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The development of understanding of genetics and evolution: AQA GCSE Biology questions

Every AQA GCSE Biology exam question on 4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,505 questions

  1. Q01.1

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 01.1: Suggest how the fossil in Figure 1 was formed after the ichthyosaur died. [2 marks]

  2. Q01.2

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 01.2: The length of the image of the ichthyosaur in Figure 1 is 120 mm. The real length of the ichthyosaur was 17 times longer than the image in Figure 1. Calculate t

  3. Q01.3

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution4.6.4 Classification of living organisms
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 01.3: Table 1 gives the classification of the ichthyosaur in Figure 1. Table 1 Classification group Name Kingdom Animalia Chordata Class Reptilia Order Ichthyosauria

  4. Q01.4

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 01.4: Ichthyosaurs were predators. Ichthyosaurs are now extinct. Scientists think that extinction of the ichthyosaurs was caused by increased competition with other p

  5. Q05.4

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 05.4: Calculate the mean rate of increase in MRSA cases per year in the 12 years from 1993 to 2005. [3 marks] Mean rate of increase = cases per million people per yea

  6. Q05.5

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 05.5: Most antibiotics will not kill MRSA bacteria. Which word describes bacteria that are not killed by antibiotics? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Immune Powerful Resis

  7. Q05.6

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 05.6: Figure 9 shows that the number of cases of MRSA decreased after 2006. Suggest one reason for this decrease. [1 mark]

  8. Q08.1

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 08.1: Suggest how the fossil in Figure 13 was formed after the ichthyosaur died. [2 marks]

  9. Q08.2

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 08.2: The length of the image of the ichthyosaur in Figure 13 is 120 mm. The real length of the ichthyosaur was 17 times longer than the image in Figure 13. Calculate

  10. Q08.3

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution4.6.4 Classification of living organisms
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 08.3: Table 5 gives the classification of the ichthyosaur in Figure 13. Table 5 Classification group Name Kingdom Animalia Chordata Class Reptilia Order Ichthyosauria

  11. Q08.4

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 08.4: Ichthyosaurs were predators. Ichthyosaurs are now extinct. Scientists think that extinction of the ichthyosaurs was caused by increased competition with other p

  12. Q01.2

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 01.2: Describe the process of natural selection. [3 marks]

  13. Q01.3

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.6.2 Variation and evolution4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 01.3: Which scientists suggested the theory of evolution by natural selection? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Alexander Fleming and Carl Woese Alfred Wallace and Alexande

  14. Q01.4

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 01.4: The hoverfly and the wasp are insects with bright yellow and black markings. Figure 1 shows a hoverfly and a wasp. Figure 1 The wasp has a sting to defend itsel

  15. Q02.5

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.5: Give two possible causes of extinction. [2 marks] 1 2

  16. Q08.5

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 08.5: Mendel published his work in 1866. Suggest two reasons why the importance of Mendel’s work was not recognised until the early 1900s. [2 marks] 1 2

  17. Q09.2

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 09.2: Describe the process of natural selection. [3 marks]

  18. Q09.3

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.2 Variation and evolution4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 09.3: Which scientists suggested the theory of evolution by natural selection? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Alexander Fleming and Carl Woese Alfred Wallace and Alexande

  19. Q09.4

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 09.4: The hoverfly and the wasp are insects with bright yellow and black markings. Figure 12 shows a hoverfly and a wasp. Figure 12 The wasp has a sting to defend its

