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Variation and evolution: Eduqas A‑Level Biology questions

Every Eduqas A-Level Biology exam question on 2.6 Variation and evolution, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,061 questions

  1. Q5(c)(i)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    1 mark2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 5(c)(i): State the type of variation displayed by blood group. [1]

  2. Q5(c)(ii)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    4 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 5(c)(ii): Using the values in Table 5.3 and the equations below, calculate the % frequency of people carrying a dominant and recessive allele for blood group. [4] p + q =

  3. Q5(c)(iii)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    1 mark2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 5(c)(iii): Assuming the figures given are reliable estimates, give one reason this population is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for blood groups. [1]

  4. Q5(c)(iv)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    1 mark2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 5(c)(iv): Give one reason why the data in Table 5.3 may not be a reliable estimate of the proportions of the different blood groups in the UK population as a whole. [1] Q

  5. Q2(d)(iii)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    1 mark2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 2(d)(iii): Hybrid DNA molecules were formed from single strands of DNA from several individuals of the same species. There were differences in the separation temperatures

  6. Q3(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    2 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 3(b)(i): State two factors that affect an organism’s phenotype. [2]

  7. Q4(b)(iii)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    2 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 4(b)(iii): Suggest the advantage of the difference in energetic cost for eyes for the cave form.  [2] It has been suggested that the two forms of fish will eventually bec

  8. Q4(b)(iv)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    2 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 4(b)(iv): Explain what is meant by allopatric speciation. [2] It had been suggested that the cave form may have developed due to a small population undergoing genetic dr

  9. Q4(b)(v)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    2 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 4(b)(v): Explain why genetic drift has a bigger impact on small populations.  [2]

  10. Q2(c)(ii)

    June 2023 · Component 1

    1 mark2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 1, question 2(c)(ii): Explain why it was important that the seedlings were grown for ten days before the total leaf surface area was recorded. [1]

  11. Q2(c)(iii)

    June 2023 · Component 1

    2 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 1, question 2(c)(iii): The total leaf surface area of the seedlings was determined using the following method: • cut out and weigh 1 cm2 of leaf • weigh all the leaves from the seedli

  12. Q2(d)(i)

    June 2023 · Component 1

    1 mark2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 1, question 2(d)(i): State the 5 mm2 range of leaf surface area in which the modal value would be found for the seedlings grown from each tree. [1] modal value tree 1 = – mm2 modal

  13. Q2(d)(ii)

    June 2023 · Component 1

    2 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 1, question 2(d)(ii): The mean leaf surface areas of the seedlings grown from each tree were: Tree 1 522 mm2 Tree 2 504 mm2 With reference to the information provided give two ways i

  14. Q3(c)

    June 2023 · Component 2

    2 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 2, question 3(c): Colchicum autumnale plants release a chemical called colchicine into the soil. Colchicine inhibits the production of spindles in cells. Suggest an advantage to

  15. Q7(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Component 2

    1 mark2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 2, question 7(a)(i): In total, 168 snakes were studied. Suggest why the total for the number of snakes in which the prey items were found was 174. [1] 

  16. Q7(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Component 2

    3 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 2, question 7(a)(ii): Evaluate the method by which the scientists gathered the data on the diet of the snakes. [3]

  17. Q7(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Component 2

    3 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 2, question 7(a)(iii): Use Table 7.1 to compare the diet of the snakes on the island and on the mainland. [3] Question continued overleaf The scientists wanted to investigate the effe

  18. Q7(a)(iv)

    June 2023 · Component 2

    2 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 2, question 7(a)(iv): The scientists thought the data produced by their investigation was accurate and reliable. State what is meant by accuracy and reliability. [2]

  19. Q7(a)(v)

    June 2023 · Component 2

    1 mark2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 2, question 7(a)(v): State the independent variable in Experiment 2 shown in Table 7.2. [1]

