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Cell structure

Cell structure for A Level History OCR: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • A Level
  • OCR
  • History
  • Spec S16
  • 5 min read
  • 9 revision boxes

Introduction

2 boxes
3 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.
Worth knowing: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7.
5 rows

The cell structure reference table

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
Term
Meaning
Example
Common slip
Row 1 column 1
Row 1 column 2
≈160\approx 160
Row 1 column 4
Row 2 column 1
Row 2 column 2
x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Row 2 column 4
Row 3 column 1
Row 3 column 2
x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Row 3 column 4
Row 4 column 1
Row 4 column 2
x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Row 4 column 4

Learning

5 boxes
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: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7.
  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: ≈160\approx 160
3 rules

Key facts: Cell structure

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.
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: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.

  • 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.
    49=7\sqrt{49} = 7

  • Rule 3

    How cell structure behaves in the 3rd of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
3 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.
  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: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
Answer: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
2 rules

Key facts: Cell structure

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.

  • Rule 1

    How cell structure behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2

  • Rule 2

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

  • Rule 3

    How cell structure behaves in the 3rd of the cases the specification names.
    49=7\sqrt{49} = 7
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: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left.
  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: ≈160\approx 160.
Answer: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7

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Examples

2 boxes
2 marks · worked

Worked example: cell structure

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.
3 marks · worked

Practice question 9: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7

The examiner marks the working, so a correct answer with no method still drops marks.

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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 History OCR paper?
Yes — it sits in the People and organisations strand.