Points to note:

*	Although this paper is classified as part of the AS internal assessment, it is externally set and marked.
*	The role of the teacher is limited to guidance for students in selecting suitable additional sources of information during the two week period in which the examination is taken.
*	The paper is taken by candidates in a two-week period chosen by the Centre but falling into the three-months between 15 February and 15 May.
*	The paper is classified as a June examination and is NOT available in January.
*	There is no choice of questions in this examination.

The paper and its administration: The AS Open Book paper is issued to students at the beginning of a two-week period, falling in the the three month interval between approximately 15 February and 15 May. The responses are collected at the end of the second week after its distribution. The two-week period is chosen by the Centre and all candidates in that Centre are expected to take the paper in the same fortnight.   The paper contains two articles linked to a particular theme, and a candidate is required to produce a 800-1000 word report which is based on the articles and in which the four or five 'bullet-pointed' tasks, stated on the front of the paper, are addressed. There are two additional requirements. The report has to contain a list of sources to which reference has been made in the construction of the report, and the text in the report has to be annotated showing where a particular source has been used. The second requirement is the provision on the separate form supplied of an up-to-50 word 'Summary' of four CHEMICAL points (ie reactions) in the articles. Credit is given for the inclusion in the account of: formulae, equations, diagrams, tables and images, correct use of English (spelling, grammar,sentence-construction) appropriate and relevant use of scientific terminology.  A list of the rules for detailing what is required in the report appears on the second page of the paper under the heading of 'Notes for Guidance'. ALL CANDIDATES ARE ADVISED TO READ THIS PAGE BEFORE TACKLING THE PAPER. Mark Allocation 45 marks are available for this paper and these are allocated as follows: Understanding of the basic chemical content of the paper (Chemistry) 14 Evaluation of chemical content in the context of the question (Evaluation) 12 Research skill in using and acknowledging sources of information 5 Quality of communication:                            in the summary 4                            in the main report 10 Application of the Mark Scheme: Chemistry and Evaluation The 26 marks available are awarded for points taken by a candidate from the articles in order to respond to the bullet-pointed tasks stated on the front page of the paper. The 14 Chemistry marks are generally gained by descriptions of chemical reactions, whilst the 12 Evaluation marks are awarded for applications of chemistry in the topics in the articles, or interpretations of those topics in terms of chemistry. For both of these parts of the assessment scheme, more marking points appear on the mark scheme than there are marks available. The reason for this is that the Open Book paper is a wholly "free-response" paper where the report can be structured in whatever way the candidate wishes, provided the bullet-pointed tasks are addressed. The consequence is that two candidates, both achieving full marks for Chemistry and Evaluation, may have taken two entirely different routes within their reports in order to satisfy the requirements of the paper, and the mark scheme must be flexible enough to allow the two approaches to achieve the credit they deserve. This feature of the mark scheme usually allows a substantial proportion of candidates to achieve full marks or nearly full marks for Chemistry and Evaluation in the AS Open Book paper. In the Chemistry section of the mark scheme, a candidate can be awarded up to two marks for valid chemistry points which are relevant to the articles and to the report, but which are not covered elsewhere in the mark scheme. A similar two marks are also available in the Evaluation section. Research Skill The five marks for Research are divided into 3 for the list of sources, 1 for the relevance of the sources and 1 for annotation of the text. Of the three marks for the list of sources, the first is awarded for the inclusion in the list of the articles in the paper. The second is gained by incorporating in the list at least two other sources, of which either or both of Salters books ("Storylines" and "Chemical Ideas") count as one only. The third mark is awarded for precision in the specification of the sources other than those in the articles in the paper. To score this point it is necessary to add a chapter or section title or page number to the title of a text book, or the title, author or publisher of a website and the titles of the pages consulted. The fourth of the Research marks is awarded for the relevance of the sources chosen. This work is usually gained by students, but because the relevance is linked in the mark scheme to the production of a report of the appropriate length, it may be withheld for a report in which the word count is markedly over 1000. The final marked is earned by annotation of the text in the report showing which source(s) had been used to derive information for those parts of the report. Communication in the Main Report The 10 marks for this part of the assessment scheme are divided into 5 pairs: Aspect A 2 for the structure of the report. Aspect B 2 for legible text, appropriate form of writing and correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. Aspect C 2 for correct use of scientific and technical terms. Aspect D 2 for good use of equations and formulae. Aspect E 2 for for good and appropriate use of illustrations (pictures, diagrams, tables, graphs, flowcharts). In Aspect A, 1 of the 2 marks is awarded for a well-structured report in which relevant information is organised clearly and coherently, without undue repetition. Essentially this mark is earned for the comprehensibility of the report to the reader and multiple statements of a single point being avoided. The second mark is awarded for balanced coverage of the required points and is gained by addressing appropriately all the bullet-pointed tasks stated in the paper. This is the second which can be withheld if the 1000-word limit is considerably exceeded. In Aspect B, 2 marks are available for language in the report, including choice of language, style of writing, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Essentially no penalty is applied for up to two different stylistic, spelling or grammatical errors. Thereafter errors are penalised at the rate of half a mark for each. In Aspect C, 2 marks are awarded for the correct use of scientific and technical terms throughout the report. 1 mark is gained when scientific and technical terms are mostly used correctly but there are 1 or 2 lapses. In 2003 examiners were provided with a list of creditable terms in the mark scheme. Incorrect subscripts and superscripts and arrows in equations counted as technical term errors in this paper. In Aspect D, 2 marks are awarded for 4 relevant and correct equations or structural formulae. 1 mark is available for 3 or 2 relevant and correct equations / formulae. In Aspect E, 2 marks are awarded for two diagrams, appropriately captioned and situated in the text. Communication in the Summary The Specifications requirement of the Summary is that it should be a 50-word statement, written in complete sentences, containing FOUR CHEMICAL POINTS (1 mark is awarded for each) which appear in the report. A 'chemical point' is a specification of reaction (equations are not necessary) which is described in the articles.