  20. Q7(a)(vi)

    June 2023 · Component 2

    2 marks2.6 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 2, question 7(a)(vi): The scientists could express the results as percentage change in length of jaw. Explain why this may be a better way of expressing the results. [2]
All 70 questions on Variation and evolution, as a list
  1. June 2025, Component 2, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): State the type of variation displayed by blood group. [1]
  2. June 2025, Component 2, Q5(c)(ii) (4 marks): Using the values in Table 5.3 and the equations below, calculate the % frequency of people carrying a dominant and recessive allele for blood group. [4] p + q =
  3. June 2025, Component 2, Q5(c)(iii) (1 mark): Assuming the figures given are reliable estimates, give one reason this population is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for blood groups. [1]
  4. June 2025, Component 2, Q5(c)(iv) (1 mark): Give one reason why the data in Table 5.3 may not be a reliable estimate of the proportions of the different blood groups in the UK population as a whole. [1] Q
  5. June 2024, Component 2, Q2(d)(iii) (1 mark): Hybrid DNA molecules were formed from single strands of DNA from several individuals of the same species. There were differences in the separation temperatures
  6. June 2024, Component 2, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): State two factors that affect an organism’s phenotype. [2]
  7. June 2024, Component 2, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest the advantage of the difference in energetic cost for eyes for the cave form.  [2] It has been suggested that the two forms of fish will eventually bec
  8. June 2024, Component 2, Q4(b)(iv) (2 marks): Explain what is meant by allopatric speciation. [2] It had been suggested that the cave form may have developed due to a small population undergoing genetic dr
  9. June 2024, Component 2, Q4(b)(v) (2 marks): Explain why genetic drift has a bigger impact on small populations.  [2]
  10. June 2023, Component 1, Q2(c)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why it was important that the seedlings were grown for ten days before the total leaf surface area was recorded. [1]
  11. June 2023, Component 1, Q2(c)(iii) (2 marks): The total leaf surface area of the seedlings was determined using the following method: • cut out and weigh 1 cm2 of leaf • weigh all the leaves from the seedli
  12. June 2023, Component 1, Q2(d)(i) (1 mark): State the 5 mm2 range of leaf surface area in which the modal value would be found for the seedlings grown from each tree. [1] modal value tree 1 = – mm2 modal
  13. June 2023, Component 1, Q2(d)(ii) (2 marks): The mean leaf surface areas of the seedlings grown from each tree were: Tree 1 522 mm2 Tree 2 504 mm2 With reference to the information provided give two ways i
  14. June 2023, Component 2, Q3(c) (2 marks): Colchicum autumnale plants release a chemical called colchicine into the soil. Colchicine inhibits the production of spindles in cells. Suggest an advantage to
  15. June 2023, Component 2, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): In total, 168 snakes were studied. Suggest why the total for the number of snakes in which the prey items were found was 174. [1] 
  16. June 2023, Component 2, Q7(a)(ii) (3 marks): Evaluate the method by which the scientists gathered the data on the diet of the snakes. [3]
  17. June 2023, Component 2, Q7(a)(iii) (3 marks): Use Table 7.1 to compare the diet of the snakes on the island and on the mainland. [3] Question continued overleaf The scientists wanted to investigate the effe
  18. June 2023, Component 2, Q7(a)(iv) (2 marks): The scientists thought the data produced by their investigation was accurate and reliable. State what is meant by accuracy and reliability. [2]
  19. June 2023, Component 2, Q7(a)(v) (1 mark): State the independent variable in Experiment 2 shown in Table 7.2. [1]
  20. June 2023, Component 2, Q7(a)(vi) (2 marks): The scientists could express the results as percentage change in length of jaw. Explain why this may be a better way of expressing the results. [2]
  21. June 2023, Component 2, Q7(a)(vii) (2 marks): The scientists concluded that the island snakes: • may carry genes that determine a larger relative jaw size • jaw sizes increase if fed larger prey. Use the re
  22. June 2023, Component 2, Q7(b)(i) (3 marks): With reference to all the information about the snakes in the two populations, outline how the two separate species may evolve. [3]
  23. June 2023, Component 2, Q7(b)(ii) (1 mark): Explain how the scientists would know that the two populations were separate species. [1]
