had any recent surgery? What for?'
Added those in, thanks
Original post by Unknown123321
I wouldn't say it was hard so about 45 a*, but I just don't like the fact that most of the questions where ones which anyone could answer even if they didn't have knowledge of b7. Even the 2nd six marker the page right after names some effects of deforestation. Like you could literally copy and paste that **** in.


I know right, I felt as if I was sitting a Geography paper instead. Stupid Ocr.

Posted from TSR Mobile
I bet near the end they were just like 'oh there's hardly anything on biology lets just stick in a two part 6 marker on genetic modification and testing'
You could clearly see their imagination lacking on the very last question when they asked you to circle a disadvantage of bacteria ๐Ÿ˜.
Original post by UnofficiaMS
Last question???


I've now added it



Original post by blessingmariee


Rude :colonhash:
Reply 14
I think around 43 for an A* I highly doubt it will be higher than last years because last years was literally reciting the revision guide, it had hardly any applying knowledge questions and the six markers were very easy.
Original post by KomradeKorbyn
I've now added it





Rude :colonhash:


Didn't mean it to be rude. Meant it so you could use some answers if you needed it haha. Positive vibes here only. :h:
Original post by blessingmariee
Didn't mean it to be rude. Meant it so you could use some answers if you needed it haha. Positive vibes here only. :h:


Just banta mate :colondollar:
Original post by KomradeKorbyn
Just banta mate :colondollar:


:smile:
Original post by abbigm1
I think around 43 for an A* I highly doubt it will be higher than last years because last years was literally reciting the revision guide, it had hardly any applying knowledge questions and the six markers were very easy.


Last year's exam was beautiful, was it 43 for an A*?

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by abbigm1
I think around 43 for an A* I highly doubt it will be higher than last years because last years was literally reciting the revision guide, it had hardly any applying knowledge questions and the six markers were very easy.


Agreed. Many people can't apply the knowledge. They just memorise the textbook.


โš”๐Ÿ›กโš”~Nothing happens to anyone that he is not fitted by nature to bear - Maximus Decimus Meridius~โš”๐Ÿ›กโš”

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