OCRAS Level63 resources

OCR AS Level Biology A Past Papers

Download OCR AS Level Biology A (H020) past papers and mark schemes. Breadth in Biology and Depth in Biology components. Year 12 biology resources.

📅June 2016 – present📄63 resources available✅Free to download

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June 2023

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Biology A – Modified Papers

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Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology

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Biology A – Question paper – Breadth in biology

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Biology A – Modified papers

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Biology A – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology

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Biology A – Mark scheme – Depth in biology

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Biology A – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology

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Biology A – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology

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June 2022

8 files

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Biology A – Modified Papers

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Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology

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Biology A – Question paper – Breadth in biology

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Biology A – Modified papers

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Biology A – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology

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Biology A – Mark scheme – Depth in biology

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Biology A – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology

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Biology A – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology

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November 2021

4 files

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Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology

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Biology A – Question paper – Breadth in biology

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Biology A – Mark scheme – Depth in biology

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Biology A – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology

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November 2020

9 files

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Biology A – Modified papers

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Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology insert

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Biology A – Question paper – Breadth in biology

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Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology

Question Paper

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Biology A – Modified papers

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Biology A – Mark scheme – Depth in biology

Mark Scheme

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Biology A – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology

Mark Scheme

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Biology A – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology

Examiner Report

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Biology A – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology

Examiner Report

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June 2019

9 files

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Biology A – Modified Papers

Modified Paper

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Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology insert

Question Paper

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Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology

Question Paper

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Biology A – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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Biology A – Question paper – Breadth in biology

Question Paper

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✅

Biology A – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology

Mark Scheme

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Biology A – Mark scheme – Depth in biology

Mark Scheme

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Biology A – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology

Examiner Report

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Biology A – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology

Examiner Report

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June 2018

9 files

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Biology A – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology insert

Question Paper

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Biology A – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology

Question Paper

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Biology A – Question paper – Breadth in biology

Question Paper

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✅

Biology A – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology

Mark Scheme

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✅

Biology A – Mark scheme – Depth in biology

Mark Scheme

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📊

Biology A – Examiners’ report – Breadth in biology

Examiner Report

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📊

Biology A – Examiners’ report – Depth in biology

Examiner Report

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June 2017

6 files

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Biology A – Modified papers

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Biology A – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology

Question Paper

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Biology A – Question paper – Breadth in biology

Question Paper

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✅

Biology A – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology

Mark Scheme

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✅

Biology A – Mark scheme – Depth in biology

Mark Scheme

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June 2016

8 files

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Biology A – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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📄

Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology insert

Question Paper

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📄

Biology A – Question paper – Depth in biology

Question Paper

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📋

Biology A – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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Biology A – Question paper – Breadth in biology

Question Paper

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✅

Biology A – Mark scheme – Breadth in biology

Mark Scheme

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Biology A – Modified papers

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Biology A – Mark scheme – Depth in biology

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No date

2 files

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Biology A – Breadth in biology

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Biology A – Depth in biology

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Cellular Foundations and Exchange Systems in Year 12 Biology A

OCR AS Level Biology A (H020) covers Modules 1 to 4 of the specification — the content assessed at the end of Year 12 — across two examination papers. Both papers draw on the same underlying content but assess it at different cognitive levels: Breadth in Biology tests knowledge recall and understanding across all four modules, while Depth in Biology tests the ability to apply knowledge to unfamiliar contexts and interpret experimental data. Paper 1: Breadth in Biology (H020/01, 1 hour 30 minutes, 70 marks) assesses Module 1 (Development of Practical Skills in Biology), Module 2 (Foundations of Biology), Module 3 (Exchange and Transport), and Module 4 (Biodiversity, Evolution and Disease). Question types include multiple choice, short structured questions, and extended writing. Module 2 content covers biological molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, DNA and RNA), cell structure and function (organelles and their roles), cell division (mitosis and the cell cycle), cell transport (diffusion, osmosis, active transport), and enzymes. Module 3 covers surface area to volume ratio, gas exchange surfaces in insects, fish, and mammals, the mammalian heart and cardiac cycle, blood vessels, water uptake and translocation in plants, and transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in blood. Paper 2: Depth in Biology (H020/02, 1 hour 30 minutes, 70 marks) assesses the same four modules but uses a resource booklet to present unfamiliar biological information — research findings, experimental data, graphs, or novel scenarios. Candidates must interpret this information and apply their specification knowledge to explain, evaluate, or predict. This paper contains longer extended-response questions (worth 6–9 marks) that require sustained biological argument and clear scientific reasoning.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1Calculator ✓

