How to Tackle Question 5 in BTEC Applied Science Unit 7

Question 5 is often the highest-mark question in the Unit 7 exam — and it’s the one students find most intimidating. That’s because it asks you to do more than just recall facts. You are expected to communicate science clearly, use all three articles, and show that you understand the bigger picture.

Once you understand what the examiner is really looking for, Question 5 becomes very manageable.

What is Question 5 actually testing?

Question 5 is not testing your memory of scientific details. It is testing whether you can:

• Understand a real-world scientific issue

• Use information from multiple sources

• Communicate clearly to a specific audience

• Show balance, not bias

The possible formats

1️⃣ A report

• Structured

• Formal with clear sections and headings

• Often written for decision-makers, professionals, or policy audiences

2️⃣ An article

• Flows like something you might read online or in a magazine

• Written for the general public (but still scientifically accurate)

You will be told which format to use in the question but before you write a single sentence, ask yourself who is likely to read this? The question often says the report or article may be read by:

• non-specialists (e.g. members of the public)

• specialists (e.g. scientists, engineers, policy makers)

Use all three articles (but don’t retell them).

A common mistake is to summarise each article one by one but is is not what Question 5 wants. Instead:

1. Use ideas from all three articles together

2. Show how they connect or contrast

3. Focus on the issues, not the article titles

A simple planning structure that works every year

Before you write, plan using this structure (you can apply this to the article or the report formats, though for the article you won't need the headings).

1. Introduction

• What is the scientific issue?

Use your knowledge to explain the science, linking it to the science quoted in all 3 articles

• Why does it matter?

The unit is about contemporary scientific issue

which means this is a scientific issue that everyone is talking about. Explain why people are talking about the issue (e.g. affects global warming, causes disease, improves patients quality of life).

2. Main body

• What are the benefits?

State the benefits/advantages of the scientific issue as mentioned in the articles and use evidence from the articles to support these statements (e.g. stem cells can be used to treat a multitude of diseases and article 3 describes the use of stem cell therapy to replace diseased or damaged cells, treating conditions like blood cancers (leukaemia, lymphoma) and blood disorders, and repairing tissues in areas like joints, skin, heart, and eyes, essentially acting as a "reset" or repair system for the body's systems).

• What are the challenges or limits?

State the limits/disadvantages of the scientific issue as mentioned in the articles and use evidence from the articles to support these (e.g. article 2 figure 1 shows data describing how ltra processed foods increase risks for numerous conditions like heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and mental health issues, linked to additives and nutrient poor profiles that promote overeating, inflammation, and gut problems).

• What do the articles agree or disagree on?

Identify any agreements or contradictions between the articles (e.g. article 1 and 2 describes how genetically modified foods produces crops that can be modified to resist pests, diseases, and harsh weather (drought, cold), leading to more food from less land and water however these same articles argue the use of chemical sprays, one saying they benefit the environment, the other saying they reduce biodiversity.

3. Conclusion

• What should the reader understand overall?

By referring to all 3 articles, clearly state what information you want the reader the reader to take away from reading your composition. This could be helping them to understand the science, explaining why the science matters or making them aware of the pros and cons of the issue

• What is realistic in the short vs long term?

Are there any improvements/changes/issues that need addressing? Highlight them.

Final advice

If you remember one thing for Question 5, remember this:

• Explain clearly.

• Stay balanced.

• Use the articles wisely.

If you do that, Question 5 becomes an opportunity to gain marks, not lose them.

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