This free quiz has all 15 multiple choice questions from Section A of the OCR A Level Biology A Biological Processes paper (H420/01), November 2020. It marks itself, so you get your score as soon as you finish.
What the multiple choice section covers
Microscopes, magnification and differential staining (2.1.1)
Plant vascular tissues and why plants and animals differ in their transport needs (3.1.3)
Water movement across roots and up the plant (3.1.3)
Gas exchange in bony fish (3.1.1)
Interpreting graphs and error bars from an investigation (1.1.3, 1.1.4)
Respirometers, respiratory substrates and ATP yield (1.1.1, 5.2.2)
Synapses and neurotransmitters (5.1.3)
How to use it
Section A is worth 15 of the 100 marks in a 2 hour 15 minute paper, so aim to finish it in about 20 minutes and keep the rest of the time for the written questions. Check that the letter you choose is one of the options A to D, as the examiners found a label letter from a diagram written in the answer box instead. Paper 1 tests modules 1, 2, 3 and 5, so expect Year 12 and Year 13 content side by side.
Where students lost marks on this paper (from the OCR examiners' report and mark scheme)
These points cover the whole paper, not just the multiple choice section. Each is followed by wording that gained marks.
Adenine is not adenosine: The mark scheme did not accept 'adenosine' when naming the base in the ATP molecule.
✔ Gains credit: adenine, the nitrogenous base in the circled part of the molecule.
Forgetting facilitated diffusion: Reading the uptake graphs proved challenging, and answers generally referred only to simple diffusion and active transport.
✔ Gains credit: a straight line shows uptake rate depends on concentration (simple diffusion), while a curve that levels off shows carrier or channel proteins becoming saturated, which fits facilitated diffusion or active transport.
Vague practical precautions: There were vague responses that simply stated results would be affected, without saying how.
✔ Gains credit: each precaution linked to its reason, such as holding the TLC plate carefully so it is not contaminated by oils from skin, and keeping it away from the sides of the jar so condensation does not affect the movement of the spots.
Not using the given structure: Candidates needed to use the information in the figure to explain why a dye cannot cross membranes.
✔ Gains credit: the molecule is charged or polar (or too large), so it cannot pass through the hydrophobic core of the phospholipid bilayer and would need specific transport proteins.
Saying ATP produces energy: The mark scheme did not accept 'produces energy' when explaining why cells with mitochondria grow faster.
✔ Gains credit: cells with mitochondria can respire aerobically, producing more ATP (releasing more energy) for active transport, cell division, protein synthesis and DNA replication.
Curves on a log scale: Most candidates started the log graph correctly but many went on to draw curves rather than straight lines.
✔ Gains credit: a population doubling at a constant rate plots as a straight line on a log10 scale.
Describing the trace instead: Some candidates did not read the question correctly and explained the spirometer trace rather than comparing normal and full expiration.
✔ Gains credit: normal expiration as a passive process compared with forced expiration as an active process that requires energy and contraction of the abdominal muscles.
Keep practising
Try the multiple choice sections of the November 2020 Biological Diversity paper, or practise by topic with the Transport in Animals, Plant and Animal Responses, Photosynthesis, Enzymes quizzes. You can also browse all our OCR A Level Biology quizzes. Our OCR A masterclasses (Year 12 on Wednesdays at 5.15pm, Year 13 on Tuesdays at 6.30pm) work through real exam questions on one topic each week.
Practising recall is so important for retention and learning. Try this quiz without books first !
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