Mark Scheme Patterns & Common Mistakes

Understanding how AQA mark schemes work is just as important as knowing the chemistry. This lesson exposes the patterns that examiners use when marking, the traps that catch students every year, and the precise techniques that consistently earn full marks. If you learn these patterns, you will maximise your marks on every question — even when your knowledge is imperfect.

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How AQA Mark Schemes Work

AQA uses two types of mark scheme:

1. Point-Based Mark Schemes (Most Questions)

For questions worth 1–5 marks, the mark scheme lists specific marking points. Each marking point is worth 1 mark, and you must make that exact point (or an acceptable equivalent) to earn the mark.

Example (3 marks): Question: "Explain why the rate of reaction increases when the concentration of acid is increased."

Mark scheme:

• More particles per unit volume (1)
• More frequent collisions (1)
• More successful collisions per second / more collisions with energy ≥ activation energy (1)