  20. Q09

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    6 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution4.6.4 Classification of living organisms
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 09: A wide variety of species exists on Earth. Most scientists accept Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection as the explanation for this variety of speci
All 54 questions on The development of understanding of genetics and evolution, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.1 (2 marks): Suggest how the fossil in Figure 1 was formed after the ichthyosaur died. [2 marks]
  2. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.2 (3 marks): The length of the image of the ichthyosaur in Figure 1 is 120 mm. The real length of the ichthyosaur was 17 times longer than the image in Figure 1. Calculate t
  3. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.3 (2 marks): Table 1 gives the classification of the ichthyosaur in Figure 1. Table 1 Classification group Name Kingdom Animalia Chordata Class Reptilia Order Ichthyosauria
  4. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.4 (2 marks): Ichthyosaurs were predators. Ichthyosaurs are now extinct. Scientists think that extinction of the ichthyosaurs was caused by increased competition with other p
  5. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.4 (3 marks): Calculate the mean rate of increase in MRSA cases per year in the 12 years from 1993 to 2005. [3 marks] Mean rate of increase = cases per million people per yea
  6. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.5 (1 mark): Most antibiotics will not kill MRSA bacteria. Which word describes bacteria that are not killed by antibiotics? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Immune Powerful Resis
  7. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.6 (1 mark): Figure 9 shows that the number of cases of MRSA decreased after 2006. Suggest one reason for this decrease. [1 mark]
  8. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.1 (2 marks): Suggest how the fossil in Figure 13 was formed after the ichthyosaur died. [2 marks]
  9. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.2 (3 marks): The length of the image of the ichthyosaur in Figure 13 is 120 mm. The real length of the ichthyosaur was 17 times longer than the image in Figure 13. Calculate
  10. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.3 (2 marks): Table 5 gives the classification of the ichthyosaur in Figure 13. Table 5 Classification group Name Kingdom Animalia Chordata Class Reptilia Order Ichthyosauria
  11. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.4 (2 marks): Ichthyosaurs were predators. Ichthyosaurs are now extinct. Scientists think that extinction of the ichthyosaurs was caused by increased competition with other p
  12. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.2 (3 marks): Describe the process of natural selection. [3 marks]
  13. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.3 (1 mark): Which scientists suggested the theory of evolution by natural selection? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Alexander Fleming and Carl Woese Alfred Wallace and Alexande
  14. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.4 (3 marks): The hoverfly and the wasp are insects with bright yellow and black markings. Figure 1 shows a hoverfly and a wasp. Figure 1 The wasp has a sting to defend itsel
  15. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.5 (2 marks): Give two possible causes of extinction. [2 marks] 1 2
  16. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.5 (2 marks): Mendel published his work in 1866. Suggest two reasons why the importance of Mendel’s work was not recognised until the early 1900s. [2 marks] 1 2
  17. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q09.2 (3 marks): Describe the process of natural selection. [3 marks]
  18. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q09.3 (1 mark): Which scientists suggested the theory of evolution by natural selection? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Alexander Fleming and Carl Woese Alfred Wallace and Alexande
  19. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q09.4 (3 marks): The hoverfly and the wasp are insects with bright yellow and black markings. Figure 12 shows a hoverfly and a wasp. Figure 12 The wasp has a sting to defend its
  20. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q09 (6 marks): A wide variety of species exists on Earth. Most scientists accept Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection as the explanation for this variety of speci
  21. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.5 (1 mark): This species of bacterium is resistant to some of the antibiotics. Give the letter of one antibiotic the bacterium is resistant to. [1 mark]
  22. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.6 (1 mark): Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] carbohydrate DNA lipid Antibiotic resistance in a single bacterium is caused by a change in the
  23. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.7 (1 mark): Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] excretion feeding reproduction
  24. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.8 (2 marks): Suggest why the production of millions of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a problem for farmers. [2 marks]
  25. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q07.1 (2 marks): Complete Table 3. [2 marks] Choose answers from the box. Community Genus Kingdom Mammal Population
  26. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q07.4 (2 marks): What two pieces of evidence from Figure 10 and Figure 11 support the scientist’s hypothesis? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Trilobite A and trilobite B were in t
