AQA

A-Level
BIOLOGY
Organisms Respond to Changes in Environments
Skeletal Muscles

Time allowed
62 minutes

MARK SCHEME

Score Percentage

/52 %
4.1 | CELL BIOLOGY | QUESTION PAPER 1 1
 (a) (i) Decreases;
Accept any word that means a decrease e.g. shorter /
narrower / smaller etc
1

(ii) Nothing / stays the same length / does not change;

1

(b) 1. Two marks for correct answer of 29545-30455;

Correct answer = 2 marks outright. Range allows for a 1mm
error in measuring

2. One mark for incorrect answers in which candidate clearly divides

measured width by actual width;
Ignore rounding up
2

(c) (Idea ATP is needed for:)

1. Attachment / cross bridges between actin and myosin;

Accept the role of ADP in attachment

2. ‘Power stroke’ / movement of myosin heads / pulling of actin;

Not just ‘filaments slide’ as given in the question stem

3. Detachment of myosin heads;

4. Myosin heads move back / to original position / ‘recovery stroke’

3 max
[7]
(a) 1. Fields of view randomly chosen;
2. Several fields of view;
3. All same species (of animal / hamster);
Reject general statements related to sample size. All mark
points relate directly to information provided in Resource A.
Accept ‘all (Mesocricetus) auratus’.

4. Same muscle / organ used / only diaphragm used;

5. Used at least 8 (animals) in each (age) group.
4 max

(b) (i) 15
Correct answer = 2 marks.
Allow 1 mark for showing

69 ÷ 4.6
OR
answer of 10 / 10.1 (correct calculation using fast in error.)
2

(ii) 1. (Calculation) used mean (number of capillaries);

2. Variation in number of capillaries per fibre.
Note: maximum of 1 mark for this question.
Ignore reference to an anomaly or calculation errors.
1 max
(c) (i) (Removing diaphragm means) animals / hamsters are killed.
1

(ii) 1. (Suggests) significant (difference) between young and adult;

MP1, MP2, MP4 and MP5 can include use of figures but
check figures are used correctly.

2. (Suggests) not significant (difference) between adult and old;

Statements related to ‘results being significant / not
significant’ do not meet the marking points. It is the
difference that is significant or not. However, only penalise
this error once.

3. For slow and fast fibres;

This MP can be given in the context of either MP1 or MP2
but only allow once. As well as this context there must be a
reference to ‘both’ types of fibre.

4. (Suggests) significant (difference) between young and old for fast

(fibres)
OR
(Suggests) not significant (difference) between young and old for
slow (fibres);
All aspects of either approach required to gain credit.

5. (Suggests) significant (difference) where means ± SD do not

overlap
OR
(Suggests) not significant (difference) where means ± SD overlap;
All aspects of either approach required to gain credit.

6. Stats test is required (to establish whether significant or not).

4 max
[12]
 (a) 1. (Phosphocreatine) provides phosphate / phosphorylates;
Accept Pi or P in circle
Reject phosphorus

2. To make ATP;
Accept:
ADP + CP → ATP + C
Neutral – provides ATP
2

(b) One suitable suggestion;

eg

1. Genetic differences;

2. Level of fitness / amount of regular exercise done / mass of muscle;

3. Sex;

4. Ethnicity

5. Metabolic rate;

6. Number of fast / slow muscle fibres

Neutral lifestyle / diet / illness
1 max

(c) 1. Fast muscle fibres used for rapid / brief / powerful / strong contractions;

2. Phosphocreatine used up rapidly during contraction / to make ATP;

3. (As people get older) slower metabolic rate / slower ATP production /
slower respiration;

4. ATP used to reform phosphocreatine;

4
[7]
(a)
Function Name

Attaches to Z 1. Actin;
ine at the end of

the sarcomere

Breaks down 2. ATPase /

ATP myosin (head);

Covers binding 3. Tropomyosin;

site on actin in
relaxed myofibril

Accept water
Accept troponin
3

(b) 1. Can’t form myosin / thick filaments;

Neutral: prevents actin and myosin sliding filament action

2. Can’t pull / can’t move actin / slide actin past / (myosin) have to be
joined / fixed to pull actin;
Accept: myosin can’t pull on each other

3. Myosin moves / if attached doesn’t move;

4. Can’t move actin towards each other / middle of sarcomere / between

myosin / can’t shorten sarcomere / can’t pull Z lines together.
Accept: contract for shorten
3
[6]
(a) 1. Splitting / breakdown / hydrolysis of ATP;
2. (Muscle) contraction requires energy / ATP;
Accept ‘uses energy’. Reject idea of ‘movement’ of muscles
requiring energy.
Reject suggestion that ‘energy is produced’.

