Exam Tips: Hormones and Behaviour
Part of Hormones & Behaviour — GCSE Biology
This exam tips covers Exam Tips: Hormones and Behaviour within Hormones & Behaviour for GCSE Biology. Topic 8: Hormones & Behaviour It is section 9 of 9 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 9 of 9
Practice
15 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
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.