OCR · A-Level · Biology
Course version: H420 · Version from Sept 2025
(i) correctly cite sources of information
Full specification wording
Practical skills - Research and referencing: (i) correctly cite sources of information
Correct citation means giving enough detail for a reader to find the exact source you used, and doing so consistently.
Checked against the OCR H420 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Correct citation means giving enough detail for a reader to find the exact source you used, and doing so consistently. For a website, record the author or organisation, the title of the page, the date it was published or updated, the web address and the date you accessed it. For a textbook, record the author(s), year, title, edition, publisher and the page numbers used. For a journal article, record author(s), year, article title, journal name, volume, issue and page range. Citations must match the source actually used, so a claim taken from page 42 of a textbook is cited to that page, not to a different book. Consistency matters: use one recognised style throughout a piece of work.
What earns the marks
- A complete website citation includes the author or organisation, page title, publication or update date, web address and access date.
- A complete textbook citation includes author(s), year, title, edition, publisher and the page numbers used.
- A journal citation includes author(s), year, article title, journal name, volume, issue and page range.
- The citation must match the source actually used, so details such as date, page and author must be accurate rather than approximate.
- One recognised citation style should be applied consistently throughout a piece of work.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Giving only a web address with no author, title or date.
Put it right: Include the organisation or author, page title, date and access date alongside the address.
Citing a textbook without page numbers.
Put it right: Add the specific pages used so the reader can locate the exact information.
Mixing citation styles within one piece of work.
Put it right: Choose one recognised style and apply it consistently to every source.
Exam tips
- Check each citation against a checklist of required elements for that source type before finalising.
- Match the citation to the source you actually read, including the correct date and page numbers.
- Apply the same citation style to every source so the reference list is consistent.
Try the lesson
The start of the Practical skills - Research and referencing: (i) correctly cite sources of information lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
A student writes a report and includes a journal article in the reference list. Which detail is needed so a reader can locate that specific article?
Listen
Correct citation means giving enough detail for a reader to find the exact source you used, and doing so consistently. For a website, record the author or organisation, the title of the page, the date it was published or updated, the web address and the date you accessed it. For a textbook, record the author(s), year, title, edition, publisher and the page numbers used. For a journal article, record author(s), year, article title, journal name, volume, issue and page range. Citations must match the source actually used, so a claim taken from page 42 of a textbook is cited to that page, not to a different book. Consistency matters: use one recognised style throughout a piece of work. A strong answer earns marks for these points. A complete website citation includes the author or organisation, page title, publication or update date, web address and access date. A complete textbook citation includes author(s), year, title, edition, publisher and the page numbers used. A journal citation includes author(s), year, article title, journal name, volume, issue and page range. The citation must match the source actually used, so details such as date, page and author must be accurate rather than approximate. A common slip: Giving only a web address with no author, title or date. Instead, include the organisation or author, page title, date and access date alongside the address. Exam tip: Check each citation against a checklist of required elements for that source type before finalising.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Complete citation elements for different source types
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Accuracy of dates, pages and authorship
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Consistency of citation style
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Matching citations to sources actually used
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Complete citation elements for different source types
- Giving enough detail for a reader to find the exact source you used, with the required details recorded for a website, a textbook or a journal article.
- Accuracy of dates, pages and authorship
- Details such as date, page and author must be accurate rather than approximate, so the citation matches the source actually used.
- Consistency of citation style
- Using one recognised style throughout a piece of work, applied to every source.
- Matching citations to sources actually used
- A claim taken from a page of a textbook is cited to that page, not to a different book.
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