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Cell structure

Cell structure for A Level Geography AQA Foundation: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • A Level
  • AQA
  • Geography
  • Foundation
  • Spec N5
  • 5 min read
  • 10 revision boxes

Introduction

2 boxes
1 min read

What is cell structure?

Listen to this box

Transcript

A short spoken summary of cell structure and where it is used.

A spoken walk-through of cell structure before you read the notes.
Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.
2 rows

The cell structure reference table

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing cell structure laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
Worth knowing: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left.
Term
Meaning
Example
Common slip
Row 1 column 1
Row 1 column 2
x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Row 1 column 4
Row 2 column 1
Row 2 column 2
49=7\sqrt{49} = 7
Row 2 column 4
Row 3 column 1
Row 3 column 2
a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Row 3 column 4
Row 4 column 1
Row 4 column 2
×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left
Row 4 column 4

Learning

6 boxes
3 steps

How to work with cell structure

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
Worth knowing: ≈160\approx 160.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for cell structure in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.
Answer: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7
3 rules

Key facts: Cell structure

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.

  • Rule 1

    How cell structure behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

  • Rule 2

    How cell structure behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    ≈160\approx 160
5 steps

How to work with cell structure

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing cell structure laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
Worth knowing: ≈160\approx 160.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for cell structure in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
  4. Check the answer against an estimate before writing it down.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: ≈160\approx 160.
Answer: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7
2 rules

Key facts: Cell structure

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
Worth knowing: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.

  • Rule 1

    How cell structure behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left

  • Rule 2

    How cell structure behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2

  • Rule 3

    How cell structure behaves in the 3rd of the cases the specification names.
    ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left
5 steps

How to work with cell structure

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for cell structure in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
  4. Check the answer against an estimate before writing it down.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.
Answer: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
3 rules

Key facts: Cell structure

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.

  • Rule 1

    How cell structure behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    49=7\sqrt{49} = 7

  • Rule 2

    How cell structure behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

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Examples

2 boxes
1 marks · worked

Worked example: cell structure

Practise the routine version until it is automatic, then move to the multi-step questions.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing cell structure laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
3 marks · worked

Practice question 10: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left

Sketch the shape even when the question does not ask for one — it makes the next step obvious.

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Common questions

How many marks is cell structure usually worth?
Between one and four, depending on how many steps the question asks for.
Is this on the A Level Geography AQA Foundation paper?
Yes — it sits in the People and organisations strand.