Commentary on Candidate Evidence Human Biology Assignment
Commentary on candidate evidence Candidate 1 The candidate evidence used in this workshop has achieved the following marks for each aspect of the Coursework Assessment task. Aim The candidate was awarded 1 mark because the aim clearly states what is to be investigated. Note this is a multiple aim with two aspects. Applying knowledge and understanding of human biology The candidate was awarded 5 marks as more than five correct explanations have been given that are at Higher level. On Page 5 - An indication is given of the position and composition of an atheroma. A description is given of the effect of atherosclerosis on the lumen and blood flow. An explanation of thrombosis is provided. A description of how an embolus forms and its impact is given. On Page 6 - An explanation of the clotting mechanism is given. The cause and effect of a stroke is described. The cause and effect of a heart attack is described. Selecting information Both data sources are relevant and sufficient for the candidate to draw a conclusion. Processing and presenting information Format Source A was converted from a graph to a table which is fine. However, source B is still a bar graph so no there has been no change in format 0 marks. Labels Information has been transferred accurately from source A but not from source B. The X-axis label should indicate the year for each country 0 marks. Accuracy Source A has been accurately processed into a table. There are no minor gridlines on the Source B raw data. This means that the bars cannot be accurately read and therefore cannot be accurately presented 0 marks. 1
References These are provided for both raw data sources 1 mark. Analysis of information Neither source of data was fully analysed. The candidate gives a partial analysis of both data sources and compares them. The candidate focuses on Italy and Argentina, comparing their calorie intake with cases of CVD 1 mark. Conclusion The candidate was awarded 0 marks. The candidate gave a multiple aim and the conclusion only relates to the second aspect of it. There is no mention of the trends in CVD between countries around the world. Evaluation The candidate was awarded 0 marks as none of the comments were appropriately justified. The use of an average makes data more reliable than using data from specific individuals. The candidate may be trying to suggest using a matched pairs design but the answer is too vague. All data is presented for informative purposes and logically it must be either biased or unbiased. If using the term robust, candidates are expected to quote other sources that back up the data. Presentation The report had an appropriate title and structure 1 mark. No references were given at the end of the report 0 marks. Total mark The evidence for this candidate has achieved an overall mark of 11 for the assignment. 2
Candidate 2 The candidate evidence used in this workshop has achieved the following marks for each aspect of the Coursework Assessment task. Aim The candidate was awarded 1 mark because the aim clearly states what is to be investigated. Applying knowledge and understanding of human biology The candidate was awarded 5 marks as more than five correct explanations have been given that are at Higher level. These are: Sperm are formed in seminiferous tubules from germline cells. FSH stimulates oestrogen production which causes proliferation of the endometrium. Oestrogen affects consistency of cervical mucus so it is more easily 'proliferated' by sperm. Testosterone is produced by interstitial cells in the testes and stimulates sperm production. Fertility in females is cyclical and there is a fertile period when fertilisation occurs. IVF is used when oviducts are blocked, ovulation is stimulated using drugs or hormones before eggs are removed. Embryos are transferred to the uterus for implantation while healthy embryos can be frozen for later use or used in another IVF attempt. Selecting information The candidate has selected data from at least two sources which are relevant and sufficient for them to draw a conclusion. Note source 2 is acceptable as it has a clarifying statement underneath to explain what the percentages represent. Processing and presenting information The candidate was awarded 3 marks. Format All three sources have been presented in acceptable formats 1 mark. Labels Information has been transferred accurately to the tables for sources 2 and 3. However, the X-axis scale on the processed graph for source 1 should not have a zero at the origin 0 marks. Accuracy All three sources have been accurately processed. Note the percentages from source 1 have been rounded up which means that the bars can then be accurately drawn in the bar graph 1 mark 3
References These are provided for all three raw data sources 1 mark. Analysis of information The candidate was awarded 0 marks. There is not a detailed analysis of any of the data. In both the analysis and data sections, trends have been recognised but no supporting data from the X axis / first column have been quoted. The statement after the raw data for source 2 would have been acceptable if correct but it does not consider under 35s and over 45s and it has already been credited as raw data. Conclusion The candidate was awarded 1 mark as the conclusion is valid and supported by the research. Evaluation Sources 1 and 3 are reliable as big sample groups were used 1 mark. Source 2 is reliable as it is scientists at the Embryology Authority who specialise in this topic and who carry out the experimental procedures 1 mark Note the first statement does not provide a justification to support reliability. The candidate needed to extend their answer to say that all three compared studies showed the same trend. Presentation The report had an appropriate title and structure 1 mark. Complete references are given for more than two different sources of information 1 mark. Total mark The evidence for this candidate has achieved an overall mark of 16 for the assignment. 4
