Specimen 2020 - AQA Level 2 Certificate Further Mathematics 8365/1 Paper 1 Mark Scheme - Marking Instructions

Sep 5, 2026

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Mark schemes for AQA Level 2 Certificate Further Mathematics (8365/1), Paper 1, version 2.0, prepared for specimen papers. The guidance explains how examiners award marks across categories, including method, accuracy, independent marks, follow-through, special cases, and dependent marks. It defines marking conventions such as equivalence, bracket use, rounding penalties, diagram treatment, handling of misreads or miscopies, choice between methods, and treatment of erased or replaced work. Examples are provided for individual question marking.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Mark scheme

Marking principles and mark types

Special cases, conventions, and guidance

Marking examples by question

| AQA LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE
FURTHER MATHEMATICS (8365/1)
Paper 1 | | --- | | Mark scheme
Specimen 2020 | Version 2.0 Principal Examiners have prepared these mark schemes for specimen papers. These mark schemes have not, therefore, been through the normal process of standardising that would take place for live papers. Further copies of [this Mark Scheme are available from aqa.org.uk](this Mark Scheme are available from aqa.org.uk)[ ](this Mark Scheme are available from aqa.org.uk)Glossary for Mark Schemes AQA examinations are marked in such a way as to award positive achievement wherever possible. Thus, for these Mathematics papers, marks are awarded under various categories. If a student uses a method which is not explicitly covered by the mark scheme the same principles of marking should be applied. Credit should be given to any valid methods. Examiners should seek advice from their senior examiner if in any doubt. M Method marks are awarded for a correct method which could lead to a correct answer. A Accuracy marks are awarded when following on from a correct method. It is not necessary to always see the method. This can be implied. B Marks awarded independent of method. ft Follow through marks. Marks awarded for correct working following a mistake in an earlier step. SC Special case. Marks awarded within the scheme for a common misinterpretation which has some mathematical worth. Mdep A method mark dependent on a previous method mark being awarded. Bdep A mark that can only be awarded if a previous independent mark has been awarded. oe Or equivalent. Accept answers that are equivalent. eg accept 0.5 as well as 12 [a, b] Accept values between a and b inclusive. 3.14… Allow answers which begin 3.14 eg 3. 14, 3. 142, 3.1416 Use of brackets It is not necessary to see the bracketed work to award the marks. Version 2.0 2 of 16 Copyright © 2019 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre. Examiners should consistently apply the following principles Diagrams Diagrams that have working on them should be treated like normal responses. If a diagram has been written on but the correct response is within the answer space, the work within the answer space should be marked. Working on diagrams that contradicts work within the answer space is not to be considered as choice but as working, and is not, therefore, penalised. Responses which appear to come from incorrect methods Whenever there is doubt as to whether a student has used an incorrect method to obtain an answer, as a general principle, the benefit of doubt must be given to the student. In cases where there is no doubt that the answer has come from incorrect working then the student should be penalised. Questions which ask students to show working Instructions on marking will be given but usually marks are not awarded to students who show no working. Questions which do not ask students to show working As a general principle, a correct response is awarded full marks. Misread or miscopy Students often copy values from a question incorrectly. If the examiner thinks that the student has made a genuine misread, then only the accuracy marks (A or B marks), up to a maximum of 2 marks are penalised. The method marks can still be awarded. Further work Once the correct answer has been seen, further working may be ignored unless it goes on to contradict the correct answer. Choice When a choice of answers and/or methods is given, mark each attempt. If both methods are valid then M marks can be awarded but any incorrect answer or method would result i

FAQs

What do method (M) and accuracy (A) marks represent in the mark scheme?

M marks are awarded for a correct method that could lead to a correct answer. A (accuracy) marks are awarded when following from a correct method, and it is not necessary to always see the method since it can be implied.

How should examiners mark work on diagrams?

Diagrams with working should be treated like normal responses. If the correct response is within the answer space, the work in the answer space should be marked, while contradictions in the diagram are not penalised if they are treated as working.

What is the approach to misread or miscopy answers?

If a genuine misread is suspected, only accuracy marks (A or B) are penalised, up to a maximum of 2 marks. Method marks can still be awarded.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Violet