  27. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q07.5 (3 marks): Trilobites are animals that lived in the sea. Complete the sentences about how the fossils of trilobites A and B were formed. Choose answers from the box. [3 ma
  28. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q07.6 (3 marks): Trilobites A and B are now extinct. Give three possible causes of extinction. [3 marks] 1 2 3
  29. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q07.7 (1 mark): Suggest one reason why scientists cannot be sure what caused the trilobites to become extinct. [1 mark]
  30. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q09.5 (6 marks): The range of beak depth of medium ground finches on Isabela Island is different from the range on Daphne Island. Explain what might have caused this difference.
  31. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.1 (2 marks): Which two scientists proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Alexander Fleming Alfred Russel Wallace Carl Linnaeus
  32. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.2 (2 marks): What is a fossil? [2 marks]
  33. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.3 (1 mark): How was the fossil in Figure 1 formed? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Body parts were replaced by minerals. The animal walked on mud. The animal was frozen in ice.
  34. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.4 (2 marks): Dinosaurs are extinct. Give two causes of extinction. [2 marks] 1 2
  35. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.5 (2 marks): Which two of the following provide evidence for evolution? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Bacteria can become resistant to an antibiotic. Early forms of life liv
  36. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q08.1 (2 marks): Determine the number of years both Andrewsarchus and Brontotherium existed together. [2 marks] Time = years
  37. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q08.2 (3 marks): The oldest fossils of human ancestors found in this area are 700 000 years old. Andrewsarchus was a carnivore and Brontotherium was a herbivore. Suggest how the
  38. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q08.3 (3 marks): Information about extinct animals is often not clear because the fossil record is incomplete. Give three reasons why the fossil record is not clear for older sp
  39. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q08.4 (6 marks): A student stated: ‘The data in Figure 9 shows that humans caused mass extinctions.’ Evaluate the student’s statement. [6 marks]
  40. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q08.5 (2 marks): Give one disadvantage and one advantage of mass extinction events. Answer in terms of evolution. [2 marks] Disadvantage Advantage Question number Additional pag
  41. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.5 (1 mark): The only parts of the Siberian rhinoceros that have been found are fossilised bones. Give one reason why only the bones of the body of the Siberian rhinoceros b
  42. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.6 (1 mark): Suggest how scientists can estimate when the Siberian rhinoceros was alive. [1 mark]
  43. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.7 (1 mark): How many million years ago did the Siberian rhinoceros become extinct? [1 mark] million years ago
  44. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.8 (3 marks): Determine the time in years when both the Siberian rhinoceros and modern humans existed together. Use Figure 9 and your answer to Question 06.7. [3 marks] Time
  45. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.9 (2 marks): Suggest two factors that may have caused the extinction of the Siberian rhinoceros. [2 marks] 1 2
  46. Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.1: There was a different theory at the same time as Darwin’s theory. The different theory said that changes in an organism during its life could be inherited. Who
  47. Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.2 (3 marks): Studying fossils helps scientists understand how living things have evolved. Figure 1 shows a fossilised snake. Figure 1 Explain how the fossil in Figure 1 may
  48. Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.3 (4 marks): The different types of rat snake have evolved from similar ancestors. The rat snakes have evolved to suit their environments. Explain how the Japanese rat snake
  49. Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.4 (1 mark): Many species of snake have become extinct. Give one reason why a species might become extinct. [1 mark 6
  50. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.1: Draw one line from each scientist to the description of their significant work. [3 ma
  51. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.1: There was a different theory at the same time as Darwin’s theory. The different theory said that changes in an organism during its life could be inherited. Who
  52. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.2 (3 marks): Studying fossils helps scientists understand how living things have evolved. Figure 14 shows a fossilised snake. Figure 14 Explain how the fossil in Figure 14 m
  53. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.3 (4 marks): The different types of rat snake have evolved from similar ancestors. The rat snakes have evolved to to suit their environments. Explain how the Japanese rat sn
  54. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.4 (1 mark): Many species of snake have become extinct. Give one reason why a species might become extinct. [1 mark 0

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