Candidate 3 The candidate evidence used in this workshop has achieved the following marks for each aspect of the Coursework Assessment task. Aim The candidate was awarded 1 mark because the aim clearly states what is being investigated. Applying knowledge and understanding of human biology The candidate was awarded 3 marks as three correct explanations have been given that are at Higher level. These are: Measles is caused by a virus and transmitted by droplets during coughing. Naturally acquired immunity means that the individual survives infection by the pathogen and when exposed to the antigen again, a secondary response prevents the disease. In artificially acquired immunity the vaccination contains a weakened pathogen which acts as an antigen and stimulates the immune system. Selecting information The candidate was awarded 2 marks as both sources are relevant and sufficient. Note the heading on the first graph clarifies what the bars represent. Processing and presenting information Format Conversion of the first source of data (Source 2) from a bar chart to a table is fine. Converting the second source (Source 3) from a table to line graphs is also okay. Note that 'year' can be represented by either a line graph or a bar graph 1 mark. Labels In the table the number of cases heading should have said the number of cases of measles in the US. Entering zero on the Y-axis of the first graph creates a scale error. The zero should have been replaced by 85 0 marks. Accuracy The bar chart contains no minor grid lines so the candidate cannot accurately get the figures that are entered into the table 0 marks. References Indicating Source 2 and Source 3 directly above each set of data is sufficient to gain this mark as these can be cross-referenced to the full reference at the end of the report. 5
Analysis of information The candidate was awarded 0 marks as both analyses are incomplete. The candidate focuses on 2014 and 2015 in the bar chart, ignoring other years such as 2011 where there was a relatively high number of cases. The candidate misreads the data in the table and states that there was a significant drop in the uptake between 2001 and 2004. Conclusion The candidate was awarded 0 marks. It is unclear what the candidate means by the MMR vaccine not defining the number of cases of measles each year. Evaluation This was for the statement that the data is reliable because it has been taken from all States. This does suggest that a large amount of data has been collected. Note this statement is prior to some of the raw data in the report but still must be considered. Presentation The report has a basic title Measles and the structure is appropriate 1 mark. Complete references are given for at least two different sources of information 1 mark. Total mark The evidence for this candidate has achieved an overall mark of 11 for the assignment. 6
Candidate 4 The candidate evidence used in this workshop has achieved the following marks for each aspect of the Coursework Assessment task. Aim The candidate was awarded 1 mark because the aim clearly states what is to be investigated. Applying knowledge and understanding of human biology The candidate was awarded 5 marks as more than five correct explanations have been given that are at Higher level. On Page 1 - An explanation of the importance of coronary arteries is given. The process of atherosclerosis is explained. The effect of the plaque on the restriction of blood flow is described. An explanation of thrombosis is provided. A description of how an embolus forms and its impact is given. On Page 2 - An explanation of the role of LDL is given. The control of the number of LDL receptors through negative feedback is described. The effect of cholesterol not entering the cells is described. An explanation is given about the function of an ECG. Selecting information Source 1 is not relevant as there is no indication that the figures relate to heart disease. The candidate should have included an explanatory heading. Note the candidate has done this later when processing this data but cannot be awarded the mark for relevance at this stage. Source 2 is both relevant and sufficient to enable the candidate to draw a conclusion. Processing and presenting information Format the presented graphs are in a different format to the source data and are appropriate formats with which to represent this data 1 mark. Labels Information has been transferred accurately from source 1 but not from source 2. The Y-axis label should indicate United Kingdom 0 marks. Accuracy The processed graphs lack minor gridlines. This means that it cannot be determined if the bars have been accurately drawn 0 marks. 7
References Sources of the raw data are provided and can be linked to full references at the end of the report 1 mark. Analysis of information The analysis of source 1 data is comprehensive with the decrease for both men and women supported by relevant figures from 1999 and 2008. The candidate also contrasts the death rate of men and women in this period 1 mark. The candidate only gives a partial analysis of the source 2 data. The candidate focuses on CHD but does not mention trends in other conditions such as strokes and cancer 0 marks. Conclusion The candidate was awarded 0 marks because the information in the report does not support their conclusion. The information relates to 1999 to 2009 while the candidate s aim was to look at trends over the last 10 years. Note that the candidate was only penalized once for this mistake. They were not penalized for mentioning the last ten years in their analysis of source 1. Evaluation The candidate was awarded 3 marks as they have made at least three evaluative comments which have been justified. These are: Textbook will have been peer reviewed making it a very reliable source. The information from the charity may be biased as it is trying to persuade people to donate. The charity is still a reputable organisation therefore a reliable source of data. Data from source 2 is not per annum therefore less reliable than data from source 1. Presentation The report had an appropriate title and structure 1 mark. Complete references are given for more than two different sources of information 1 mark. Total mark The evidence for this candidate has achieved an overall mark of 15 for the assignment. 8