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Evolution and speciation: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on Evolution and speciation (specification points 5.17–5.20), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,749 questions

  1. Q7(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 7(b)(i): Complete the table to show the number of breeding females, number of female offspring and total number of offspring produced in year 4. (2)

  2. Q7(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    4 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 7(b)(ii): A mutation causing females to mature rapidly allows stoats to reproduce in their first year. Explain how the frequency of an allele leading to early maturity ma

  3. Q8(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    2 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 8(a): Explain why ‘the distribution of hibernating species on the tree of mammals’ suggests that the common ancestor of all mammals was a hibernator (paragraph 3). (2

  4. Q8(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    2 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 8(b)(i): The frequency of this mutation in Central Europe has increased by 457% in the last 4000 years. Calculate the percentage increase in the frequency of this mutati

  5. Q8(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    4 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 8(b)(ii): During the last 4000 years, changes in farming led to a greater increase in the consumption of milk and dairy products in the UK compared with Central Europe. M

  6. Q8(k)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    3 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 8(k): Describe how sympatric speciation could have occurred in the moths living on sloths (Box 4). (3)

  7. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    4 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 6(b)(ii): Some species of shrew have evolved to feed on insects found in cold water streams. They are semi-aquatic, spending part of their lives diving in water and part

  8. Q8(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    4 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 8(i): The structure of the oxygen-evolving complex is similar to that of catalase, ‘it looks as if it evolved from two catalase enzymes lashed together’ (paragraph 17

  9. Q8(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 8(a): Explain why natural selection took place in Darwin’s Galapagos finches (paragraph 3). (3)

  10. Q3(b)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 3(b)(i): Explain why the percentage of elephants without tusks in Mozambique will probably increase in the future. (3)

  11. Q3(c)

    June 2019 · Paper 1

    4 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1, question 3(c): Explain how these two species of snake could have arisen from a common ancestor. (4)

  12. Q7(a)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    5 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 7(a): Describe how different species of cichlid fish have evolved in lakes and rivers in Africa. (5)

  13. Q7(l)

    June 2018 · Paper 3

    1 markEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 3, question 7(l): Name one process that would have validated Pettersson’s paper before it was published in the journal known as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science

  14. Q10(b)(ii)

    June 2017 · Paper 1

    3 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 1, question 10(b)(ii): Explain how two species of African elephant could evolve from a common ancestor. (3)

  15. Q7(g)

    June 2017 · Paper 3

    5 marksEvolution and speciation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 3, question 7(g): Explain how cyanobacteria evolved to ‘handle high temperatures’ (paragraphs 14 and 15). (5)
All 15 questions on Evolution and speciation, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Complete the table to show the number of breeding females, number of female offspring and total number of offspring produced in year 4. (2)
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q7(b)(ii) (4 marks): A mutation causing females to mature rapidly allows stoats to reproduce in their first year. Explain how the frequency of an allele leading to early maturity ma
  3. June 2025, Paper 3, Q8(a) (2 marks): Explain why ‘the distribution of hibernating species on the tree of mammals’ suggests that the common ancestor of all mammals was a hibernator (paragraph 3). (2
  4. June 2024, Paper 1, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): The frequency of this mutation in Central Europe has increased by 457% in the last 4000 years. Calculate the percentage increase in the frequency of this mutati
  5. June 2024, Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (4 marks): During the last 4000 years, changes in farming led to a greater increase in the consumption of milk and dairy products in the UK compared with Central Europe. M
  6. June 2024, Paper 3, Q8(k) (3 marks): Describe how sympatric speciation could have occurred in the moths living on sloths (Box 4). (3)
  7. June 2023, Paper 1, Q6(b)(ii) (4 marks): Some species of shrew have evolved to feed on insects found in cold water streams. They are semi-aquatic, spending part of their lives diving in water and part
  8. June 2023, Paper 3, Q8(i) (4 marks): The structure of the oxygen-evolving complex is similar to that of catalase, ‘it looks as if it evolved from two catalase enzymes lashed together’ (paragraph 17
  9. June 2022, Paper 3, Q8(a) (3 marks): Explain why natural selection took place in Darwin’s Galapagos finches (paragraph 3). (3)
  10. November 2021, Paper 1, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain why the percentage of elephants without tusks in Mozambique will probably increase in the future. (3)
  11. June 2019, Paper 1, Q3(c) (4 marks): Explain how these two species of snake could have arisen from a common ancestor. (4)
  12. June 2019, Paper 3, Q7(a) (5 marks): Describe how different species of cichlid fish have evolved in lakes and rivers in Africa. (5)
  13. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(l) (1 mark): Name one process that would have validated Pettersson’s paper before it was published in the journal known as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
  14. June 2017, Paper 1, Q10(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how two species of African elephant could evolve from a common ancestor. (3)
  15. June 2017, Paper 3, Q7(g) (5 marks): Explain how cyanobacteria evolved to ‘handle high temperatures’ (paragraphs 14 and 15). (5)

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