Multiple choice questions

Multiple choice questions will appear throughout both exam papers (Breadth and Depth), and at both Foundation Tier and Higher Tier.

These questions provide you with a number of answers, from which you must select the answer or answers that you think are correct.

A multiple choice question may require you to:

tick one or more boxes next to the correct statements in a list
tick 'true' or 'false' next to each statement in a list
draw a ring around the correct answer in a list
select the correct answer or answers from 'talking heads' speech bubbles
join the boxes by drawing lines between the correct answers
select the correct word from a list to complete one or more sentences
re-order statements into the correct sequence

The question may tell you in bold type how many ticks, rings or lines to draw. If you draw less than this, or more than this, you will not be able to get full marks. Make sure that you draw straight lines rather than complex wavy lines.

There will usually be more options than correct answers. Don't just go for the first option that looks correct – read each option carefully and decide whether it is right or wrong.

The number of marks for the question will not always match the number of ticks, rings or lines required – read the question carefully to make sure you understand what you have to do.

Sample question 1 - Foundation

Question

Alligators are unable to control their own internal temperature and rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature.

They are most active at 33°C.

Which of the following statements best explains why?

A	There will be more collisions between enzymes and substrates so reactions will happen faster.
B	The enzymes will be denatured so reactions will slow down.
C	There will be fewer collisions between enzymes and substrates so the reactions will happen slower.
D	There will be no collisions between enzymes and substrates so no reactions will happen.

A
There will be more collisions between enzymes and substrates so reactions will happen faster.

B
The enzymes will be denatured so reactions will slow down.

C
There will be fewer collisions between enzymes and substrates so the reactions will happen slower.

D
There will be no collisions between enzymes and substrates so no reactions will happen.

OCR 21st Century, GCE Biology, Paper J257, 2016.

Sample question 2 - Foundation

Question

Scientists think that chimpanzees are intelligent animals.

Which part of the brain is associated with intelligence?

A	Brain stem
B	Cerebral cortex
C	Cerebellum
D	Hypothalamus

A
Brain stem

B
Cerebral cortex

C
Cerebellum

D
Hypothalamus

OCR 21st Century, GCE Biology, Paper J257, 2016.

Sample question 3 - Higher

Question

When it rains, the salt concentration of the sea water in a rock pool decreases.

What effect will this change in concentration have on a sea anemone's cells?

A	Some cells may burst
B	Some cells may shrink
C	There will be no change to the cells
D	Some cells will burst, others will shrink

A
Some cells may burst

B
Some cells may shrink

C
There will be no change to the cells

D
Some cells will burst, others will shrink

OCR 21st Century, GCE Biology, Paper J257, 2016.

Sample question 4 - Higher

Question

Some couples are unable to conceive a child naturally. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a technique that can be used to help these couples.

In IVF, a woman's ovaries are stimulated to produce a greater number of eggs than she would during a normal monthly cycle.

Which hormone could be used to achieve this?

A	Oestrogen
B	Progesterone
C	LH
D	FSH

A
Oestrogen

B
Progesterone

C
LH

D
FSH

OCR 21st Century, GCE Biology, Paper J257 - Higher, 2016.

Sample exam questions - the human body - staying aliveMultiple choice questions