AQA GCSE Biology Biology Paper 2 (Higher), June 2024: Question 5
14 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Extended Answer
Suggest improvements to a ruler drop reaction time experiment, compare nervous and endocrine coordination, identify endocrine glands and hormones, and explain how hormones are used in contraception and treating infertility.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
05 The human body has two coordination systems:
• the nervous system
• the endocrine system.
05.1 Two students investigated human reaction time.
Student A held a metre rule above student B’s hand.
Student A then released the metre rule and student B caught the rule as quickly as
possible.
Figure 8 shows the method used.
Figure 8
Suggest two ways to improve the students’ method for measuring
human reaction time.
[2 marks]
05.2 Student B’s reaction is coordinated by the nervous system.
Give two ways that coordination by the endocrine system is different from
coordination by the nervous system.
[2 marks]
Figure 9 shows endocrine glands in a female.
Figure 9
05.3 Name one hormone produced by gland A.
[1 mark]
05.4 Name one hormone produced by gland B.
[1 mark]
05.5 The adrenal gland produces the hormone adrenaline.
*21* Describe two effects of adrenaline on the human body.
[2 marks]
05.6 Hormones can be used for controlling human reproduction.
*22* Explain the use of hormones in:
• contraception
• the treatment of infertility.
[6 marks]
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
Question 5
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec Ref.
05.1 any two from: 2 AO3
4.5.2.1
• same starting position of allow ensure the starting RPA7
rule(r) position of rule(r) is at 0cm
allow other control variables
allow two control variables for 2
marks
• more precise scale allow rule(r) with mm scale
ignore more accurate scale
• repeat and calculate mean
or
repeat and eliminate
anomalies
• convert distance to time
• student (B) rests hand / arm
on table
AO /
Spec Ref.
05.2 any two from: allow converse if clearly 2 AO1
referring to nervous system 4.5.2.1
endocrine system: 4.5.3.1
• (hormones) via blood allow not via neurones / cells
• chemical transmission allow not (electrical) impulses
allow not electrical signals
ignore messages
ignore hormones
• slower
answers must be comparative
• longer-lasting
ignore reference to target
organs
AO /
Spec Ref.
05.3 thyroxine do not accept thyroxide– – 1 – AO1
ignore reference to TSH / TRH 4.5.3.1
4.5.3.7
AO /
Spec Ref.
05.4 any one from: 1 AO1
4.5.3.1
• insulin 4.5.3.2
• glucagon
AO /
Spec Ref.
05.5 any two from: 2 AO1
4.5.3.7
• increases heart rate allow increases blood flow
• increases breathing rate
• increases oxygen delivery
to cells / tissues / organs
allow examples of cells /
tissues / organs
• increases glucose delivery to
cells / tissues / organs
• increases respiration / allow increases energy release
metabolism do not accept energy produced
/ made / created
• increases sweat(ing)
allow dilation of pupils
allow vasoconstriction in skin or
vasoconstriction in digestive
system
allow raises blood sugar /
glucose level or increase
conversion of glycogen to
glucose
allow vasodilation in (skeletal)
muscles / brain
allow increased blood pressure
allow slows digestion
allow other correct effects of
adrenaline
if no other marks awarded allow
1 mark for prepares for ‘fight or
flight’ – – –
AO /
Question Answers Mark
18 Spec Ref.
Level 3: Relevant points (reasons / causes) are identified, given in 5–6 AO1
05.6
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 3–4 4.5.3.6
there are attempts at logical linking. 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 linking.
No relevant content 0
Indicative content
contraception:
• use of hormones oestrogen and progesterone or progesterone
(only)
o inhibition of FSH (production / release)
- lack of FSH prevents follicle / egg development / maturation
- therefore there is no egg to fertilise
o inhibition of LH (production / release)
- lack of LH prevents ovulation
- therefore there is no egg to fertilise
• contraceptive methods include oral contraceptive pill, injection,
implant, skin patch, IUD / IUS with hormones
treatment of infertility:
• use of FSH
o (FSH) stimulates maturation of (several) egg(s) / follicle(s)
- (FSH) increases number of eggs matured
• use of LH
o (LH) stimulates ovulation
- (LH) allows eggs / follicles to be collected (from ovary)
- (so) increased chance of fertilising an egg
- IVF and insertion of embryo(s) into uterus
• use of progesterone
o (to) maintain uterus lining
- increased chance of implantation
For Level 3, details of both contraception and infertility treatment
are required.
Total Question 5 14
How to answer it
Human Coordination: Nervous vs Endocrine Systems
This question brings together two key communication systems in the human body:
- Required Practical 7 (Reaction Time): Identifying standard control variables, measurement precision, and reliability in the ruler drop test.
- Nervous vs Endocrine Systems: Comparing mechanism, speed, pathway, and duration of response.
- Organ Identification & Hormones: Pinpointing the thyroid and pancreas on an anatomical diagram and naming their secretions.
- Adrenaline Function: Understanding how hormones trigger physiological responses for "fight or flight".
- Hormonal Control of Reproduction: Detailed explanations of how hormones regulate the menstrual cycle for both preventing pregnancy (contraception) and promoting it (fertility treatments).
Improving the Ruler-Drop Reaction Time Test
Suggest two ways to improve the students' method for measuring human reaction time [2 marks]
✅ Acceptable Answers (Any Two)
- Ensure the same starting position of the ruler each time (e.g. resting right at 0 cm level with the top of the thumb).