3. Use of ATP by myosin.

Accept a reference to any use of ATP by myosin. No credit
for any further detail.
2 max

(b) Fast because (lots of) ATPase allows rapid hydrolysis of ATP
OR
Slow because (lots of) ATPase allows rapid synthesis of ATP.
Accept either approach as some texts refer to ATPase as the
enzyme at the end of the ETC in mitochondria.
1

(c) 1. Need light to see colour / brown / yellow;

Requires reference to light.

2. Cannot see colour / brown / yellow with electrons / an electron

microscope;
Requires reference to electrons / electron microscope.
Accept ‘see black and white with electrons / electron
microscope’.

3. No organelles are visible.

Accept appropriate named examples of organelles.
2 max
[5]
(a) (i) (Group) 5 / marathon runners.
Must only include this group and no other.
1

(ii) 1. (5 / marathon runners) have highest percentage of slow

fibres;
Maximum of 1 mark if the wrong fibres have been identified.

2. (Slow fibres) use aerobic respiration / aerobic respiration occurs in

mitochondria;
Either approach requires identification of aerobic respiration.

3. (Slow fibres) best for endurance / long periods of exercise / to

avoid fatigue.
2 max

(b) 1. No (overall) change in number of fibres;

Reject any suggestion of an increase in number of fibres.

2. Increase in diameter of fibres;

‘Size’ without qualification is insufficient.

3. (Due to) training / exercise;

4. (Long-distance) cyclists have more / higher percentage of slow fibres
(than fast);
A comparison is required to meet this MP.

5. Slow fibres of wider diameter than fast fibres;

6. (Long-distance) cyclists have more mitochondria;
7. (Long-distance) cyclists have more capillaries (in muscles).
Idea of ‘more’ (than non-athletes) is required to gain credit.
Accept converse (for non-athletes) in MP4, MP6 and MP7.
3 max

(c) 1. Weightlifting favoured by / weightlifters have a high proportion of

fast / low proportion of slow fibres
OR
Weightlifters have more fast / fewer slow fibres than non-athletes;
But (cannot tell because):
 Reward for general statement or comparison with
non-athletes.
For ‘proportion’, accept percentage (or idea of a ratio).

2. Do not know what ‘weightlifters’ (tested) were born with / had before
started weightlifting / training
OR
Don’t know if there has been a change (in proportion due to weightlifting
/ training);

3. No information about age / gender / number of weightlifters (in

sample).
For this MP, accept another relevant factor that might affect
‘weightlifter’ e.g. weights lifted, sex, diet, ethnicity, country of
birth.
Ignore general statements about ‘other factors’.
2 max
[8]
(a) 1. Calcium ions diffuse into myofibrils from (sarcoplasmic) reticulum;
2. (Calcium ions) cause movement of tropomyosin (on actin);
3. (This movement causes) exposure of the binding sites on the actin;
4. Myosin heads attach to binding sites on actin;
5. Hydrolysis of ATP (on myosin heads) causes myosin heads to bend;
6. (Bending) pulling actin molecules;
7. Attachment of a new ATP molecule to each myosin head causes myosin
heads to detach (from actin sites).
5 max

(b) 1. Releases relatively small amount of energy / little energy lost as heat;
Key concept is that little danger of thermal death of cells

2. Releases energy instantaneously;

Key concept is that energy is readily available

3. Phosphorylates other compounds, making them more reactive;

4. Can be rapidly re-synthesised;
5. Is not lost from / does not leave cells.
2 max
[7]
BOOST YOUR A LEVEL BIOLOGY
PERFORMANCE WITH STUDY
MIND'S ONLINE COURSE
200+ Video Tutorials tailored to your
specification, 500+ Flashcards, Examiner
Tutorials and more

Weekly Classes by A-Level Biology Expert

to help you secure an A/A*

100% Money Back Guarantee if

dissatisfied within 3 days of purchasing

www.studymind.co.uk/online-
courses/a-level-biology-online-
course/

ACCESS NOW for £19/m (Cancel anytime!)

 STUDY MIND A LEVEL
BIOLOGY 1-1 TUTORS
Delivered by expert A-Level Biology tutors
personalised 1:1 approach tailored to your
needs

Lessons supported by comprehensive

topic-by-topic tutorial slides, past
papers, and revision notes

100% Money Back Guarantee for first

lesson

https://studymind.co.uk/subject
/a-level-biology-tutors/

Book your FREE consultation now