Aut1·W6 (Master) — Answer 'compare' questions on diffusion, osmosis and active transport.
Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0 Foundation · Paper 1 · Topic 1Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Biology 1BI0 (Foundation, grades 1–5); GCSE Combined Science 1SC0 F where appropriate; AQA UAS science units
🎯 Learning Objective: I can answer 'compare' exam questions across the three transport processes independently.
✅ Success Criteria
I can say what 'compare' asks for — both sides, similarities AND differences.
I can compare any two of the three processes using direction, energy and what moves.
I can write a full-mark compare answer with points on both sides.
🔗 Assessment link: AQA UAS: 'Cells and transport'; exam technique.
LAUNCH · one 40-minute session. Title orientation is untimed; keep the full 15-minute independent task.
Teacher timing and core practice
40-minute session: Arrival 3; overview 1; I Do 1 4; We Do 1 4; I Do 2 3; We Do 2 4; independent work 15; feedback and next step 3; exit 3. Title orientation is untimed. The optional two-minute evidence check sits inside independent time. Keep extra practice available; use the core question, a contrasting example and a recheck before extending.
Match the process to its direction: diffusion / active transport → down / up the gradient.
▲ Standard
Write one similarity and one difference between diffusion and active transport.
★ Stretch
Compare diffusion and active transport using direction, energy and what moves.
🗺️ Today at a Glance
Three things we do today
1.
What 'compare' asks
2.
Both sides
3.
Direction · energy · what moves
👩🏫 I Do · watch me think
Watch me answer a 4-mark 'compare'
🧠 Watch me think: 'Compare diffusion and active transport. [4]' Compare means both sides — similarities and differences. Similarity: both move substances across the cell membrane. Difference one: diffusion goes DOWN the gradient, active transport goes UP. Difference two: diffusion needs no energy supplied by respiration, active transport needs energy from respiration. That is four points, spread across both. Now you run a compare of your own.
A compare answer needs BOTH sides: the SAME (both cross the membrane) and the differences (direction, energy). ▸ COMPARE = similarities AND differences.
📖 Key definitions
compare — Give similarities AND differences, both sides named.
similarity — Something the two processes share.
difference — Something that is not the same between them.
direction — Down the gradient (diffusion, osmosis) or up it (active transport).
❌ Common mistake: Compare means describe one, then the other. ✅ Actually: Compare means put them side by side — say what is the SAME and what is DIFFERENT.
🤝 We Do · together
Similarity or difference?
Decide before you tap.Found 0/5
Both move substances across a membrane
One goes down the gradient, one up
Only one needs energy
Osmosis and diffusion both need no energy supplied by respiration
A compare answer about only diffusion
👩🏫 I Do 2 · the evidence loop
Evidence loop
🧠 Watch me think: Show-me lesson: you write a full compare answer, then mark your OWN against the board — did you give a similarity? at least two differences? cover BOTH processes? Tick each. The independent compare answer is the strongest evidence in this topic. Method, never a grade.
Assessor witness · what the adult is watching for
Stated that compare needs similarities and differences.
Compared two processes using direction, energy and what moves.
Wrote a compare answer covering both sides.
📸 Capture: Photograph the pupil's independent compare answer with both sides visibly covered.
🤝 We Do 2 · sort, then write
What is missing?
Sort, don’t guess. Match each card to the right answer.Matched 0/6
'Active transport is different.' (Compare, 4 marks)
Only differences, no similarity (Compare)
'Both cross the membrane; diffusion is down, active is up; only active needs energy.'
A paragraph only about diffusion (Compare)
'Diffusion is passive, active transport uses respiration energy.'
'They are both types of movement.'
MISSING: both sides named, with detail
MISSING: at least one similarity
STRONG — similarity + two differences
MISSING: the active transport side
A valid difference — energy
TOO VAGUE — name the shared feature precisely
✏️ Independent Work
Your turn — pick your tier
15 minutes. Choose the tier your adult rings for you.
Use the task time to work, check and improve: reserve up to two of these 15 minutes for an evidence check with your adult or a partner, then act on one useful point. Point, say, sign, demonstrate, write or use an agreed scribe. Manual pause stays available.
15:00
◆ Supported
Complete a two-column compare table for two processes from the word bank, then write one similarity and one difference.
▲ Standard
Answer two compare questions across the three processes, each with a similarity and two differences.
★ Stretch
Answer a 4-mark compare and a 6-mark compare of all three processes, then review one answer for a missing point.
🔁 Lundy Loop
Where what you say changes something
This is where your voice changes what happens next.
🛡 Space
Exam-style work raises the temperature. This is practice — the Topic 1 assessment is separate and you will know when it happens.
🗣 Voice
Challenge a question that seems unfair. Sometimes the question is the problem, not you.
👂 Audience
Your compare answers go into the Topic 1 folder and are the revision set before the assessment.
⚙ Influence
The class chooses which pair of processes we compare together as a final model.
🎫 Exit Ticket
Before you go
◆ Supported
What two things must a 'compare' answer include?
similarities AND differences (both sides)
▲ Standard
Write one similarity and one difference between osmosis and active transport.
Similarity: both move substances in/across cells. Difference: osmosis is passive (water, down gradient); active transport uses energy and goes up the gradient.
★ Stretch
Compare diffusion and active transport in a full-mark answer.
Both move substances across the membrane; diffusion goes down the gradient with no energy from respiration, active transport goes up the gradient using energy from respiration.
Slide 1/10
🏅📸✍️
Master: Comparing the Three Processes — banked!
LAUNCH Science · Week 6 ✅
✓ I can say what 'compare' asks for — both sides, similarities AND differences.✓ I can compare any two of the three processes using direction, energy and what moves.✓ I can write a full-mark compare answer with points on both sides.
