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Species and taxonomy: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.4.5 Species and taxonomy, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q03.1

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 03.1: How many different genera of beetles are there in the information provided? [1 mark]

  2. Q09.1

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 09.1: There were 800 males in the control population. Each male made one type of call. Use this information and Table 6 to calculate the number of males making mating

  3. Q09.2

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 09.2: Suggest one change the scientists could make to both frog populations to increase the number of mating calls. [1 mark]

  4. Q09.3

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    4 marks3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 09.3: The scientists also investigated the effect on female frog courtship behaviour of feeding EE2 to male frogs. Table 7 shows their results. Table 7 Population Med

  5. Q05.1

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 05.1: Orchids form a large family of flowering plants. Scientists analysed genes coding for ribosomal RNA in orchids. Explain how this analysis allowed the scientists

  6. Q05.2

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 05.2: Suggest one reason why analysing genes coding for ribosomal RNA allows phylogenetic relationships to be studied between all cellular organisms. [1 mark]

  7. Q03.3

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 03.3: What does Figure 3 suggest is the order of human migration out of Africa? Tick () one box. [1 mark] Europe, India, East Asia, Central America, South America In

  8. Q06.2

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 06.2: Consider the accuracy and limitations of the early classification of bacteria using the arrangement of flagella. [3 marks]

  9. Q06.3

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 06.3: Suggest why several bacterial species have been renamed in recent years. [1 mark]

  10. Q09.4

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 09.4: Complete Table 6 to show the phylogenetic classification for these two species. [2 marks] Table 6 Taxon Opsanus tau Trachurus trachurus Animalia Chordata Class

  11. Q05.1

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 05.1: Describe how organisms are grouped in a phylogenetic classification system. [2 marks]

  12. Q05.2

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 05.2: Use information in Table 1 to give the scientific name of the taxon labelled B in Figure 4. [1 mark]

  13. Q05.3

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 05.3: Draw an oval on Figure 4 to show the species Rhinoceros sondaicus. [1 mark]

  14. Q05.4

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    4 marks3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 05.4: What can you conclude about the likely phylogenetic relationships between these species? Evaluate your conclusion. [4 marks]

  15. Q05.5

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 05.5: A scientist obtained a rhinoceros horn confiscated from poachers and wanted to identify the species of rhinoceros that was killed for its horn. He used the proc

  16. Q08.5

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 08.5: Although these two populations are completely separate and show genetic variation, they are both called Helianthus annuus. Explain why they are both given this

  17. Q03.1

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 03.1: In taxonomy, an organism is identified by referring to the species name and the genus name. What term is used to describe this method of naming organisms? [1 ma

  18. Q01.1

    November 2020 · Paper 3

    3 marks3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 3, question 01.1: Suggest three possible limitations of this investigation. [3 marks] 1 2 3

  19. Q01.3

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.4.5 Species and taxonomy
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 01.3: Name the taxon in the hierarchy of classification represented by: [1 mark] 1 Littorina 2 Iittorea

  20. Q09.1

    June 2017 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.5 Species and taxonomy3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 AS Paper 1, question 09.1: Define each of the following terms. [2 marks] Species Species richness Scientists investigated the species richness of fish caught at various depths in the Paci
All 21 questions on Species and taxonomy, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 3, Q03.1 (1 mark): How many different genera of beetles are there in the information provided? [1 mark]
  2. June 2024, Paper 1, Q09.1 (1 mark): There were 800 males in the control population. Each male made one type of call. Use this information and Table 6 to calculate the number of males making mating
  3. June 2024, Paper 1, Q09.2 (1 mark): Suggest one change the scientists could make to both frog populations to increase the number of mating calls. [1 mark]
  4. June 2024, Paper 1, Q09.3 (4 marks): The scientists also investigated the effect on female frog courtship behaviour of feeding EE2 to male frogs. Table 7 shows their results. Table 7 Population Med
  5. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q05.1 (2 marks): Orchids form a large family of flowering plants. Scientists analysed genes coding for ribosomal RNA in orchids. Explain how this analysis allowed the scientists
  6. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q05.2 (1 mark): Suggest one reason why analysing genes coding for ribosomal RNA allows phylogenetic relationships to be studied between all cellular organisms. [1 mark]
  7. June 2023, Paper 1, Q03.3 (1 mark): What does Figure 3 suggest is the order of human migration out of Africa? Tick () one box. [1 mark] Europe, India, East Asia, Central America, South America In
  8. June 2023, Paper 1, Q06.2 (3 marks): Consider the accuracy and limitations of the early classification of bacteria using the arrangement of flagella. [3 marks]
  9. June 2023, Paper 1, Q06.3 (1 mark): Suggest why several bacterial species have been renamed in recent years. [1 mark]
  10. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q09.4 (2 marks): Complete Table 6 to show the phylogenetic classification for these two species. [2 marks] Table 6 Taxon Opsanus tau Trachurus trachurus Animalia Chordata Class
  11. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q05.1 (2 marks): Describe how organisms are grouped in a phylogenetic classification system. [2 marks]
  12. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q05.2 (1 mark): Use information in Table 1 to give the scientific name of the taxon labelled B in Figure 4. [1 mark]
  13. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q05.3 (1 mark): Draw an oval on Figure 4 to show the species Rhinoceros sondaicus. [1 mark]
  14. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q05.4 (4 marks): What can you conclude about the likely phylogenetic relationships between these species? Evaluate your conclusion. [4 marks]
  15. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q05.5 (2 marks): A scientist obtained a rhinoceros horn confiscated from poachers and wanted to identify the species of rhinoceros that was killed for its horn. He used the proc
  16. November 2021, Paper 1, Q08.5 (1 mark): Although these two populations are completely separate and show genetic variation, they are both called Helianthus annuus. Explain why they are both given this
  17. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q03.1 (1 mark): In taxonomy, an organism is identified by referring to the species name and the genus name. What term is used to describe this method of naming organisms? [1 ma
  18. November 2020, Paper 3, Q01.1 (3 marks): Suggest three possible limitations of this investigation. [3 marks] 1 2 3
  19. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q01.3 (1 mark): Name the taxon in the hierarchy of classification represented by: [1 mark] 1 Littorina 2 Iittorea
  20. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q09.1 (2 marks): Define each of the following terms. [2 marks] Species Species richness Scientists investigated the species richness of fish caught at various depths in the Paci
  21. Specimen, Paper 1, Q06.1 (2 marks): This source has been removed due to third-party copyright restrictions. 3

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