plumiClassification: Edexcel A‑Level Biology B questions
Every Edexcel A-Level Biology B exam question on 3.1 Classification, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q6(a)(i)
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Q6(a)(ii)
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Q1(c)(ii)
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Q6(c)(i)
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Q6(c)(ii)
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Q6(a)
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Q6(b)
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Q6(c)(i)
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Q6(c)(ii)
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Q2(a)
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Q7(b)(ii)
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Q7(b)(iii)
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Q7(a)(iii)
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Q4(a)(i)
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Q4(a)(ii)
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Q4(a)(iii)
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Q4(b)
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Q7(b)
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Q7(c)
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All 69 questions on Classification, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Which family, order and class does the brown rat belong to? (1) Family Order Class A Mammalia Muridae Rodentia B Mammalia Rodentia Muridae C Muridae Rodentia Ma
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): State one method that scientists use to determine the evolutionary relationships of the brown rat compared with other species. (1)
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q1(c)(ii) (1 mark): State why yeast is not classified as a plant. (1)
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): State the meaning of the term species. (1)
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q6(c)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how scientists can use DNA from two similar looking plants to investigate whether they are closely related. (2)
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q5(a) (1 mark): State the genus to which this animal belongs. (1)
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q6(a) (3 marks): A species may be defined as a group of organisms with similar characteristics that interbreed to produce fertile offspring. Explain the limitations of this defi
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q6(b) (1 mark): The evolutionary relationship between species can be determined using gel electrophoresis. Which of the following describes the movement of DNA fragments in gel
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q6(c)(i) (4 marks): Analyse the data to assess whether the new plant is a new species. (4)
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q6(c)(ii) (2 marks): Describe two other pieces of information the scientists could use to confirm if the new plant is a new species. (2)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q2(a) (2 marks): The table shows some characteristics of organisms in the domain Archaea. Characteristic Organisms in the domain Archaea membrane‑enclosed nucleus absent peptido
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): The Venn diagram shows unique and shared gene families in the genomes of three species of snailfish and a zebrafish. Mariana hadal Tanaka’s snailfish snailfish
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): The diagram shows the evolutionary relationship between three species of snailfish and a zebrafish. Tanaka’s snailfish Yap hadal snailfish Mariana hadal snailfi
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): Describe how the scientists could use technology to find out whether gene sequences of two species are similar. (2)
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following is a domain? (1) A Archaea B Fungi C Insecta D Plantae
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the following groups is not in the domain Eukaryota? (1) A Animalia B Bacteria C Insecta D Mammalia
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which of the following represents the correct hierarchy for classification? (1) A domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species B domain, kingdo
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4(b) (2 marks): Describe the peer review process used by scientists to validate evidence for a new species. (2)
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q7(b) (1 mark): Which groups do Drosophila silvestris and Drosophila planitibia belong in? 1. the same family 2. the same genus 3. the same order 4. the same phylum (1) A 1 onl
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q7(c) (2 marks): When these two species of fly are crossed together, some of the offspring are sterile and some are fertile. Explain how the production of some sterile and some
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q7(e) (3 marks): Describe what additional information can be used to help clarify the evolutionary relationship between these two species of fly. (3)
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q6(b)(i) (4 marks): Describe how scientists can use gel electrophoresis to show that these plants belong to the same species. (4)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q3(a) (1 mark): The diagram shows the results of gel electrophoresis of DNA samples from four organisms: P, Q, R and S. P Q R S sample wells band X What is shown by the band la
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q3(b) (3 marks): Gel electrophoresis of DNA can be used to study the evolutionary relationships between species. Scientists used gel electrophoresis to examine the relationship
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q3(c) (4 marks): Describe evidence, other than the gel electrophoresis of DNA, that a scientist could use to establish the evolutionary relationships between species. (4)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these is the phylum for the satin bowerbird? (1) A Animalia B Chordata C Eukarya D Vertebrata
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these is the genus for the satin bowerbird? (1) A Aves B Bower C Ptilonorhynchus D violaceus
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Priscoculex burmanicus became extinct about 100 million years ago. State why it was difficult for scientists to decide if this insect belonged to a different sp
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): State how scientists would have reached agreement on classifying this mosquito. (1)
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q4(a)(iv) (2 marks): Complete the classification table for Priscoculex burmanicus. (2) Taxon Name Domain Eukarya Kingdom Animalia Arthropoda Diptera Order Culicidae Family Anophelin
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these groups contains the greatest variety of organisms? (1) A genus B kingdom C phylum D species
