AQA GCSE Biology Biology Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2022: Question 5

10 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Extended Answer

Identify female reproductive hormones and their functions, calculate the fertile window in the menstrual cycle, and explain how different methods of contraception prevent pregnancy.

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Question

Question text

05 In the human female, an egg is released from one of the ovaries about once every

four weeks.

During the four weeks, the lining of the uterus thickens and then breaks down.

This is called the menstrual cycle.

05.1 Which two hormones are female reproductive hormones?

[2 marks]

Tick ( ) two boxes.

Adrenaline

Oestrogen

Progesterone

Testosterone

Thyroxine

05.2 Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is another female reproductive hormone.

What is the function of FSH in the menstrual cycle?

[1 mark]

Tick ( ) one box.

FSH causes an egg to mature in the ovary.

FSH causes breast development.

FSH causes the uterus lining to break down.19

05.3 Sperm cells can survive inside a woman’s reproductive organs for five days.

An egg cell can survive for one day after ovulation.

In one woman ovulation occurred on day 14.

*18* Give the range of days on which sexual intercourse could result in fertilisation.

[1 mark]

From day to day

05.4 If a man and a woman have sexual intercourse and do not want to produce a baby,

they may use contraception.

Explain how different methods of contraception prevent pregnancy.

[6 marks]

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme

Question 5

AO /

Question Answers Extra information Mark

Spec. Ref.

05.1 oestrogen 1 AO1

4.5.3.4

progesterone 1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

05.2 FSH causes an egg to mature in 1 AO1

the ovary 4.5.3.4

AO /

Spec. Ref.

05.3 (from day) 9 (to day) 15 do not accept (from day) 15 (to 1 AO2

day) 9 4.5.3.5

AO /

Question Answers Mark

Spec. Ref.

05.4 Level 3: Relevant points (reasons/causes) are identified, given in 5–6 AO1

detail and logically linked to form a clear account. 4.5.3.4

4.5.3.5

Level 2: Relevant points (reasons/causes) are identified and there 3–4

are attempts at logical thinking. The resulting account is not fully

clear.

Level 1: Points are identified and stated simply, but their relevance 1–2

is not clear and there is no attempt at logical thinking.

No relevant content 0

Indicative content

• oral contraceptive / the ‘pill’

o (contains hormones / oestrogen / progesterone) to prevent

egg / follicle maturing or prevents ovulation

• injection / implant / skin patch

o (contains hormones / oestrogen / progesterone) to

prevent egg / follicle maturing or prevents ovulation

• condom / femidom

o prevents sperm reaching egg or prevents sperm entering

woman’s body / vagina

• diaphragm

o prevents sperm reaching egg / womb / oviduct

• IUD

o prevents implantation

or releases hormone / progesterone to prevent ovulation

or (releases copper ions to) thicken mucus and prevent

sperm passage

• spermicide

o kills sperm

• sterilisation / vasectomy / tubular ligation

o prevents passage of sperm / egg

• rhythm method

o no egg available for fertilisation

Total Question 5 10

How to answer it

Human Reproduction: Hormones, Fertility & Contraception

SPECIFICATION FOCUS: AQA 4.5.3.4 & 4.5.3.5

What this question tests

This 10-mark question assesses your recall of female reproductive hormones, your understanding of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), your ability to calculate a fertile window from physiological data, and your capability to provide a structured 6-mark extended explanation of how hormonal and non-hormonal contraception methods prevent pregnancy.

QUESTION 05.1 • 2 MARKS

Female Reproductive Hormones

Identify two female reproductive hormones from a given list

✅ Correct Selections

Oestrogen [1 mark]
Progesterone [1 mark]

💡 Key Knowledge

Oestrogen: Produced by ovaries; builds up and thickens the uterus lining.
Progesterone: Produced by the empty follicle (corpus luteum); maintains the uterus lining.

