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Evidence for human evolution: Edexcel GCSE Biology questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Biology exam question on Evidence for human evolution (specification points 4.4–4.6), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,834 questions

  1. Q5(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(i): State the number of years that Homo habilis lived on Earth. (1)

  2. Q5(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(ii): Fossil evidence suggests that Homo habilis used tools. State one use of these tools. (1)

  3. Q5(a)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(iii): Scientists use fossil discoveries to suggest the structure of the whole body. Lucy is a fossil of the species Australopithecus afarensis. Describe how the body

  4. Q4(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(a)(ii): Estimate the length of time Homo habilis is thought to have lived on Earth. (1) million years

  5. Q4(a)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(a)(iii): Describe two methods scientists used to date the fossils of Ardi or Lucy, as shown in Figure 7. (2) 1 2

  6. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(a)(i): Give one reason, using Figure 7, why scientists think that tool A was used by a more recent human ancestor. (1)

  7. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(a)(ii): Describe how scientists can date stone tools using information from where the tools were discovered. (2)

  8. Q6(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(b): Differences in fossilised bones indicate structural changes that have occurred during the evolution of humans. Describe two structural changes that have occurre

  9. Q6(c)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(c): One source of evidence for human evolution is from stone tools. Give one other source of evidence for human evolution. (1)

  10. Q6(d)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Foundation

    3 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(d)(i): Explain how these tools provide evidence for human evolution. (3)

  11. Q6(d)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(d)(ii): Describe two methods that scientists use to date stone tools. (2) 1 2

  12. Q2(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(a)(i): Which layer of rock is likely to contain the most recent fossils? (1) A layer A B layer B C layer C D layer D Figure 5 shows some stone tools from two different

  13. Q2(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(a)(ii): Explain one difference between tool A and tools B, C and D. (2)

  14. Q2(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(a)(i): Describe how tool P was made. (2)

  15. Q2(a)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(a)(ii): Figure 4 shows tool Q which was found at the same site as tool P. Q Figure 4 A scientist stated that tool Q was made by a more evolved human ancestor than tool

  16. Q2(a)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(a)(iii): Tools provide evidence for human evolution. Use words from the box to complete the sentences. (2) enlarge human migrate mutate natural negative Evolution is the

  17. Q2(b)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(b): Fossils were also found in the soil around tool Q. Describe two ways that stone tools and fossils can be dated to find out how old they are. (2) 1 2

  18. Q7(a)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(a)(i): Give one method that can be used to date a fossil of a Hipparion. (1)

  19. Q7(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(a)(ii): Give one reason why scientists have concluded that the modern horse has evolved from Hipparion. (1)

  20. Q9(c)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    6 marksEvidence for human evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 9(c): Figure 15 shows three stone tools found in different layers of rock. tool A tool B layers of rock tool C Figure 15 Explain how information from Figure 15 provid
All 26 questions on Evidence for human evolution, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): State the number of years that Homo habilis lived on Earth. (1)
  2. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): Fossil evidence suggests that Homo habilis used tools. State one use of these tools. (1)
  3. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(iii) (2 marks): Scientists use fossil discoveries to suggest the structure of the whole body. Lucy is a fossil of the species Australopithecus afarensis. Describe how the body
  4. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Estimate the length of time Homo habilis is thought to have lived on Earth. (1) million years
  5. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(iii) (2 marks): Describe two methods scientists used to date the fossils of Ardi or Lucy, as shown in Figure 7. (2) 1 2
  6. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Give one reason, using Figure 7, why scientists think that tool A was used by a more recent human ancestor. (1)
  7. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how scientists can date stone tools using information from where the tools were discovered. (2)
  8. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b) (2 marks): Differences in fossilised bones indicate structural changes that have occurred during the evolution of humans. Describe two structural changes that have occurre
  9. June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(c) (1 mark): One source of evidence for human evolution is from stone tools. Give one other source of evidence for human evolution. (1)
  10. June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(d)(i) (3 marks): Explain how these tools provide evidence for human evolution. (3)
  11. June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(d)(ii) (2 marks): Describe two methods that scientists use to date stone tools. (2) 1 2
  12. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which layer of rock is likely to contain the most recent fossils? (1) A layer A B layer B C layer C D layer D Figure 5 shows some stone tools from two different
  13. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain one difference between tool A and tools B, C and D. (2)
  14. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how tool P was made. (2)
  15. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Figure 4 shows tool Q which was found at the same site as tool P. Q Figure 4 A scientist stated that tool Q was made by a more evolved human ancestor than tool
  16. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(iii) (2 marks): Tools provide evidence for human evolution. Use words from the box to complete the sentences. (2) enlarge human migrate mutate natural negative Evolution is the
  17. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b) (2 marks): Fossils were also found in the soil around tool Q. Describe two ways that stone tools and fossils can be dated to find out how old they are. (2) 1 2
  18. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Give one method that can be used to date a fossil of a Hipparion. (1)
  19. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give one reason why scientists have concluded that the modern horse has evolved from Hipparion. (1)
  20. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(c) (6 marks): Figure 15 shows three stone tools found in different layers of rock. tool A tool B layers of rock tool C Figure 15 Explain how information from Figure 15 provid
  21. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe the evidence that scientists might have used to show that Ardipithecus ramidus inhabited the Earth earlier than Homo habilis. (2)
  22. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest an explanation for the extinction of Homo habilis. (2)
  23. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(iii) (2 marks): Figure 2 shows two stone tools, one used by Homo habilis and one used by Homo erectus. A B (Source: Frederic Surmely/look at sciences/Science Photo Library) Fig
  24. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the number of years Ardipithecus ramidus is thought to have inhabited the Earth. (2) Answer
  25. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the evidence that scientists might have used to show that Ardipithecus ramidus inhabited the Earth earlier than Homo habilis. (2)
  26. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(a)(iv) (2 marks): Figure 13 shows two stone tools, one used by Homo habilis and one used by Homo erectus. A B (Source: Frederic Surmely/look at sciences/Science Photo Library) Fi

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