OCR GCSE Biology Past Papers & Mark Schemes
Download free OCR GCSE Biology past papers and mark schemes. 101 resources covering 2018 – 2023. Free PDF downloads.
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101 of 101 resources — page 1 of 2
June 2023
17 filesTwenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Biology
June 2022
18 filesTwenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology erratum
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Biology
November 2021
11 filesTwenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
November 2020
12 filesTwenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
June 2019
17 filesTwenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology
June 2018
18 filesTwenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Mark scheme – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology
No date
7 filesTwenty First Century Science Suite – Depth in biology foundation tier paper 2
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Depth in biology higher tier paper 4
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Biology foundation tier paper 1
Twenty First Century Science Suite – Breadth in biology higher tier paper 3
Gateway Science Suite – Biology foundation tier paper 2
Gateway Science Suite – Biology higher tier paper 7
Gateway Science Suite – Biology higher tier paper 8
About OCR GCSE Biology
Exam Paper Structure
First exam paper
Second exam paper
Key Information
| Exam Board | OCR |
| Specification Code | J257 (Twenty First Century) and J247 (Gateway) |
| Qualification | GCSE |
| Grading Scale | 9–1 |
| Assessment Type | 2 |
| Tiers | Available in Foundation (grades 1–5) and Higher (grades 4–9) tiers |
| Number Of Papers | 2 |
| Exam Duration | 1 hour 30 minutes per paper |
| Total Marks | 160–180 |
| Available Sessions | 2018 – 2023 |
| Total Resources | 101 |
Key Topics in Biology
Topics you need to know
Exam Command Words
| Command word | What the examiner expects |
|---|---|
| Describe | State what is happening or observed using scientific terminology |
| Explain | Give reasons why something happens, using scientific theory and evidence |
| Evaluate | Use evidence to weigh strengths, limitations and reach a justified conclusion |
| Calculate | Work out a numerical answer, showing every step of your working |
| Suggest | Apply your knowledge to an unfamiliar context to propose a possible reason |
| Compare | State similarities and differences clearly, using comparative language |
| State | Give a brief, factual answer with no elaboration |
| Predict | Give an expected result, justified by scientific reasoning |
Typical Grade Boundaries
| Grade | Approximate mark needed |
|---|---|
| Grade 9 | 76–86% |
| Grade 8 | 63–75% |
| Grade 7 | 51–62% |
| Grade 6 | 43–50% |
| Grade 5 | 35–42% |
| Grade 4 | 27–34% |
⚠️ Typical Higher tier boundaries across two papers. Actual boundaries vary by series — check the awarding body website.
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