Discuss interference as an explanation for forgetting

Question 10 Mark Scheme

Discuss interference as an explanation for forgetting. Refer to proactive and retroactive interference in your answer.

[16 marks]

What is expected in the answer?

The command word “discuss” requires students to explain interference accurately, including proactive and retroactive interference, and then evaluate how successfully interference explains forgetting. For 16 marks, students should develop research support, limitations, alternative explanations and practical implications rather than simply defining the two forms of interference.

The current AQA specification explicitly requires proactive and retroactive interference as explanations for forgetting.

Marks for this question: AO1 = 6, AO3 = 10

As this is an original 16-mark question without application, AO1 = 6 and AO3 = 10 is an appropriate AQA-style allocation.

Level	Marks	Description
4	13–16	Knowledge of interference, including proactive and retroactive interference, is accurate and generally well detailed. Discussion is thorough and effective. Research evidence, limitations, alternative explanations and/or applications are clearly linked to interference as an explanation for forgetting. The answer is clear, coherent and focused, with effective use of specialist terminology.
3	9–12	Knowledge of interference is evident and both proactive and retroactive interference are addressed. There may be occasional inaccuracies or omissions. Discussion is mostly effective and relevant evidence is used appropriately, although some points may lack development.
2	5–8	Limited knowledge of interference is present. Proactive and/or retroactive interference may be insufficiently developed or confused. The response is mainly descriptive and discussion is only partly effective. Research may be described without clearly linking it to the explanation.
1	1–4	Knowledge is very limited or muddled. There may be confusion between proactive and retroactive interference. Discussion is limited, poorly focused or absent. Specialist terminology is absent or used inaccurately.
0	0	No relevant content.

AQA's 2021 mark scheme describes interference as memories conflicting, becoming confused or becoming mixed up, with interference particularly likely when the competing material is similar.

Indicative content

AO1: Interference

Credit relevant knowledge such as:

• Interference occurs when two or more memories compete or conflict with one another.

• The competing memories may become confused or mixed up, making successful recall more difficult.

• Interference is particularly likely when the competing information is similar.

• Similar memories may create response competition, where more than one possible memory competes to be recalled.

• Interference can occur in two directions:

  • proactive interference

  • retroactive interference.

AQA explicitly identifies similarity and response competition as relevant aspects of interference.  

Proactive interference

Credit points such as:

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