⏸ MID-POINT PEER CHECK
Pens down — quick partner check!
📣 Show your partner where you’re up to. Check together against today’s success: I can say what 'compare' asks for — both sides, similarities AND differences. and I can compare any two of the three processes using direction, energy and what moves.. If something’s missing, help them add it — kindly.
Optional check: use up to two minutes of the independent-work allocation. Manual pause is available if you need more time.
Knowledge Organiser — Master: Comparing the Three Processes
LAUNCH · Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0 Foundation · Paper 1 · Topic 1 · Week 6
Key word
What it means
compare
Give similarities AND differences, both sides named.
similarity
Something the two processes share.
difference
Something that is not the same between them.
direction
Down the gradient (diffusion, osmosis) or up it (active transport).
energy
Needed for active transport; not for diffusion or osmosis.
Key facts
'Compare' means BOTH sides — a compare answer that talks about only one process scores half at best.
Compare the three on three things: direction, energy needed, and what moves.
Diffusion and active transport share: both move substances across a membrane. They differ in direction and energy.
Osmosis is diffusion of water; active transport moves substances against the gradient using energy.
A 4-mark compare wants about four distinct points, spread across both processes.
Success criteria
I can say what 'compare' asks for — both sides, similarities AND differences.
I can compare any two of the three processes using direction, energy and what moves.
I can write a full-mark compare answer with points on both sides.
Session plan: 40-minute session: Arrival 3; overview 1; I Do 1 4; We Do 1 4; I Do 2 3; We Do 2 4; independent work 15; feedback and next step 3; exit 3. Title orientation is untimed. The optional two-minute evidence check sits inside independent time. Keep extra practice available; use the core question, a contrasting example and a recheck before extending.
Master: Comparing the Three Processes
Name: ____________________ Tier ringed by adult: ◆ Supported ▲ Standard ★ Stretch Date:
Learning objective
I can answer 'compare' exam questions across the three transport processes independently.
Today at a Glance
What 'compare' asks
Both sides
Direction · energy · what moves
Arrival task
Match the process to its direction: diffusion / active transport → down / up the gradient.
Write one similarity and one difference between diffusion and active transport.
Compare diffusion and active transport using direction, energy and what moves.
We Do — Match each card
'Active transport is different.' (Compare, 4 marks) → ______________________________
Only differences, no similarity (Compare) → ______________________________
'Both cross the membrane; diffusion is down, active is up; only active needs energy.' → ______________________________
A paragraph only about diffusion (Compare) → ______________________________
'Diffusion is passive, active transport uses respiration energy.' → ______________________________
'They are both types of movement.' → ______________________________
WAGOLL
Compare diffusion and active transport. [4] — Both move substances across the cell membrane (1). Diffusion moves them DOWN the concentration gradient, but active transport moves them UP, against it (1). Diffusion is passive and needs no energy supplied by respiration (1), whereas active transport needs energy from respiration (1).
Scaffolding — ◆ Supported
Adult notes — access & sensory This topic is model- and data-based — comparison tables and graphs. A pupil who reads the data, completes the table or explains the pattern is doing the assessed science.
Sentence stems
Show-me lesson: you write a full compare answer, then mark your OWN against the board — did you give a similarity? at least two differences? cover BOTH processes? Tick each. The independent compare answer is the strongest evidence in this topic. Method, never a grade.
Word bank
compare, similarity, difference, direction, energy
Scaffolding — ▲ Standard
Sentence stems
Show-me lesson: you write a full compare answer, then mark your OWN against the board — did you give a similarity? at least two differences? cover BOTH processes? Tick each. The independent compare answer is the strongest evidence in this topic. Method, never a grade.
Word bank
compare, similarity, difference, direction, energy
Scaffolding — ★ Stretch
Sentence stems
Show-me lesson: you write a full compare answer, then mark your OWN against the board — did you give a similarity? at least two differences? cover BOTH processes? Tick each. The independent compare answer is the strongest evidence in this topic. Method, never a grade.
Word bank
compare, similarity, difference, direction, energy
Independent Work — ◆ Supported
Task: Complete a two-column compare table for two processes from the word bank, then write one similarity and one difference.
Independent Work — ▲ Standard
Task: Answer two compare questions across the three processes, each with a similarity and two differences.
Independent Work — ★ Stretch
Task: Answer a 4-mark compare and a 6-mark compare of all three processes, then review one answer for a missing point.
Exit Ticket
Write one similarity and one difference between osmosis and active transport.
Assessor Witness Statement
Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Biology 1BI0 (Foundation, grades 1–5); GCSE Combined Science 1SC0 F where appropriate; AQA UAS science units Records what was observed, and at which level of independence.
Pupil
____________________
Lesson
Master: Comparing the Three Processes — LAUNCH Science · Week 6
Date
____________________
Observed in this lesson
☐ Stated that compare needs similarities and differences.
☐ Compared two processes using direction, energy and what moves.
☐ Wrote a compare answer covering both sides.
Assessor comment
Ring the tier the pupil actually worked at
◆ Supported
▲ Standard
★ Stretch
Assessor name ______________ Role ____________ Signature ______________ Date ________
Lundy Loop
Space: Exam-style work raises the temperature. This is practice — the Topic 1 assessment is separate and you will know when it happens.
Voice: Challenge a question that seems unfair. Sometimes the question is the problem, not you.
Audience: Your compare answers go into the Topic 1 folder and are the revision set before the assessment.
Influence: The class chooses which pair of processes we compare together as a final model.
Closing the loop: this one ends on paper — your own hand, or your words scribed by an adult. Saying it aloud starts the loop; writing it is what closes it. Pass is always allowed.
What I said, and what it changed:
Master: Comparing the Three Processes — Feedback Sheet