plumiNatural selection and evolution: OCR GCSE Combined Science A questions
Every OCR GCSE Combined Science A exam question on B5.2 Natural selection and evolution, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
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Exam
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Calculations
- Your answer
Q16(d)
The whole paper ↗Q11(d)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
- Your answer
Q15(a)
The whole paper ↗Q15(b)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
Q13(b)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
Q15(b)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
Q15(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q15(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
- Your answer
- Your answer
Q13(e)
The whole paper ↗Q15(a)
The whole paper ↗Q15(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
All 42 questions on Natural selection and evolution, as a list
- June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q5 (1 mark): Which of these could be used to group living organisms in a natural classification system? A DNA sequence B Number of legs C Presence of shell D Size of tail Yo
- June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q16(d) (3 marks): Antibiotics are developed to kill bacteria. Bacteria have appeared that antibiotics can not kill. Explain how bacteria could have evolved to become antibiotic r
- June 2025, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q11(d) (3 marks): Antibiotics are developed to kill bacteria. Bacteria have appeared that antibiotics can not kill. Explain how bacteria could have evolved to become antibiotic r
- June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q8 (1 mark): The diagram shows a phylogenetic tree for a group of related animals. Aardwolf Spotted hyena Hyaenidae Brown hyena Striped hyena Which two animals are most clos
- June 2024, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q7 (1 mark): The diagram shows a phylogenetic tree for a group of related animals. Aardwolf Spotted hyena Animal X Brown hyena Striped hyena Which statement is correct? A Aa
- June 2024, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q15(a) (6 marks): Dodo The dodo lived in the forests on the island of Mauritius. They evolved from a much smaller pigeon that flew to the island. Pigeons escape predators by flyi
- June 2024, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q15(b) (1 mark): Suggest one way scientists could find evidence that the pigeon and the dodo have a common ancestor. [1]
- June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q9 (1 mark): Which is a true statement about artificial classification? A It is based on the observation of only one or a few characteristics. B It involves the use of DNA s
- June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q13(b) (4 marks): The long beak of the hummingbird is an adaptation that helps the bird to feed. The bird’s ancestors had shorter beaks. Complete the sentences about the long bea
- June 2023, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q1 (1 mark): Which is a true statement about artificial classification? A It is based on the observation of only one or a few characteristics. B It involves the use of DNA s
- June 2023, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q15(b) (3 marks): The long beak of the sword-billed hummingbird is an adaptation that helps the bird to feed. The bird’s ancestors had shorter beaks. Explain how the sword-billed
- June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q5 (1 mark): Which row shows the size of each group from smallest to largest? A class family order phylum B family order class phylum C order phylum family class D phylum cl
- June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q15(a)(i) (2 marks): Killer whales evolved from ancestors that walked on land and then went back into the sea. Complete the table to show the time when each species A, B and C exist
- June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q15(a)(ii) (1 mark): Species A, B and C have not existed on this planet for millions of years. What have scientists used to provide evidence for the evolution of the killer whale? [
- June 2022, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): The diagram shows the classification of the brown bear and its relationship with other species. KINGDOM Animalia PHYLUM Chordata CLASS Mammalia ORDER Carnivora
- June 2022, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): When one species splits to become two new separate species it is called a speciation event. Phylogenetic trees represent speciation events from the past. The di
- November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q6 (1 mark): The diagram shows a phylogenetic tree produced using DNA analysis. Humans Chimpanzees Bonobos Gorillas Orangutans What does the phylogenetic tree show about the
- November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q13(e) (2 marks): Read the information about HD in the box. • The HD allele is a dominant allele that can lead to death. • Alleles that cause death rarely persist in populations.
- November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q15(a) (2 marks): Complete the hypothesis to link each variant to the region it is most often found. Acyanogenic variants are found in colder climates because Cyanogenic variants
- November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q15(c)(ii) (1 mark): Predict the altitude where you would expect to find mostly acyanogenic clover plants. Explain why most clover plants are acyanogenic at that altitude. Altitude
- November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q15(d) (3 marks): Use the theory of natural selection to explain how the cyanogenic variant of white clover plant could have developed. [3]
- November 2021, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q7 (1 mark): Humans share 98.7% of their DNA with bonobos and 97% with orangutans. The phylogenetic trees, P and Q, represent developments in the classification of humans. H
- November 2021, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q11(a) (2 marks): Complete the hypothesis to link each variant to the region it is most often found. Acyanogenic variants are found in colder climates because Cyanogenic variants
- November 2021, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q11(c)(ii) (1 mark): Predict the altitude where you would expect to find mostly acyanogenic clover plants. Explain why most clover plants are acyanogenic at that altitude. Altitude
- November 2021, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q11(d) (3 marks): Use the theory of natural selection to explain how the cyanogenic variant of white clover plant could have developed. [3]
- November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q13(a)(iii) (2 marks): The Belgian Blue cattle were produced by selective breeding. It is unlikely that the Belgian Blue cattle would have developed by natural selection. Explain why.
- November 2020, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): Phylogenetics is used in the process of classification of organisms. Which of these is not part of Phylogenetics? A All species existing today descended from a
- November 2020, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q12(c) (2 marks): Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. Explain why antibiotic resistant bacteria show evidence of evolution. [2]
- June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q11(a)(i) (1 mark): What is the independent variable in their investigation? Tick (3) one box. Age of pea pod. Length of pea pod. Number of seeds. Size of seeds. [1]
- June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q11(a)(ii) (2 marks): Write down two variables they need to control to make the data valid. 1 2 [2]
- June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q11(b)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the mean number of seeds. Write your answer in the table. [1]
- June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q11(b)(ii) (2 marks): Use your answer to part (b)(i) to calculate the length of pod per seed. Length of pod per seed = mm [2]
- June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q11(c) (2 marks): The students repeat the experiment for pea pods between 65 – 75 mm. The mean number of seeds was 6.7 and length of pod per seed was 11.2 mm. Write down two conc
- June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q13(a) (1 mark): The diagrams show two Blue Moon butterflies. The two butterflies are the same species. However, there are differences between the colour and wing shape of the t
- June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q13(b) (4 marks): Evolution can take thousands of years, but occasionally change happens very quickly. Read the information. Male embryos of the Blue Moon butterfly were attacked
- June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q13(c) (2 marks): Classification of living organisms has changed over time. Describe how scientific methods and theories develop over time. [2]
- June 2019, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q7 (1 mark): MRSA is a type of bacteria that cannot be treated with most antibiotics. How has MRSA developed? A Genetic engineering B Natural selection C Protein synthesis D
- June 2019, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q12(a) (6 marks): Look at the diagram, it shows how humans, Homo sapiens, evolved. It also shows that humans are closely related to other apes, like chimpanzees. 5 to 7 Australop
- June 2019, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q12(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe how the use of DNA in phylogenetics has changed classification systems. [2]
- June 2019, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q12(b)(ii) (2 marks): How does the structure of DNA support its use in phylogenetics? [2]
- June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q10 (1 mark): Phylogeny is the study of evolutionary links. Which of the following is important to make molecular phylogenic links? A Behavioural features B DNA sequencing C
- June 2018, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): Some bacteria have evolved to become resistant to antibiotics. Which statement is true about the evolution of these bacteria? A Antibiotics killed the resistant
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