Breadth in Biology

⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 70 marks📊 50%% of grade

Biological moleculesCell structure and divisionExchange and transportBiodiversity, evolution, and disease

Paper 2Calculator ✓

Depth in Biology

⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 70 marks📊 50%% of grade

Data interpretation from resource bookletApplication of biological knowledge to unfamiliar contextsExtended response questions across all modulesExperimental design and evaluation

Key Information

Exam Board	OCR
Specification Code	H020
Qualification	AS Level
Grading Scale	A–E
Assessment Type	2 written papers
Number Of Papers	2
Exam Duration	1 hour 30 minutes per paper
Total Marks	140 (70 + 70)
Calculator Status	Calculator allowed
Available Sessions	June 2016 – present
Total Resources	4

Key Topics in Biology A

Topics you need to know

Biological macromolecules and their monomersEnzyme action and inhibitionGas exchange in mammals, insects, and fishCardiac cycle and blood transportMitosis and the cell cycleBiodiversity measurement and species classificationImmune response to disease

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
State	Give a brief factual answer — no explanation required
Explain	Give a biological reason for an observation or process, linking cause to effect
Suggest	Apply your biological knowledge to an unfamiliar situation
Describe the trend	Identify the pattern in data, including direction of change and specific values

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
A	68–83%
B	56–67%
C	44–55%
D	32–43%
E	20–31%

⚠️ OCR AS Biology A grade boundaries vary by session.

Biological Molecules, Enzyme Kinetics, and Data Interpretation for AS Biology

Biological molecule questions are among the most reliably marked-scheme specific in the entire specification. For each macromolecule, you must know: monomer units (glucose for polysaccharides; amino acids for proteins; nucleotides for nucleic acids; fatty acids and glycerol for triglycerides), the type of bond formed (glycosidic for carbohydrates; peptide for proteins; ester for lipids; phosphodiester for nucleic acids), and the condensation or hydrolysis reactions involved. Confusing which bond links which monomers is a common source of dropped marks. For enzyme questions, distinguish carefully between competitive and non-competitive inhibition. A competitive inhibitor has a similar shape to the substrate and occupies the active site, reducing the rate. Increasing substrate concentration can overcome this by out-competing the inhibitor. A non-competitive inhibitor binds to the allosteric site, changing the shape of the active site so the substrate can no longer bind. Increasing substrate concentration cannot overcome non-competitive inhibition. This distinction appears on virtually every past paper and must be explained in terms of enzyme active site shape changes, not simply described as 'blocking'. For Paper 2 data interpretation, practise describing trends before attempting explanations. Examiners expect descriptions to include: the direction of change (increases, decreases, remains constant), the specific values from the graph at key points, and whether the change is proportional, linear, or logarithmic. Only after describing the trend should you offer an explanation using biological principles. Responses that jump to explanations without describing the data often miss the first mark entirely.

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OCR AS Level Biology A Past Papers

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June 2023

June 2022

November 2021

November 2020

June 2019

June 2018

June 2017

June 2016

No date

Cellular Foundations and Exchange Systems in Year 12 Biology A

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in Biology A

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

Biological Molecules, Enzyme Kinetics, and Data Interpretation for AS Biology

More OCR AS Level Subjects

History A

Further Mathematics B (MEI)

Further Mathematics A

Religious Studies

Ancient History

Geography

Mathematics A

Music

Biology B (Advancing Biology)

Business

Chemistry B (Salters)

English Language

Physics B (Advancing Physics)

Economics

English Language and Literature (EMC)

Mathematics B (MEI)

Physical Education

Chemistry A

Design and Technology

Media Studies

Physics A

Psychology

Classical Civilisation

Computer Science

English Literature

Law

Drama and Theatre

Geology

Latin

Sociology

Art and Design

Classical Greek

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