This exam focus covers Exam Focus within Homeostasis Intro for GCSE Biology. Topic 1: Homeostasis Intro It is section 14 of 16 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 14 of 16
Practice
15 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
Exam Focus
Exam FavouriteHomeostasis Introduction appears as the foundation for nearly every Unit 6 question on AQA Paper 2. The negative feedback model is the conceptual framework examiners expect you to apply to temperature, blood glucose, and water regulation.
How it is tested:
- Define and explain negative feedback: Examiners frequently ask for a description of the negative feedback loop with all four components (receptor, coordination centre, effector, response).
- Apply the model to specific examples: You may be given data about blood glucose or temperature and asked to explain the homeostatic response using the correct terminology.
- 6-mark extended responses: "Explain how the body responds to a fall in blood glucose" requires you to link all components of the negative feedback loop in a logical chain.
- Diagrams: You may be asked to complete or annotate a negative feedback loop diagram, labelling receptor, coordination centre, effector, and the direction of change.
Command words: "Describe" — state what happens at each step. "Explain" — link the mechanism to the outcome. "Evaluate" — weigh up advantages and limitations of homeostatic control.