OCR A-level Biology past papers and mark schemes
27 papers · June 2017 – June 2024
If you are taking OCR A-level Biology A (H420), this page gathers past papers for Component 01 (Biological processes), Component 02 (Biological diversity) and Component 03 (Unified biology). Each component has 9 papers listed, which makes 27 files in total, and every one of them has a mark scheme. 24 come from exam series running from June 2017 to June 2024, including November 2020 and November 2021, while the other 3 are specimen papers. 7 of the papers also have an insert attached.
Within each component, papers are sorted by series with the newest first. A sensible way to use them is to work through the older series earlier in the year and hold back June 2024 for the final weeks. Sit each paper under timed conditions, then mark it against the mark scheme and note which questions cost you marks. All of these files open on Physics & Maths Tutor.
Reschedule is an A-level revision planner. You enter your subjects, exam board and the date of each paper, plus the days and hours you can study, and it builds a daily plan from the specification down to individual subtopics. Past papers with mark schemes are added to the plan for each paper, so they arrive at the right point in your revision.
Component 01 (Biological processes)H420/01
What this paper covers
- 1 Development of practical skills in biologyPractical skills assessed in a written examination · Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement
- 2 Foundations in biologyBasic components of living systems · Biological molecules · Enzymes · Plasma membranes · Cell division
- 3 Exchange and transportExchange surfaces and breathing · Transport in animals · Transport in plants
- 5 Communication, homeostasis and energyNeuronal communication · Hormonal communication · Homeostasis · Plant responses · Energy for biological processes · Respiration
| Series | Code | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | H420/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2023 | H420/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2022 | H420/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
| November 2021 | H420/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
| November 2020 | H420/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2019 | H420/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2018 | H420/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
| June 2017 | H420/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
| Specimen | H420/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
Opens on Physics & Maths Tutor
Component 02 (Biological diversity)H420/02
What this paper covers
- 1 Development of practical skills in biologyPractical skills assessed in a written examination · Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement
- 2 Foundations in biologyBasic components of living systems · Biological molecules · Enzymes · Plasma membranes · Cell division
- 4 Biodiversity, evolution and diseaseClassification and evolution · Biodiversity · Communicable diseases
- 6 Genetics, evolution and ecosystemsGenetics of living systems · Patterns of inheritance and variation · Manipulating genomes · Cloning and biotechnology · Ecosystems · Populations and sustainability
| Series | Code | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | H420/02 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2023 | H420/02 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2022 | H420/02 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| November 2021 | H420/02 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| November 2020 | H420/02 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2019 | H420/02 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2018 | H420/02 | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
| June 2017 | H420/02 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| Specimen | H420/02 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
Opens on Physics & Maths Tutor
Component 03 (Unified biology)H420/03
What this paper covers
- 1 Development of practical skills in biologyPractical skills assessed in a written examination · Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement
- 2 Foundations in biologyBasic components of living systems · Biological molecules · Enzymes · Plasma membranes · Cell division
- 3 Exchange and transportExchange surfaces and breathing · Transport in animals · Transport in plants
- 4 Biodiversity, evolution and diseaseClassification and evolution · Biodiversity · Communicable diseases
- 5 Communication, homeostasis and energyNeuronal communication · Hormonal communication · Homeostasis · Plant responses · Energy for biological processes · Respiration
- 6 Genetics, evolution and ecosystemsGenetics of living systems · Patterns of inheritance and variation · Manipulating genomes · Cloning and biotechnology · Ecosystems · Populations and sustainability
| Series | Code | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | H420/03 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2023 | H420/03 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2022 | H420/03 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| November 2021 | H420/03 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| November 2020 | H420/03 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2019 | H420/03 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2018 | H420/03 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2017 | H420/03 | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
| Specimen | H420/03 | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
Opens on Physics & Maths Tutor
Common questions
- Where can I find OCR Biology mark schemes?
- Every paper on this page has its mark scheme linked in the same row. Each link opens the PDF where it is hosted.
- Which years of OCR Biology past papers are here?
- The page lists 24 papers from 8 exam series, June 2017 to June 2024, and 3 specimen or sample papers.
- Do any papers come with an insert?
- Yes. 7 of the papers here have a separate insert, linked in the same row as the paper.
- Are these the official OCR papers?
- They are the papers set by OCR. Links open the PDF where it is hosted: 27 on Physics & Maths Tutor. Reschedule is independent and not affiliated with any exam board.
- How do I fit past papers into my revision plan?
- Add Biology and OCR in Reschedule with the date of each paper. It builds a daily revision plan that schedules each subtopic before the paper that examines it and adds past papers for each paper, then re-fits the plan if you miss a day.
More OCR subjects
Biology on other boards
Reschedule is independent and not affiliated with any exam board.