  24. June 2023, Component 3, Q2(b)(i) (3 marks): Student’s t-test was used to compare the means of the two samples. The null hypothesis was stated as: ‘there was no significant difference between the mean numb
  25. June 2023, Component 3, Q2(b)(ii) (4 marks): Compare your calculated value for t with the figures in Table 2.4 at the 5% level of probability, where the degrees of freedom = (n1 – 1) + (n2 – 1). Explain wh
  26. June 2022, Component 2, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the actual diameter of the snail along the line X–Y shown in Image 1.1. Give your answer to the nearest millimetre. [2] Actual diameter = mm
  27. June 2022, Component 2, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain what is meant by genetic polymorphism. [2] An investigation was carried out into the number of snails with different numbers of bands at two sites on ei
  28. June 2022, Component 2, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): Use Image 1.3 to determine the modal number of bands on snails at sites A and B. [1] A B
  29. June 2022, Component 2, Q1(b)(iv) (3 marks): Explain how the vegetation and soil type at sites A and B shown in Image 1.2 could have caused the difference in banding of the snails at the two sites. [3]
  30. June 2022, Component 2, Q1(b)(v) (3 marks): Suggest how the location and habitat of the sites has led to a significant change in the frequency of the alleles between the two populations of this species of
  31. June 2022, Component 2, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): The percentage of seedlings from Area B surviving after 20 days showed a normal distribution. Explain what is meant by normal distribution. [1]
  32. June 2022, Component 2, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): State the type of variation shown in all three populations. [1]
  33. June 2022, Component 2, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why it would be inappropriate to use either a Chi2 test or a Student’s t-test to determine if there was a significant difference between the survival of
  34. June 2022, Component 2, Q4(b)(iv) (4 marks): Scientists conducted a long-term project to reduce cadmium concentration to safe levels (< 1 a.u.) in a habitat with a cadmium concentration of 15 a.u.. They de
  35. June 2022, Component 3, Q4(d)(ii) (2 marks): The frequency of the allele for ADPKD has remained constant and low in the UK population. The Hardy-Weinberg equation can be used to estimate the allele frequen
  36. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q3(c)(iii) (1 mark): Apart from mutation, name one other source of genetic variation during sexual reproduction that does not result from meiosis. [1]
  37. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q4(b)(ii) (4 marks): In Europe, the proportion of the populations of both women and men who are rhesus negative is 0.16. Use the Hardy-Weinberg equations to answer the questions tha
  38. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that the frequencies of dominant and recessive alleles and genotypes will remain constant from one generation to the next un
  39. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q7(b)(i) (3 marks): Use the information given and your own knowledge to explain how natural selection could account for the evolution of these two species from their common ancesto
  40. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the evolution of these two species from the same common ancestor is an example of sympatric speciation. [2]
  41. Autumn 2020, Component 2, Q7 (9 marks): Today, there are an estimated 1 500 giraffes held in captivity and approximately 90 000 in the wild. There are several different coat patterns that are similar
  42. June 2019, Component 1, Q1(d) (3 marks): Identify the phases during which you would expect sexual reproduction of the yeast cells to be occurring. Explain why sexual reproduction would be an advantage
  43. June 2019, Component 2, Q4(c) (3 marks): State the trend shown on the graph and use the information about the birds’ behaviour to suggest a possible mechanism to account for the trend. [3]
  44. June 2019, Component 2, Q4(d)(i) (1 mark): Explain how the evidence from the phenotype distribution in Figure 4.3 supports your answer from part (c). [1]
  45. June 2019, Component 2, Q4(d)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the presence of chestnut-black forms on Santa Ana. [2]
  46. June 2018, Component 2, Q1(f)(i) (3 marks): Use the Hardy Weinberg equations, given below, to calculate the number of people in the Amish community in the Kishacoquillas Valley that carry the Tay-Sachs al
