These pages collect real OCR A Level Biology past-paper questions by topic, so you can practise one skill at a time instead of working through a whole paper. Every question comes with its mark scheme, a tip based on the examiners' report, and a list of the mistakes that cost students marks, with the wording that gained credit.
There are 17 pages and 246 questions so far: the maths skills that make up around 10% of your marks, all eleven practical activity groups (PAGs) that turn up across the written papers, and the first content topic. Each page also has a printable PDF pack with the mark schemes at the end.
Pick the area you find hardest, write your answers on paper, then mark them strictly. If you'd like to work through questions like these with me each week, my OCR A masterclasses run on Wednesdays at 5.15pm for Year 12 and on Tuesdays at 6.30pm or Thursdays at 5.15pm for Year 13.
Maths skills (M0 to M4)
Around 10% of the marks on your OCR papers are for maths. Work through these in order if maths is a weak spot.
M0 Arithmetic and numerical computation · 18 questions
Eighteen past-paper questions on the M0 arithmetic skills, from converting units and using standard form to percentage change, estimates and logarithms.
M1 Handling data · 20 questions
Twenty past-paper questions on the M1 handling data skills, from significant figures and means to chi squared, Spearman's rank and uncertainty.
M2 Algebra · 16 questions
Sixteen past-paper questions on the M2 algebra skills, from rearranging the magnification equation to Hardy–Weinberg and log scales.
M3 Graphs · 17 questions
Seventeen past-paper questions on the M3 graph skills, from reading a value off a graph to drawing a tangent.
M4 Geometry and surface area to volume · 10 questions
Ten past-paper questions on the M4 geometry skill, from the surface area to volume ratio of a cube to the volume of a cell or a capillary tube.
Practical skills: PAGs 1 to 11
Practical questions reward students who have actually done the practical. These pages cover the method, the variables and the calculations for each practical activity group.
PAG 1 Microscopy · 17 questions
Seventeen past-paper questions on PAG 1 microscopy, from making a blood smear to calibrating an eyepiece graticule and drawing what you see.
PAG 2 Dissection · 9 questions
Nine past-paper questions on PAG 2 dissection, from cutting a celery stalk to drawing a dissected heart.
PAG 3 Sampling techniques · 16 questions
Sixteen past-paper questions on PAG 3 sampling techniques, from placing quadrats at random coordinates to standardising a sweep net.
PAG 4 Rates of enzyme-controlled reactions · 16 questions
Sixteen past-paper questions on PAG 4 enzyme practicals, from controlling variables and making up dilutions to finding an initial rate and testing an inhibitor.
PAG 5 Colorimeter and potometer · 16 questions
Sixteen past-paper questions on PAG 5 practicals, from calibrating a colorimeter to calculating transpiration rate from a potometer.
PAG 6 Chromatography and electrophoresis · 18 questions
Eighteen past-paper questions on PAG 6, from running a thin layer chromatogram and calculating Rf values to setting up gel electrophoresis and reading a DNA profile.
PAG 7 Microbiological techniques · 15 questions
Fifteen past-paper questions on PAG 7 microbiology, from aseptic technique and controls to serial dilutions and colony count calculations.
PAG 8 Transport in and out of cells · 18 questions
Eighteen past-paper questions on PAG 8 practicals, from making sucrose dilutions and finding the water potential of potato to beetroot membranes and diffusion in dialysis tubing.
PAG 9 Qualitative testing · 8 questions
Eight past-paper questions on PAG 9 qualitative testing, from the biuret, Benedict's, iodine and emulsion tests to test strips and measuring reducing sugar with a colorimeter.
PAG 10 Data loggers and computer modelling · 7 questions
Seven past-paper questions on PAG 10, from reading a spirometer trace to using oxygen probes and data loggers in respiration and photosynthesis investigations.
PAG 11 Plant and animal responses · 8 questions
Eight past-paper questions on PAG 11, from setting up phototropism and geotropism experiments to evaluating gibberellin investigations and heart rate data.
Content topics
2.1.2 Carbohydrates · 17 questions
Seventeen past-paper questions on glucose, starch, glycogen, cellulose, food tests and colorimetry, from easy to hard.
More content topics are on the way.
More practice
- All OCR A Level Biology quizzes
- OCR A Level Biology practical skills quiz
- OCR A Level Biology masterclasses
Questions, mark schemes and examiners' report extracts © OCR.