A free guide to the command words and exam technique for all three BTEC Applied Science (AAQ) exams: Unit 1 Biology, Unit 2 Chemistry and Unit 3 Physics. It works well before a first practice paper or as a revision handout.

What’s inside

• Every command word used in the papers, with a short example and what a good answer does
• Timing, calculations, and how to build a chain of reasoning for Explain questions
• How the 6-mark Discuss question is marked, with a simple plan learners can follow
• The slips that cost the most marks in the June 2026 exams, with the fix for each one

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It is six pages and comes in Word as well as PDF, so you can adapt it for your own classes.

Written for the Pearson BTEC National in Applied Science (AAQ) external exams (60316T, 60317T and 60318T).