A2 Hotspot Number 2... Why is the word ‘including’ potentially bad news?!

We all have a dread of that seeing that essay question which we know very little about on the exam paper. The good news is that you can spot it easily from the specification. Just look for the word 'including'. It seems such a nice harmless word doesn't it?...but in the context of the spec it is a red flag. It highlights that anything following it can be asked about specifically in an essay question.

Looking at the first topic on Unit 3, 'Biological Rhythms and Sleep' the final bullet point says you need to know

Explanations for sleep disorders,including insomnia, sleepwalking and narcolepsy

Decoding this means that you can be asked about any of the three sleep disorders individually. So you need to make sure you can write an essay on any of the three.

However, there is some good news!

Whilst decoding the specification look out for 'for example'. This is very different in this context to 'including'. Anything that follows 'for example' cannot be asked about individually.

So, using the same topic, Biological rhythms and sleep, the second bullet point states

Disruption of biological rhythms,for example shiftwork, jetlag

Neither shiftwork nor jetlag can be asked about specifically in a question (so there is some good news...)

Dig out your copy of the spec, or if it's not to hand, follow this link...http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/specifications/alevel/AQA-2180-W-SP-14.PDF. Then sort your 'includings' from your 'for examples'. It's worth it!