Exam Tips: Hormones and Behaviour

Name the gland AND the hormone: Answers that say "the hormone is released" without naming the gland or hormone lose marks. Always state: adrenaline from the adrenal glands; thyroxine from the thyroid gland.

Link each adrenaline effect to a reason: For every effect you name (e.g., increased heart rate), add "so that..." (e.g., "so that more oxygenated blood reaches muscles for aerobic respiration"). This turns a 1-mark description into a 2-mark explanation.

Negative feedback requires a feedback loop: Do not just describe thyroxine effects. Describe the full loop: low level → pituitary → TSH → thyroid → more thyroxine → pituitary reduces TSH. Half the marks are in the feedback mechanism itself.

Compare with nervous system using specific terms: The hormonal system is "slower" (seconds to minutes vs milliseconds), "longer lasting," travels via "the blood" rather than neurones, and has a "widespread" rather than a precise effect. Use all four contrasts when asked to compare.