  47. June 2018, Component 2, Q1(f)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the frequency of Tay-Sachs is higher in isolated populations and predict, with a reason, what is likely to happen to the frequency of the Tay-Sachs
  48. June 2018, Component 2, Q4(a) (3 marks): Distinguish between continuous and discontinuous variation. You should give an example, which is visible in the photograph, for each one. [3] The graph below sh
  49. June 2018, Component 2, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): What is the total number of grains in the sample? [1]
  50. June 2018, Component 2, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): The student calculated three different averages for the length of hybrid grains. The mean was 6.57 mm. The other two values were 6.45 mm and 6.52 mm. With refer
  51. June 2018, Component 2, Q4(b)(iii) (1 mark): What evidence is there from the graph that the length of hybrid grains is not normally distributed? [1] For each parental variety the mode and median were the s
  52. June 2018, Component 2, Q4(b)(iv) (3 marks): Consider the following statement: ‘There is no significant difference in the length of the hybrid grains and the length of the grains of parental type B.’ Descr
  53. June 2018, Component 2, Q5(b) (2 marks): An event in which the size of an existing population is drastically reduced is called a population bottleneck. By 1910, Northern Elephant Seals were only found
  54. June 2018, Component 2, Q5(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give one limitation of the experiment that produced the results in the table. [1]
  55. June 2018, Component 2, Q5(c)(iii) (2 marks): With reference to the data, draw a conclusion about the impact of population bottlenecks on genetic diversity of northern elephant seals. [2] In order to invest
  56. June 2018, Component 2, Q5(d) (2 marks): Use the graphs above to draw a conclusion about the impact of population bottleneck of the nineteenth century on the symmetry of skulls in northern elephants se
  57. June 2018, Component 2, Q5(e)(ii) (1 mark): How does measuring southern elephant seals improve the validity of the conclusion? [1]
  58. June 2018, Component 2, Q5(e)(iii) (1 mark): Draw a line on the grid below to represent the expected relationship between the LMTR and RMTR for the southern elephant seals. [1] southern elephant seals 0.9
  59. June 2018, Component 2, Q5(f) (2 marks): How might the effects of the population bottleneck of the nineteenth century on the DNA described in part (c) and the development described in part (d) affect t
  60. June 2018, Component 3, Q5(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain why a t-test was used to assess the significance of the differences in the results and not a Chi-squared test. [2]
  61. June 2018, Component 3, Q5(c)(ii) (4 marks): The null hypothesis for this experiment was that ‘there was no significant difference between the results for Stimulus 1 and Stimulus 2’. The degrees of freedom
  62. June 2017, Component 1, Q3(d) (3 marks): Using your knowledge of natural selection, explain why more species have become extinct recently, compared to pre-industrial times. [3]
  63. June 2017, Component 2, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe the patterns of orange and white dewlap colouration for each species. [2] Species Pattern of orange and white Anolis brevirostris Anolis websteri Anoli
  64. June 2017, Component 2, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Describe how the three species are distributed between the three zones. [1]
  65. June 2017, Component 2, Q3(a)(iii) (1 mark): Describe how the dewlap colouration varies from north to south in the central zone. [1] Breeding experiments in the lab have revealed that dewlap colour-pattern
  66. June 2017, Component 2, Q3(b) (4 marks): In the north zone population of 400 lizards, four were found to have white dewlaps. Calculate the frequencies of the two alleles in this population, and calcula
  67. June 2017, Component 2, Q3(c)(i) (4 marks): Explain how the habitat in the south zone could bring about the dewlap colouration found in A.brevirostris. [4]
  68. June 2017, Component 2, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why after many generations the frequency of allele D is zero in the A.brevirostris population but the frequency of allele d in A.websteri will never be
  69. June 2017, Component 2, Q3(d) (3 marks): The Anole lizards found at sites 3 and 4 are different species. Explain how their dewlap colouration may have resulted in this speciation. [3]
  70. June 2017, Component 2, Q7 (9 marks): The deep regions of the oceans (1000 – 4000 m) are nutrient-poor habitats. In order to survive, the fish that live there have evolved remarkable morphological a

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