plumiNatural selection: Edexcel A‑Level Biology B questions
Every Edexcel A-Level Biology B exam question on 3.2 Natural selection, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q4(b)(iii)
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Q4(a)
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Q4(b)
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Q4(c)
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Q9(a)
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Q9(b)
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Q1(a)(i)
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Q1(a)(ii)
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Q1(b)(i)
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Q1(b)(ii)
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Q1(c)
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Q7(a)
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Q7(b)(iv)
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Q6(b)(i)
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Q7(a)
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Q7(d)
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Q6(a)
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Q8(b)(i)
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Q8(b)(ii)
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Q8(b)(iii)
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All 38 questions on Natural selection, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q4(b)(iii) (1 mark): State why it would be an advantage for monkeys living in forests in South America to be able to see both red and green colours. (1)
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q4(a) (1 mark): Give the difference between allopatric and sympatric populations. (1)
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q4(b) (3 marks): Explain how the courtship songs of male crickets may have evolved by natural selection. (3)
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q4(c) (6 marks): Analyse the information and data to comment on how male courtship behaviour could affect speciation in these crickets. (6) (Total for Q
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q9(a) (4 marks): Until 1848, light peppered moths were the only form recorded. In 1848, a single darker form of the moth was observed in an industrial area in the north‑west of
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q9(b) (9 marks): Scientists have carried out several investigations to explain changes in the peppered moth populations. Investigation 1: scientists placed both forms of the mot
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following will lead to fewer resistant bacteria? (1) A antibiotics being given to farm animals to prevent disease B doctors only prescribing antibi
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the following would cause an increase in resistant bacteria? (1) A antibiotic use leads to increased competition between bacteria B the antibiotic redu
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the number of hospital cases of MRSA is lower than the number of community cases of MRSA. (2)
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the changes in hospital cases and community cases from 2012 to 2016. (2)
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q1(c) (2 marks): Describe how DNA sequencing of pathogens may help doctors to prescribe antibiotics more effectively. (2)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q7(a) (1 mark): The Yap hadal snailfish was caught in a deep sea trench, at a depth of 7 000 m below sea level. Hydrostatic pressure increases 100 kPa with every 10 m of depth.
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q7(b)(iv) (6 marks): The Mariana hadal snailfish and the Yap hadal snailfish were caught in separate trenches hundreds of kilometres apart. Explain how these fish evolved to become
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Which types of adaptation has the rat evolved? 1 anatomical 2 behavioural 3 physiological (1) A 1 and 2 B 1, 2 and 3 C 1 and 3 D 2 and 3
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q7(a) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by the term niche. (2)
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q7(d) (4 marks): Explain how these two species evolved from a common ancestor. (4)
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q6(a) (4 marks): Explain why most of the plants in areas where bulbs are collected in high numbers have greyish-brown leaves and flowers. (4)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe how courtship ensures that bowerbirds mate successfully. (2)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (4 marks): Explain how this bower building behaviour has evolved by natural selection. (4)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(iii) (4 marks): Devise an investigation to determine the effect of changing the colour of the objects used to decorate the bower on its attractiveness to female bowerbirds. (4)
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these processes produces new species without geographically separating populations? (1) A allopatric speciation B genetic speciation C stabilising spec
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q8(a) (1 mark): The effect of low temperature on fertility is often compared using the temperature that results in 50% fertility. Determine the difference in these temperatures
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the relationship between temperature and the viability of eggs and fertility of males. (1)
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (6 marks): Another group of scientists recorded the courtship song of male D. melanogaster and male D. simulans. The male flies vibrate their wings producing a courtship s
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q4(b) (1 mark): Which of the following contributes to evolution by natural selection? (1) A all organisms have enough resources to survive B individuals in the same population
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q4(e)(i) (4 marks): Explain why these insecticides have become less effective when used to treat head lice. (4)
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q4(e)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how the use of insecticides could be changed to make the treatment more effective. (3)
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q5(c) (3 marks): The hawthorn fly is found in a part of North America. The hawthorn fly has separated into two species. One species is called the apple maggot fly and feeds on a
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q5(d) (2 marks): Changes in the number of chromosomes of lizards can occur, resulting in speciation. Some lizards are tetraploid (4n) rather than diploid (2n). Explain how this
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(b) (3 marks): Anti-malarial drugs can be used to protect people from malaria. These drugs are not always effective because Plasmodium develop resistance. Explain how drug-res
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q6(a) (3 marks): Explain how evolution can occur through natural selection. (3)
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following is an example of a behavioural adaptation? (1) A courtship display in sticklebacks B litter size in pigs C number of Drosophila eggs that
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q6(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the following is an example of anatomical adaptation? (1) A an alarm call by a song thrush B dominance behaviour in dairy cattle C limb structure in pr
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q6(b)(iii) (1 mark): Which of the following is an example of physiological adaptation? (1) A increased number of stomata on leaf upper surface in a water lily B production of venom
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q6(d) (4 marks): Compare and contrast allopatric and sympatric speciation. (4)
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q6(a) (4 marks): Explain how the insects evolved from a common ancestor into three distinct species. (4)
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q1(d) (3 marks): There is a high frequency of mutated CFTR alleles in some human populations. In an experiment, three groups of genetically modified mice were infected with chol
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q9(a) (4 marks): Use the map to explain how the different varieties of tiger may eventually become separate species. (4)
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