000001
AQA
MARK SCHEME AQA
A-level
PHILOSOPHY
7172/1
Y
Paper 1 Epistemology and moral philosophy
Mark scheme
PH
June 2024
Version: 1.0 Final
SO
O
IL
PH
Page 1 of 34
,000002
MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/1 – JUNE 2024
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way. As
preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.
Y
No student should be disadvantaged on the basis of their gender identity and/or how they refer to the
gender identity of others in their exam responses.
PH
A consistent use of ‘they/them’ as a singular and pronouns beyond ‘she/her’ or ‘he/him’ will be credited in
exam responses in line with existing mark scheme criteria.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
SO
O
IL
PH
2
Page 2 of 34
,000003
MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/1 – JUNE 2024
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the performance at the mid-point of the level. There are marks in each
level. For the 3 and 5 mark questions that have only 1 mark in each level you need only apply step 1
below.
To support you in your marking, you will have standardisation scripts. These have been marked by the
Lead Examiner at the correct standard. Generally, you will have a standardisation script to exemplify the
standard for each level of the mark scheme for a particular item.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Y
Start by reading the whole of the student’s response and then, using the mark scheme level descriptors
PH
and the standardisation scripts, place the response in the level which it matches or best fits.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest.
Step 2 Determine a mark
SO
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. Start with the middle mark of the level
and then look at the student’s response in comparison with the level descriptor and the standardisation
script. If the student’s response is better than the standardisation script, award a mark above the
mid-point of the level. If the student’s response is weaker than the standardisation script, award a mark
below the mid-point of the level.
O
For the 25 mark questions examiners should bear in mind the relative weightings of the assessment
objectives and be careful not to over/under credit a particular skill. This will be exemplified and
IL
reinforced as part of examiner training.
Guidance
PH
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other appropriate points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded zero marks.
3
Page 3 of 34
, 000004
MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/1 – JUNE 2024
Section A – Epistemology
0 1 What is meant by (a) a necessary condition and (b) a sufficient condition?
[3 marks]
AO1 = 3
Marks Levels of response mark scheme
3 A full and correct answer, given precisely, with little or no redundancy.
2 The substantive content of the answer is correct, but there may be some
redundancy or minor imprecision.
1 Relevant, but fragmented, points.
Y
0 Nothing written worthy of credit.
PH
Indicative content
Necessary condition:
A necessary condition for X is a condition which must be true/the case for X to be true/the case (eg in
order for John to be a bachelor it must be true/the case that John is unmarried).
SO
If the necessary condition for X is not fulfilled, X will not be true/the case.
Sufficient condition:
A sufficient condition (or a set of jointly sufficient conditions) for X is a condition (or set of jointly
O
sufficient conditions) which, if it is true/the case, means that X is true/the case (eg if it is true/the case
that John is a bachelor it is true/the case that he is a man).
IL
If the sufficient condition(s) for X are fulfilled, X is true/the case.
The sufficient conditions guarantee X.
PH
Examples for 3 marks
Answers that gain 3 marks will be clear and precise on both conditions although they can express how
the conditions work in a variety of ways (eg epistemologically, metaphysically, logically, etc). Below
are 2 examples, but any legitimate way of explaining the conditions should be credited as long as
students demonstrate that they understand the key points (see Notes).
• Example 1: ‘A necessary condition is one that must be satisfied in order for something to be
the case. A sufficient condition is one that, if satisfied, is enough for something to be the case’.
• Example 2: ‘A is a necessary condition for B if (and only if) B cannot be true unless A is true. A
is a sufficient condition for B if A being true means that B will be true’.
Examples for 2 marks
Answers that gain 2 marks will typically demonstrate a clear understanding of one of the conditions
and a partial or less precise understanding of the other condition (example 1) or there might be a lack
4
Page 4 of 34
AQA
MARK SCHEME AQA
A-level
PHILOSOPHY
7172/1
Y
Paper 1 Epistemology and moral philosophy
Mark scheme
PH
June 2024
Version: 1.0 Final
SO
O
IL
PH
Page 1 of 34
,000002
MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/1 – JUNE 2024
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way. As
preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.
Y
No student should be disadvantaged on the basis of their gender identity and/or how they refer to the
gender identity of others in their exam responses.
PH
A consistent use of ‘they/them’ as a singular and pronouns beyond ‘she/her’ or ‘he/him’ will be credited in
exam responses in line with existing mark scheme criteria.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
SO
O
IL
PH
2
Page 2 of 34
,000003
MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/1 – JUNE 2024
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the performance at the mid-point of the level. There are marks in each
level. For the 3 and 5 mark questions that have only 1 mark in each level you need only apply step 1
below.
To support you in your marking, you will have standardisation scripts. These have been marked by the
Lead Examiner at the correct standard. Generally, you will have a standardisation script to exemplify the
standard for each level of the mark scheme for a particular item.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Y
Start by reading the whole of the student’s response and then, using the mark scheme level descriptors
PH
and the standardisation scripts, place the response in the level which it matches or best fits.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest.
Step 2 Determine a mark
SO
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. Start with the middle mark of the level
and then look at the student’s response in comparison with the level descriptor and the standardisation
script. If the student’s response is better than the standardisation script, award a mark above the
mid-point of the level. If the student’s response is weaker than the standardisation script, award a mark
below the mid-point of the level.
O
For the 25 mark questions examiners should bear in mind the relative weightings of the assessment
objectives and be careful not to over/under credit a particular skill. This will be exemplified and
IL
reinforced as part of examiner training.
Guidance
PH
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other appropriate points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded zero marks.
3
Page 3 of 34
, 000004
MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/1 – JUNE 2024
Section A – Epistemology
0 1 What is meant by (a) a necessary condition and (b) a sufficient condition?
[3 marks]
AO1 = 3
Marks Levels of response mark scheme
3 A full and correct answer, given precisely, with little or no redundancy.
2 The substantive content of the answer is correct, but there may be some
redundancy or minor imprecision.
1 Relevant, but fragmented, points.
Y
0 Nothing written worthy of credit.
PH
Indicative content
Necessary condition:
A necessary condition for X is a condition which must be true/the case for X to be true/the case (eg in
order for John to be a bachelor it must be true/the case that John is unmarried).
SO
If the necessary condition for X is not fulfilled, X will not be true/the case.
Sufficient condition:
A sufficient condition (or a set of jointly sufficient conditions) for X is a condition (or set of jointly
O
sufficient conditions) which, if it is true/the case, means that X is true/the case (eg if it is true/the case
that John is a bachelor it is true/the case that he is a man).
IL
If the sufficient condition(s) for X are fulfilled, X is true/the case.
The sufficient conditions guarantee X.
PH
Examples for 3 marks
Answers that gain 3 marks will be clear and precise on both conditions although they can express how
the conditions work in a variety of ways (eg epistemologically, metaphysically, logically, etc). Below
are 2 examples, but any legitimate way of explaining the conditions should be credited as long as
students demonstrate that they understand the key points (see Notes).
• Example 1: ‘A necessary condition is one that must be satisfied in order for something to be
the case. A sufficient condition is one that, if satisfied, is enough for something to be the case’.
• Example 2: ‘A is a necessary condition for B if (and only if) B cannot be true unless A is true. A
is a sufficient condition for B if A being true means that B will be true’.
Examples for 2 marks
Answers that gain 2 marks will typically demonstrate a clear understanding of one of the conditions
and a partial or less precise understanding of the other condition (example 1) or there might be a lack
4
Page 4 of 34
