Discuss the strengths and limitations of describing memory as a collection of separate stores or components
Updated: 7 days ago
Question 10 Mark Scheme
Discuss the strengths and limitations of describing memory as a collection of separate stores or components. Refer to the multi-store model and working memory model in your answer.
[16 marks]
What is expected in the answer?
The command word “discuss” requires students to explain relevant features of both the multi-store model (MSM) and working memory model (WMM) and then consider the strengths and limitations of representing memory as a set of distinct stores or components. For 16 marks, students should go beyond separate evaluations of the two models and make comparisons between them, particularly whether evidence supports genuinely separate memory systems.
The current AQA specification requires the MSM's sensory register, STM and LTM, and the WMM's central executive, phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketchpad and episodic buffer.
Marks for this question: AO1 = 6, AO3 = 10
As this is an original question rather than an existing AQA examination question, this is an AQA-style allocation. AQA's specimen 16-mark WMM question without application uses AO1 = 6 and AO3 = 10, making this an appropriate distribution.
Level | Marks | Description |
4 | 13–16 | Knowledge of the multi-store model and working memory model is accurate and generally well detailed. Discussion of the strengths and limitations of representing memory as separate stores or components is thorough and effective. Comparisons between the models and research evidence are used effectively. The answer is clear, coherent and focused, with effective use of specialist terminology. |
3 | 9–12 | Knowledge of both models is evident, although there may be occasional inaccuracies or omissions. Discussion is mostly effective and there is some comparison of the models. Relevant evidence is used appropriately, although links to the question may not always be fully developed. |
2 | 5–8 | Limited knowledge of both models is present, or one model is substantially better developed. The response is mainly descriptive. Discussion of the separate-store/component assumption is only partly effective and comparisons may be limited. |
1 | 1–4 | Knowledge of the model(s) is very limited or muddled. Discussion is limited, poorly focused or absent. There may be confusion between the multi-store model and working memory model. |
0 | 0 | No relevant content. |
Indicative content
AO1: The multi-store model
Credit relevant knowledge such as:
The multi-store model describes memory as consisting of separate stores:
sensory register
short-term memory
long-term memory.
The stores differ in coding, capacity and duration.
The sensory register has a very brief duration and very large capacity.
STM has a limited capacity and duration and is mainly acoustically coded.
LTM has a potentially unlimited capacity and duration and is mainly semantically coded.
Attention transfers information from the sensory register to STM.
Maintenance rehearsal can keep information in STM and allow transfer to LTM.
Retrieval involves information from LTM becoming available for current processing.
The current specification explicitly requires the three stores and their coding, capacity and duration. AQA's June 2023 mark scheme also uses rehearsal, STM capacity and duration, and transfer to LTM when applying the MSM.
AO1: The working memory model
Credit relevant knowledge such as:
The WMM presents STM as an active processing system, rather than one unitary temporary store.
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