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Closely-related genera are grouped together in a (1) A class B domain C family D order
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which of these is a kingdom? (1) A Archaea B Bacteria C Eukarya D Protista
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q1(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain the evidence that led to the three-domain model of classification replacing the five-kingdom model. (3)
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give a method that a scientist, with a new theory based upon experimental results, could use to share this with others in the scientific community. (1)
- October 2020, Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): State the genus of this mosquito. (1)
- October 2020, Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Mosquitoes belong to the class Insecta. Some of the insects in this class are subdivided into a group called Diptera. What is the name of the classification gro
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q8(c)(ii) (2 marks): This allele is currently found only in human populations in Tibet. The allele has also been found in the fossil bones of an extinct form of modern humans called
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q3(a) (1 mark): State the genus to which marram grass belongs. (1)
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q4(a) (1 mark): Which of the following groups contains the largest number of different types of organism? (1) A class B order C phylum D species
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q4(c) (1 mark): One definition of a species is a group of organisms that has similar features and (1) A can mate to produce hybrid offspring B can produce fertile offspring C l
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q4(d) (1 mark): Which molecules are separated using gel electrophoresis when classifying organisms? (1) A DNA B lipids C polysaccharides D vitamins
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q6(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term species. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q11(a) (1 mark): State the domain to which Rana catesbeiana belongs. (1)
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q5(a) (1 mark): The correct hierarchy of classification categories is (1) A domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species B domain, kingdom, phylum, order, clas
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (4 marks): Describe the information scientists can use to classify an organism as a new species. (4)
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why it may be difficult to classify a newly discovered organism as a separate species. (2)
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): State the genus of this mayfly. (1)
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): This mayfly belongs to the phylum Arthropoda. Which is the order for this mayfly? (1) A Animalia B Ephemeropteroidea C Heptageniidae D Insecta
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Analyse the information to explain the evidence for the three-domain model of classification. (3)
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Many scientists agree with this three-domain model. State how these scientists would have reached agreement about this model. (1)
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q5(a) (2 marks): Explain how gel electrophoresis separates molecules. (2)
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Protein molecules in solution do not separate as easily as DNA fragments. Explain how protein molecules in solution must be treated so that they can be separate
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(ii) (4 marks): Analyse the information shown in the photograph to explain how this banding pattern can be used to confirm that these are separate species of fish. (4)
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(iii) (1 mark): Give a reason why pure protein samples were included in the gel. (1)
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(iv) (1 mark): The bands in the photograph vary in thickness. State what the thickness of the bands indicates. (1)
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q5(c) (2 marks): The table shows the number of bands each fish has in common with the other species. Species Shark Salmon Trout Catfish Sturgeon Shark 8 2 2 2 2 Salmon 10 10 5 3
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): Which information about a new organism would to lead to it being classified as a new species? (1) A anatomical differences B behavioural differences C genetic d
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q6(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give one method that a scientist might use to inform the scientific community about the discovery of a new species. (1)
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q2(a) (1 mark): The five-kingdom model of classification is hierarchical. Part of this hierarchy is: kingdom phylum class family genus Where in this hierarchy should the order
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q2(b) (3 marks): Cetaceans evolved between 55 and 60 million years ago. Their closest living relatives are thought to be pigs and cows. The diagram shows the evolutionary relati
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q2(c) (2 marks): The Venn diagram shows unique and shared gene families in the genomes of minke whales, dolphins, pigs and cows. minke whale cow 494 184 141 195 372 dolphin pig
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q2(d) (2 marks): A wholphin is an extremely rare hybrid animal born from the mating of a female dolphin and a male killer whale. Kekaimalu was a wholphin born in the United Stat
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q2(a) (1 mark): Amoeba belongs to the domain (1) A Eukaryota B Bacteria C Archaea D Animalia
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q6(b) (4 marks): Explain how gel electrophoresis could be used to identify which species is most closely related to the common ancestor. (4)
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q7(a) (2 marks): Complete the table showing the classification of the African bush elephant. (2) Domain Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Mammalia Order Proboscidae Family Elepha
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Give one reason why scientists used to classify African elephants as a single species. (1)
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q7(b)(ii) (1 mark): Scientists agreed to separate the African elephants into two species based on new evidence from DNA sequencing. State how scientists reach agreement on new evid
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q7(c) (1 mark): Recently, scientists extracted mitochondrial DNA from a frozen Arctic mammoth. This DNA was sequenced and compared with the mitochondrial DNA from the Asian ele
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