AQA GCSE Biology Biology Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2024: Question 4
8 marks · Low Demand difficulty · Short Answer
Identify structures and accommodation mechanisms of the human eye, and explain causes and treatments of short-sightedness.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
04 The human eye can make clear images of objects.
Figure 4 shows how the human eye focuses light rays from a distant object onto
the retina.
Figure 4
04.1 Label structures A and B on Figure 4.
Choose answers from the box.
[2 marks]
cornea lens optic nerve sclera
The eye in Figure 4 is focused on a distant object.
04.2 Complete the sentence.
Choose the answer from the box.
[1 mark]
contract expand stretch
To focus on a near object the ciliary muscles17 .
04.3 Complete the sentence.
*16* Choose the answer from the box.
[1 mark]
longer thicker thinner
To focus on a near object structure B in Figure 4
becomes .
04.4 The eye in Figure 4 is looking at an object in dim light.
Complete the sentence.
Choose the answer from the box.
[1 mark]
iris retina suspensory ligaments
When the eye looks at an object in bright light the pupil gets smaller.
The size of the pupil is controlled by the .
04.5 The retina is sensitive to light.
How does information from the retina reach the brain via structure A in Figure 4?
[1 mark]
Figure 5 shows the eye of a person who is short sighted looking at a distant object.
The person cannot see the object clearly.
Figure 5
04.6 Give the reason why the person cannot see the object clearly.
[1 mark]
04.7 Short sightedness can be corrected using spectacle lenses.
Give one other way short sightedness can be corrected.
Do not refer to spectacles in your answer.
[1 mark]
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
Question 4
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec Ref.
04.1 (A) optic nerve 1 AO1
4.5.2.3
(B) lens 1
AO /
Spec Ref.
04.2 contract 1 AO1
4.5.2.3
AO /
Spec Ref.
04.3 thicker 1 AO1
4.5.2.3
AO /
Spec Ref.
04.4 iris 1 AO1
4.5.2.3
AO /
Spec Ref.
04.5 any one from: 1 AO1
4.5.2.1
• (sent as) impulses allow (sent as) electrical signals
4.5.2.3
ignore messages
• along sensory neurone(s)
AO /
Spec Ref.
04.6 the light rays do not meet / focus allow the light rays meet / focus 1 AO3
/ converge on the retina / converge before the retina 4.5.2.3
allow the light rays do not meet /
focus / converge at the back of
the eye
allow lens is too thick
– – –
allow eyeball is too long
AO /
Spec Ref.
04.7 any one from: ignore spectacles / glasses 1 AO1
4.5.2.3
14 • (hard / soft) contact lenses
• (laser) surgery
• replacement lens (in the eye)
Total Question 4 8
How to answer it
Human Eye: Structure, Accommodation, and Vision Correction
This question evaluates your foundational knowledge of AQA GCSE Biology Topic 4.5 (Homeostasis and Response - The Eye):
- Identifying internal structures of the eye from cross-sectional diagrams (lens, optic nerve).
- The mechanism of accommodation (how ciliary muscles and the lens change shape to focus on near objects).
- The iris reflex in controlling the size of the pupil.
- Nervous transmission from receptor cells in the retina to the brain.
- Understanding vision defects (myopia / short-sightedness), interpreting ray diagrams, and identifying medical treatments.
Question 04.1: Labelling Eye Structures
Identifying parts A and B on the diagram [2 marks]
✅ Correct Answer
- A: optic nerve [1 mark]
- B: lens [1 mark]
💡 Key Knowledge
- Lens: Transparent, biconvex disc behind the iris that refracts light to focus it on the retina.
- Optic nerve: Bundle of sensory neurones exiting at the back of the eye leading to the brain.
- Cornea: Transparent outer front layer that begins refracting light.
- Sclera: Tough, white outer protective coat of the eyeball.
🧠 Exam Technique
Trace the pointer lines carefully. The line for B points directly to the clear central disc (lens), while line A points directly to the nerve stalk protruding from the rear of the eyeball.
Questions 04.2 & 04.3: Accommodation for Near Objects
Changes in ciliary muscles and the lens [2 marks]
✅ Correct Answers
- 04.2: The ciliary muscles contract [1 mark]
- 04.3: Structure B (the lens) becomes thicker [1 mark]
💡 Accommodation: Near vs Distant
To focus on a NEAR object:
- Ciliary muscles contract.
- Suspensory ligaments loosen / slacken.
- The lens becomes thicker (more rounded / more curved).
- Light rays are refracted (bent) more strongly.
❌ Common Errors
- Choosing "expand" or "stretch" for muscles. Muscles can only contract or relax.
- Assuming that because the lens gets thicker, the ciliary muscles must "relax" — in fact, the opposite happens!
Question 04.4: The Pupil Reflex
Controlling light entering the eye [1 mark]
✅ Correct Answer
The size of the pupil is controlled by the iris [1 mark]
💡 Key Knowledge
The iris contains pairs of antagonistic muscles (circular and radial muscles):
- In bright light: Circular muscles contract, radial muscles relax → pupil constricts (gets smaller) to prevent retina damage.
- In dim light: Radial muscles contract, circular muscles relax → pupil dilates (widens) to let in more light.
❌ Common Errors
Confusing the iris (which regulates light entry) with the ciliary muscles (which change lens shape for focus).
Question 04.5: Transmission from Retina to Brain
How information travels via structure A [1 mark]
✅ Correct Answer (Any one)
- (sent as) impulses [1 mark]
- along sensory neurone(s) [1 mark]
- Also allowed: (sent as) electrical signals
🧠 Exam Technique & Vocabulary
- Always use the correct biological term: electrical impulse or nerve impulse.
- The mark scheme specifically states: ignore "messages" . "Messages" is too vague for GCSE Biology.
- Do not mention "brain waves" or "blood flow".
Question 04.6: Cause of Blurry Distant Vision
Explaining myopia from Figure 5 [1 mark]
✅ Correct Answer (Any one)
- The light rays do not meet / focus / converge on the retina [1 mark]
- The light rays meet / focus / converge before (in front of) the retina [1 mark]
- The eyeball is too long [1 mark]
- The lens is too thick / curved (refracts light too much) [1 mark]
🧠 How to Read Figure 5
Look at where the two incoming parallel light rays intersect:
- They cross over in the middle of the vitreous humor—well before reaching the retina.
- By the time the rays reach the retina, they have crossed and spread out again, forming a blurred image.
❌ Common Errors
- Simply writing "because they are short-sighted" (repeating the stem of the question awards zero marks).
- Saying light rays focus behind the retina (that is hyperopia / long-sightedness).
Question 04.7: Alternative Correction for Myopia
Correcting vision without spectacles [1 mark]
✅ Correct Answer (Any one)
- (hard or soft) contact lenses [1 mark]
- laser eye surgery (to reshape the cornea) [1 mark]
- replacement lens (inserted surgically into the eye) [1 mark]
🧠 Exam Technique: Follow Restrictions
The prompt explicitly commanded: "Do not refer to spectacles in your answer."
Any answer mentioning glasses, spectacles, bifocals, or sunglasses receives 0 marks. Always underline negative constraints in the question.
Topics
Biology · B5: Homeostasis and Response
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Biology examination, Biology Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2024. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.