How to answer "Suggest" questions
Suggest means: Apply your knowledge to an unfamiliar situation where there may be no single "right" answer.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
AO2/AO3 — tests whether you can transfer ideas. · Also phrased as: propose, apply to an unfamiliar context
What the examiner is looking for
- A sensible, scientifically-reasoned answer that fits the context.
- It does not have to be the textbook case — but it must be justified.
How to structure your answer
- Read the unfamiliar context carefully for clues.
- Apply a principle you know and reason to a plausible answer.
Worked example
Q: Scientists found a new deep-sea fish with very large eyes. Suggest why. (2 marks)
Model answer: Very little light reaches the deep sea, so large eyes capture more of the available light [1], helping the fish detect prey or predators in near-darkness [1].
Common mistakes
- Panicking because the context is unfamiliar — the science is something you know.
- Giving an answer with no reasoning.
Practise it
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