❌ Common Errors

Testosterone: Main male reproductive hormone (stimulates sperm production).
Adrenaline & Thyroxine: General hormones from adrenal glands and thyroid, not reproductive sex hormones.
Ticking three or more boxes: automatically cancels out marks.

Marking note: Exactly two ticks required. Any extra ticks beyond two will lose marks according to standard AQA negative marking rules for tick boxes.

QUESTION 05.2 • 1 MARK

Function of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)

Identify the primary role of FSH in the menstrual cycle

✅ Correct Answer

FSH causes an egg to mature in the ovary. [1 mark]

💡 The Pituitary Hormones

FSH: Secreted by the pituitary gland; causes an egg to mature inside a fluid-filled sac (follicle) in an ovary.
LH (Luteinising Hormone): Triggers ovulation (release of the egg on day 14).

🧠 Exam Tip: Look at the Name

The clue is in the name: Follicle Stimulating Hormone. A follicle contains the immature egg; stimulating it makes the egg mature!

QUESTION 05.3 • 1 MARK

Calculating the Fertile Window

Determine the range of days sexual intercourse could result in fertilisation

✅ Correct Answer

From day 9 to day 15 [1 mark]

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

Identify Day of Ovulation: Day 14.
Sperm Survival Window (5 days): Sperm deposited before ovulation can survive inside the woman. Count back 5 days: 14 - 5 = Day 9.
Egg Survival Window (1 day): An unfertilised egg survives roughly 24 hours. Count forward 1 day: 14 + 1 = Day 15.
Fertile Range: Day 9 to Day 15.

❌ Common Trap: Direction & Reversals

The mark scheme states: do not accept (from day) 15 (to day) 9. A range of time must always be written in chronological order (earliest day first).

QUESTION 05.4 • 6 MARKS (EXTENDED RESPONSE)

Methods of Contraception & Biological Mechanisms

Explain how different methods of contraception prevent pregnancy

💡 How Level-of-Response Marking Works (6 Marks)

Level	Marks	Requirement
Level 3	5–6	Multiple methods named, clear biological explanations given, and points are logically linked together. Covers both hormonal and non-hormonal methods.
Level 2	3–4	Relevant methods named with an attempt to explain the mechanism, but explanation lacks full biological detail.
Level 1	1–2	Methods are simply listed without explaining how they prevent pregnancy, or descriptions are basic/unlinked.

✅ Model Structure: Method → Explanation

Oral Contraceptive Pill / Implant / Patch: Contain hormones (oestrogen and/or progesterone) that inhibit FSH release, preventing eggs from maturing and stopping ovulation.
Condom / Femidom / Diaphragm (Barrier): Physically block sperm from entering the vagina/uterus, stopping sperm from reaching the unfertilised egg.
Intrauterine Device (IUD / Coil): Prevents an embryo from implanting in the uterine lining; hormonal IUDs can also release progesterone to prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucus.
Surgical Sterilisation (Vasectomy / Tubal ligation): Sperm ducts or fallopian tubes (oviducts) are cut/tied, permanently preventing sperm or eggs from travelling.
Spermicides: Chemicals that kill or disable sperm so they cannot swim to fertilise the egg.

🧠 Top Exam Technique for 6/6

Always use the "Name → Mechanism" rule: Don't just say "Condoms stop pregnancy." Say "Condoms act as a physical barrier that prevents sperm entering the vagina to reach the egg."
Categorise your answer: Group methods into Hormonal, Barrier, and Surgical/Chemical. Examiners love this logical structure.
Be precise with hormones: Mention that hormonal methods contain oestrogen/progesterone to inhibit FSH / prevent egg maturation.

❌ Common Misconceptions

Claiming condoms "kill sperm" (confusing barrier with spermicide).
Saying the contraceptive pill "kills the egg" (it stops the egg from maturing or being released in the first place).
Simply listing 5 methods without explaining how any of them work (caps your score at 2 marks).

Topics

Biology · B5: Homeostasis and Response

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Biology examination, Biology Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2022. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.