- Student B rests their forearm/wrist on the edge of the table to prevent moving their hand downward.
- Use a ruler with a more precise scale (e.g. millimetres instead of centimetres).
- Repeat the drop several times and calculate a mean (or eliminate anomalies).
- Convert the drop distance into a reaction time (in seconds or ms) using a conversion chart.
🧠 Exam Technique: "Improve the Method"
- Whenever asked to improve an investigation, think: Reliability (repeats + mean), Precision (smaller graduations/units), and Control Variables (keeping starting position identical).
- Never write just "repeat". You must add "and calculate a mean" to secure the mark!
❌ Common Errors
- Saying "use a more accurate ruler" — examiners reject this! The correct term is a more precise scale or a millimetre scale.
- Vague answers like "do it in a quiet room" without linking it to controlling distractions.
Endocrine vs Nervous Coordination
Give two ways coordination by the endocrine system differs from the nervous system [2 marks]
✅ Correct Differences (Any Two)
- Transport: Endocrine messages travel via the blood / bloodstream (nervous uses neurones).
- Nature of signal: Endocrine uses chemical transmission / hormones (nervous uses electrical impulses).
- Speed: Endocrine response is slower.
- Duration: Endocrine response is longer-lasting.
🧠 Exam Technique: Comparative Language
When describing differences between two systems, you must make a direct comparison:
- Write "slower", not simply "slow".
- Write "longer-lasting", not simply "long".
- Alternatively, give converse statements: "Hormones travel in blood whereas nerve impulses travel along neurones."
❌ Common Errors
- Referring to nervous signals as "electrical messages" instead of electrical impulses.
- Saying the endocrine system is "less accurate" or "less specific" (target cells are highly specific).
Identifying Endocrine Glands and Their Hormones
Identifying Glands A (Neck) and B (Abdomen) from Figure 9
✅ 05.3: Gland A (Thyroid) [1 mark]
Correct Hormone: thyroxine
Gland A is the thyroid gland situated in the neck. Thyroxine regulates basal metabolic rate.
✅ 05.4: Gland B (Pancreas) [1 mark]
Correct Hormone (Any one): insulin OR glucagon
Gland B is the pancreas, which secretes insulin and glucagon to monitor and control blood glucose concentration.
❌ Pitfalls to Avoid
- Spelling trap: Do not write "thyroxide" for 05.3 — this is a chemical suffix error and scores 0.
- Do not confuse the gland name with the hormone name. The question specifically asks for the hormone produced, not the name of the gland itself!
Effects of Adrenaline
Describe two effects of adrenaline on the human body [2 marks]
💡 Key Biological Role
Adrenaline is produced by the adrenal glands in times of fear or stress to prepare the body for "fight or flight" by delivering more oxygen and glucose to brain and muscle cells.
✅ Acceptable Effects (Any Two)
- Increases heart rate (or increases blood flow).
- Increases breathing rate (or breathing depth).
- Increases oxygen delivery to muscles/brain.
- Increases glucose delivery to muscles/brain (converts glycogen to glucose in liver/muscles).
- Increases rate of respiration / metabolism (releases energy faster).
- Dilates pupils.
- Increases sweating.
❌ Serious Scientific Error
Never say adrenaline "creates energy" or "produces energy". Energy cannot be created! You must write that it increases the release of energy via cellular respiration.
Hormones in Contraception and Infertility Treatments
Explain the use of hormones in contraception and the treatment of infertility [6 marks]
🧠 How Level-Based Marking Works (6-Marker)
| Level | Marks | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Level 3 | 5–6 | Detailed, scientifically accurate points explaining BOTH contraception and infertility with clear logical links. |
| Level 2 | 3–4 | Identifies relevant points for both areas, or a detailed explanation of only one area, with attempted linking. |
| Level 1 | 1–2 | Isolated brief points stated simply without clear mechanistic explanation. |
💊 1. Hormones in Contraception
- Hormones used: Oestrogen and progesterone (combined pill) OR progesterone only (mini-pill, implant, injection, hormonal IUD).
- Inhibition of FSH: High levels of oestrogen/progesterone inhibit the release of FSH from the pituitary gland.
→ Without FSH, no egg follicles mature/develop. - Inhibition of LH: High progesterone inhibits LH.
→ Without LH, ovulation is prevented (no egg is released). - Additional effect: Progesterone stimulates thick cervical mucus, preventing sperm from reaching an egg.
👶 2. Hormones in Infertility Treatment
- FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): Given to stimulate the maturation of eggs in the ovaries (often causes multiple eggs to mature).
- LH (Luteinising Hormone): Administered following FSH to stimulate ovulation (release of the mature egg).
- In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF): High doses of FSH & LH allow multiple eggs to be collected from the ovaries for fertilisation in the lab.
- Progesterone: Given after embryo transfer to maintain the uterus lining and promote successful implantation.
💡 The Golden Rule of Menstrual Hormones
Remember the sequence: FSH matures the egg; LH causes ovulation.
Contraception stops FSH/LH so eggs never mature or release.
Fertility treatments supply FSH/LH so eggs do mature and release!
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to explain both contraception and infertility (caps your score at Level 2, maximum 4 marks).
- Confusing FSH and LH roles: stating LH matures the egg or FSH triggers ovulation loses mechanistic credit.
- Simply naming methods (e.g. "contraceptive patch") without explaining the hormonal action.
Topics
Biology · Required Practicals · Required Practicals · B5: Homeostasis and Response
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Biology examination, Biology Paper 2 (Higher), June 2024. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.