AQA AS/A2Biology Exemplar Essay-' The importance of cycles in biology'

This resource is an exemplar AQA A-level essay on the topic of 'The importance of cycles in biology’. This essay was awarded 24/25. To achieve full marks, slightly more above spec knowledge should have been used.

Remember, to achieve 21-25 marks in the essay (band 5), it should contain at least 4 well developed, A-LEVEL QUALITY (no marks for GCSE-level knowledge) points relating to the IMPORTANCE of a specific biological cycle.

Simply talking in depth about a cycle does not relate to the essay title. YOU MUST be talking about the importance of that cycle. For example, the Calvin cycle is IMPORTANT as it allows plants to produce triose phosphate, from which other useful substances can be produced. TP can be converted into cellulose, glucose, amino acids etc which will aid plant growth.

Also remember that topics should be LINKED to attain the highest marks. For example, one might mention the nitrogen cycle and how it allows for plant growth via NO3- uptake. This can be linked to another point- the Calvin cycle also allows for plant growth via the production of glucose and cellulose from TP.

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