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Evolution by natural selection: Edexcel GCSE Biology questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Biology exam question on Evolution by natural selection (specification points 4.1–4.3), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,834 questions

  1. Q5(a)(iv)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(iv): Explain what could have caused the extinction of Australopithecus afarensis. (3)

  2. Q4(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(a)(i): Which term is used to describe changes in species over time? (1) A resistance B evolution C mitosis D inheritance

  3. Q1(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 1(a)(i): Which process is involved in the theory of evolution? (1) A genetic engineering B biological control C natural selection D tissue culture

  4. Q1(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 1(a)(ii): Figure 1 shows some stages of the theory of evolution. overproduction → variation → survival of the fittest Figure 1 State two causes of variation in organisms.

  5. Q1(a)(iii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 1(a)(iii): Disease is an example of a selection pressure. Give one other example of a selection pressure that leads to survival of the fittest. (1)

  6. Q1(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 1(b)(i): Suggest two possible reasons why animals to the west of the Wallace line are different from animals to the east of the Wallace line. (2) 1 2

  7. Q1(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 1(b)(ii): Give one reason why the work of Alfred Wallace encouraged Charles Darwin to publish his theory of evolution. (1)

  8. Q6(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Foundation

    4 marksEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(b): Figure 11 shows the effect of adding an antibiotic to a culture of bacteria. agar plate antibiotic added non‑resistant resistant bacterium bacterium Figure 11 E

  9. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(a)(ii): Give one benefit of this to the bittern. (1)

  10. Q6(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(a)(iii): There is some concern that the bitterns in the UK are all closely related. This could make them susceptible to extinction. Explain, using your knowledge of natu

  11. Q3(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(a)(i): The bird and the whale have evolved from a common ancestor. Give one way the structure of these limbs provides evidence for this evolution. (1)

  12. Q3(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(a)(ii): Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution by natural selection. Which scientist worked with Darwin on the theory of evolution by natural selection? (1) A

  13. Q5(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    4 marksEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(i): Explain how Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria developed resistance to antibiotics. (4)

  14. Q5(a)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(ii): State how the use of antibiotics could contribute to Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics. (1)

  15. Q8(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(a): Describe the theory of evolution by natural selection. (3)

  16. Q8(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(b)(i): Explain why having feathers that are less brightly coloured increases the survival rate of females. (2)

  17. Q8(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(b)(ii): Suggest why it is more important for the survival of the species that the survival rate is higher in female birds than in male birds. (2)

  18. Q8(c)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(c): Figure 7 shows the limbs of five animals. human cow horse whale bird Figure 7 Describe how the structure of these limbs provides scientists with evidence for ev

  19. Q3(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(a)(i): Which scientist wrote this book explaining his theory of evolution? (1) A Charles Darwin B Robert Hooke C Richard Leakey D Gregor Mendel

  20. Q3(a)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markEvolution by natural selection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(a)(ii): Which statement is supported by this theory of evolution? (1) A humans are not related to any other group of animals B all species have the same genes C a meteo
All 31 questions on Evolution by natural selection, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(iv) (3 marks): Explain what could have caused the extinction of Australopithecus afarensis. (3)
  2. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which term is used to describe changes in species over time? (1) A resistance B evolution C mitosis D inheritance
  3. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which process is involved in the theory of evolution? (1) A genetic engineering B biological control C natural selection D tissue culture
  4. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Figure 1 shows some stages of the theory of evolution. overproduction → variation → survival of the fittest Figure 1 State two causes of variation in organisms.
  5. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Disease is an example of a selection pressure. Give one other example of a selection pressure that leads to survival of the fittest. (1)
  6. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Suggest two possible reasons why animals to the west of the Wallace line are different from animals to the east of the Wallace line. (2) 1 2
  7. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give one reason why the work of Alfred Wallace encouraged Charles Darwin to publish his theory of evolution. (1)
  8. June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b) (4 marks): Figure 11 shows the effect of adding an antibiotic to a culture of bacteria. agar plate antibiotic added non‑resistant resistant bacterium bacterium Figure 11 E
  9. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give one benefit of this to the bittern. (1)
  10. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(a)(iii) (3 marks): There is some concern that the bitterns in the UK are all closely related. This could make them susceptible to extinction. Explain, using your knowledge of natu
  11. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): The bird and the whale have evolved from a common ancestor. Give one way the structure of these limbs provides evidence for this evolution. (1)
  12. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution by natural selection. Which scientist worked with Darwin on the theory of evolution by natural selection? (1) A
  13. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(i) (4 marks): Explain how Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria developed resistance to antibiotics. (4)
  14. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): State how the use of antibiotics could contribute to Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics. (1)
  15. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(a) (3 marks): Describe the theory of evolution by natural selection. (3)
  16. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why having feathers that are less brightly coloured increases the survival rate of females. (2)
  17. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest why it is more important for the survival of the species that the survival rate is higher in female birds than in male birds. (2)
  18. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(c) (3 marks): Figure 7 shows the limbs of five animals. human cow horse whale bird Figure 7 Describe how the structure of these limbs provides scientists with evidence for ev
  19. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Which scientist wrote this book explaining his theory of evolution? (1) A Charles Darwin B Robert Hooke C Richard Leakey D Gregor Mendel
  20. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which statement is supported by this theory of evolution? (1) A humans are not related to any other group of animals B all species have the same genes C a meteo
  21. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Describe one difference between the humerus of the whale and the humerus of the human. (1)
  22. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): Describe one difference between the phalanges of the horse and the phalanges of the human. (1)
  23. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c) (4 marks): Another chapter of the book discusses how the shape of bird beaks has evolved on different islands. Figure 6 shows two species of finch from two different islan
  24. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(a) (2 marks): Figure 14 shows the limbs of some animals. whale man cow horse bird Figure 14 Describe how these limbs provide evidence for evolution. (2)
  25. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b) (4 marks): Scientists think that great tits living now have longer beaks because of the increased use of bird feeders during the last 50 years. Explain how natural selecti
  26. June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(b) (4 marks): Colistin is an antibiotic used to treat infections in the bloodstream. Some bacteria are resistant to Colistin. Explain how these bacteria have become resistant
  27. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(b) (4 marks): Colistin is an antibiotic used to treat infections in the bloodstream. Some bacteria are resistant to Colistin. Explain how these bacteria have become resistant
  28. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe the reasons why the anatomy of the pentadactyl limb suggests that bats and cats evolved from a common ancestor. (2)
  29. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Genetic analysis also provides evidence for evolution. Scientists can sequence genes from different organisms. Describe how this type of genetic analysis provid
  30. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(c) (6 marks): MRSA is a bacterium that has evolved to become resistant to antibiotics. With reference to Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, explain how MRSA b
  31. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest an explanation for the extinction of Homo habilis. (2)

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