OCR A - A Level Biology Resources
Explore a large collection of OCR A self-marking quizzes, questions by topic, exam tips, background concepts and other resources to support your revision.
Want more? Search or explore the full range of free revision resources here. There is a lot of overlap between the boards and so it is useful to look at AQA and other resources too.
Need help? I run Weekly Masterclasses specifically for A Level Biology students studying OCR A. There are two separate groups: one for YR12 and one for YR13. As well as overviewing the content, we go through past paper exam questions in every session thinking about how to approach different types of questions to get top marks, with tips focused on OCR A question styles and markschemes.
Resource Collections:
OCR A - Biological Diversity:
OCR A - Biological Processes:
OCR A - Breadth in Biology:
OCR A - Quizes with Questions By Topic
Browse all recent OCR resources by date:
If you were disappointed by your Year-12 exam results, you’re not alone. Many A-level Biology students have a bit of a shock at this point, but you still have the opportunity to turn things around.
Reading pop-science books is enjoyable and also supports your studies. Here are eight books that I recommend, all of which are written to be interesting and entertaining for non-specialists. They bring biology to life and will change the way you think about these topics forever.
We provide a wide selection of self-marking, multiple-choice quizzes by topic for OCR A and CIE. But how can you use them to best effect?
Here’s a quick guide.
You need to know some maths for A level Biology, including to work out whether an experiment can be said to have shown an effect or not. Master this early on and it will not help you with exam questions, but also make it easier for you to learn the bits of the course that are explained using these statistical methods.
Self-marking multiple choice quiz for Photosynthesis. Using OCR A past paper exam questions.
Self-marking multiple choice quiz for Food Tests and Chromatography. Using OCR A past paper exam questions.
Self-marking multiple choice quiz for Phospholipids, Lipids, and Cholesterol. Using OCR A past paper exam questions.
Self-marking multiple choice quiz for Carbohydrates, Ions and Elements. Using OCR A past paper exam questions.
Weekly Group Masterclasses for OCR A Y13
Raise your exam grade with question focused masterclasses from a highly experienced A level Biology teacher.
Every week we go through a different topic from the specification and look at how to apply the content to OCR A exam questions. I show how to understand commonly occurring questions and how to answer them.
Self-marking multiple choice quiz for Cell Ultrastructure, Ions, and Elements. Using OCR A past paper exam questions.
Weekly Group classes - for OCR A Y12
Raise your exam grade with question focused masterclasses from a highly experienced A level Biology teacher.
Every week we go through a different topic from the specification and look at how to apply the content to exam questions. I show how to understand commonly occurring questions and how to answer them.
Monoclonal antibodies are a relatively new treatment type, with huge importance for treating migraine, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and many other conditions.
So how do they work?
What is an Antibody? What is an Antigen?
Self marking quiz for revision of OCR A Level Biology A Biological Diversity H420/02 - June 2024
Self marking quiz for revision of OCR A Level Biology A Biological Processes H420 01 - June 2024
Mastering Carbohydrates: Your Complete Guide to OCR A Level Biology Specification 2.1.2 (d-g)
Essential Prior Knowledge to Recap
Before diving into these commonly tested topics, ensure you're confident with:
• Basic carbohydrate classification – understanding the terms monosaccharide, disaccharide and polysaccharide, and being able to distinguish between them • Condensation and hydrolysis reactions – knowing that condensation joins molecules together by removing water, whilst hydrolysis breaks bonds by adding water • The concept of monomers and polymers – recognising that large biological molecules are built from smaller repeating units • Chemical bonding basics – understanding covalent bonds and how atoms share electrons to form stable molecules • The relationship between structure and function – appreciating that the shape and properties of molecules determine their biological roles
Mastering Resting Potential, Action Potential and Propagation: Common OCR A Level Biology Questions Answered
OCR A Level Biology: Mastering Biodiversity and Simpson's Index (Section 4.2.1 a-d)
Prior Knowledge to Recap
Before diving into biodiversity questions, ensure you understand these foundational concepts:
The three levels of biodiversity: genetic diversity (variation within species), species diversity (number and abundance of species), and habitat/ecosystem diversity (range of different habitats)
Species richness vs species evenness: richness is the total number of different species present, whilst evenness refers to how similar the abundance of each species is
Mastering Neuronal Communication: Common OCR A Level Biology Questions Answered
Prior Knowledge to Recap
Before diving into neuronal communication, make sure you're confident with these key concepts:
Mastering Microscopy and Cell Structure: Common OCR A Level Biology Questions Answered
Prior Knowledge to Recap
Before diving into microscopy and cell structure, make sure you're confident with these key concepts:
• Basic cell structure – understanding the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and being able to identify major organelles like the nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts
• Units of measurement – being confident with converting between millimetres (mm), micrometres (μm), and nanometres (nm) is essential for magnification calculations (1mm = 1000μm, 1μm = 1000nm)
OCR A Level Biology: Mastering Photosynthesis - The Calvin Cycle and Limiting Factors (Section 5.2.1 e, f, g)
Prior Knowledge to Recap
Before diving into these photosynthesis questions, ensure you understand these foundational concepts:
The two stages of photosynthesis: the light-dependent stage (in thylakoid membranes) produces ATP and reduced NADP, whilst the light-independent stage (Calvin cycle in the stroma) uses these products to fix CO₂
The Calvin cycle pathway: CO₂ combines with RuBP (catalysed by RuBisCO) to form GP, which is reduced to TP using ATP and reduced NADP, with most TP recycled to regenerate RuBP
Mastering OCR A Level Biology Section 5.2.1: Photosynthesis - Common Questions & Mark Scheme Insights
After analysing extensive OCR past papers for specification section 5.2.1 a-d (Photosynthesis), I've identified the question patterns that consistently challenge students. Understanding how mark schemes assess pigment knowledge, chloroplast structure, chromatography calculations, and the relationship between photosynthesis and respiration is crucial for exam success. Let me guide you through five of the most frequently tested question types with real OCR examples.
Mastering OCR A Level Biology Section 2.1.1: Cell Structure and Organelles (g-h) - Common Questions & Mark Scheme Insights
After extensive analysis of OCR past papers for specification section 2.1.1 (Cell Structure - g-h), I've identified the question patterns that consistently challenge students. Understanding how mark schemes assess organelle functions, protein synthesis pathways, and cytoskeleton roles is crucial for exam success. Let me guide you through five of the most frequently tested question types with real OCR examples.
Mastering OCR A Level Biology Section 5.1.1: Communication, Homeostasis and Thermoregulation - Common Questions & Mark Scheme Insights
Having analyzed extensive OCR past papers for specification section 5.1.1 (Communication and Homeostasis), I've identified the question patterns that consistently challenge students. Understanding how mark schemes assess terminology, comparative statements, and explanation depth is essential for maximizing marks. Let me guide you through five of the most frequently tested question types with real OCR examples.
Many topics in A level biology relate to how the human body gains and loses atoms. But have you ever stepped back and thought of how these processes all fit together? Having a wide overview can help make sense of individual topics.
Immunity is a complex topic. This article overviews the basic concepts and vocabulary to give you a foundation before you start looking at the details. When you are studying, break this topic up into chunks so that you’re not overwhelmed by the amount of information.
A variable is any value that does/might change during an experiment. Variables can include things like pH, temperature, colour, or the concentration of substances. The amount of time that has passed is a variable, as are rates of reaction.
Self marking quiz for revision of OCR A Level Biology A Biological Diversity H420/02 - June 2023
Full list of OCR blog posts, including earlier dates
Looking for a particular topic? Go to the main Free A level Biology Resources page and use the category search or search box.

