Examinerreports Unit1 (WBI01) June2016
Examinerreports Unit1 (WBI01) June2016
June 2016
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page at
www.edexcel.com/contactus.
June 2016
This response gained marking point 3 for mono- Biochemistry is important. Make sure you
unsaturated. Reference to kinks was ignored so understand and learn the biochemistry
‘one kink’ by itself would not be sufficient. aspects of unit 1.
This response gained two marks: marking point 2 for long hydrocarbon
chain and marking point 3 for one carbon carbon double bond. Reference to
-COOH was ignored. To gain marking point 1 candidates need to name the
group as being a carboxylic acid group.
Examiner Comments
In this response the candidate correctly describes the trend that as the number
of carbon carbon double bonds increases the melting temperature decreases and
gains marking point 1. Unfortunately a correct explanation for the trend does
not involve the breaking of double bonds so the reset of the response gained no
additional marks.
This response did not gain the mark. Although the Take care when asked to label or add
candidate has shown blood correctly entering the left to a diagram. Make sure you provide a
atrium they have not completed the diagram to show complete answer.
blood leaving the left ventricle.
Examiner Comments
In this response the candidate gains marking point 2 for separation of oxygen rich and oxygen
depleted blood, marking point 3 for the idea of maintaining a steep concentration gradient and
marking point 4 for the idea that relatively low pressure in the pulmonary circuit protects the delicate
structures of the lung. This response would not have gained marking point 1 as there is no mention of
the systemic circuit.
Some candidates made reference to differences in 1,4 and 1,4 – 1,6 bonds gaining marking
point 4 but as they made no reference to glycosidic bonds they failed to get marking point
3. A number of candidates described amylose as straight chains and amylopectin as
branched and did not get marking point 5. References to β glucose and incorrect bonds e.g.
peptide bonds, negated marking points 2 and 3.
Question 3 (b)
Many candidates were able to state that lactose was a disaccharide and starch a
polysaccharide (marking point 1). Less frequently candidates described lactose as being
formed from glucose and galactose and starch being formed from glucose alone (marking
point 2). Marking point 3 was seen infrequently.
Examiner Comments
This response did not gain any marks. Although the candidate
has correctly identified that lactose is made from glucose and
galactose they have then incorrectly suggested that starch is
formed from glucose and fructose.
Examiner Comments
Examiner Comments
Examiner Comments
Examiner Comments
Examiner Comments
In this response the candidate has forgotten to mention the role
of the environment in determining the phenotype. Marking point
1 was awarded but not marking point 2.
Examiner Comments
Question 6 (b)
Even with four marking points being available many candidates did not achieve the
maximum of two marks. Many of the responses seen only addressed one aspect of the
formation of a DNA molecule. Some described the formation of phosphodiester bonds
without mention of DNA polymerase and gained one mark. Others made reference to the
idea of hydrogen bonding or complementary base pairing but not to both so again only
gained one mark. Very few complete answers were seen.
Examiner Comments
The candidate gained two marks for this response: marking point 1 for
the formation of phosphodiester bonds and marking point 2 for a correct
reference to DNA polymerase. Although the candidate mentions hydrogen
bonding, the response would not have gained marking point 4, as it is not
made clear that the hydrogen bonding is between bases.
The candidate has made one valid comparison between the structure
of DNA and RNA and gains one mark, for marking point 2. The second
comparison is about the different types of nucleic acids and is not
addressing the question about differences in structure, so gains no credit.
Examiner Comments
Examiner Comments
Examiner Comments
Here the candidate has correctly suggested that glucose is diffusing into the cells from a region of
high concentration to a region of low glucose concentration, gaining marking point 2. However, the
role of the membrane protein has been missed and the candidate does not gain marking point 1. Use
of the term ‘facilitated diffusion’ or a description of diffusion through a membrane protein would have
gained marking point 1.
Examiner Tip
Examiner Comments
In this response the candidate has correctly suggested that the concentration of glucose
inside the liver cell will fall, gaining marking point 1. The second mark is for suggesting
that the glucose concentration gradient across the cell membrane becomes steeper. In
this response the candidate simply states that the glucose concentration in the blood is
higher than in the cell. As the question asks about an increased rate of uptake, this was not
considered to be sufficient to gain the second mark.
Examiner Comments
This candidate has ignored the idea that the mutation in the CFTR gene results in a change in the
primary structure of the CFTR protein, which results in a non-functional protein (marking points 1 and
2). However, they have described the rest of the story, with the chloride ions remaining in the cells
(marking point 3), and water not moving out of the cell by osmosis (marking point 4 and 5).
This response gained all four available marks for marking points 2, 3, 4 and 5. Marking point 1
could not be awarded as the candidate has not mentioned a change in primary structure. Marking
point 2 could be awarded for either of the first two bullet points. Marking point 4 was awarded for a
description of water moving from outside the cell to inside the cell. Use of water potential is not in
the specification; however, it is used correctly and thus does not negate the mark. Use of the term
‘along a concentration gradient’ was ignored.
Examiner Comments
Examiner Comments
In this response the candidate has clearly expressed the idea that as the concentration of
pepsin increases, the rate of reaction increases gaining marking point 1. The description of the
relationship being linear was not considered sufficient for marking point 2. However, the correct
calculation of a second rate and its comparison with the rate calculated in 8(a) gains marking
point 3.
Examiner Comments
Examiner Comments
In this response, the candidate has gained marking points 1 and 2. The first was awarded
for the clear reference to an increase in the number of active sites; the second for the
description of the formation of more enzyme - substrate complexes. However, there is no
indication that these increases take place over a fixed time period, i.e. the changes are
not linked to rate, so marking point 3 cannot be awarded.
Examiner Comments
In this response the candidate gained the maximum of five marks: marking point 1 in line 1, marking
point 2 in lines 2-3, and marking point 3 in line 11. Marking point 6 was awarded in lines 13 - 14. The
statement about shape of the protein in lines 12 - 13 was not sufficient for this marking point. The
last three lines describe the idea of specificity, gaining marking point 7.
Examiner Tip
Make sure you read questions carefully and provide a complete answer. This question
asks you how the primary structure of pepsin (an enzyme) determines its structure and
properties. The main properties of enzymes are that they catalyse specific reactions
and to do this they have an active site with a particular shape. In addition most
enzymes are globular and soluble, properties brought about by the distribution of
hydrophobic and hydrophilic R groups.