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
Wallace and Darwin worked together to develop the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Wallace sent Darwin his ideas to check that he had not made any mistakes.
What term best describes this process?
| A | Repeatability |
| B | Controlling variables |
| C | Extrapolation |
| D | Peer review |
| A |
|---|
| Repeatability |
| B |
|---|
| Controlling variables |
| C |
|---|
| Extrapolation |
| D |
|---|
| Peer review |
OCR 21st Century, GCE Biology, Paper J257, 2016.
D
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
The development of antibiotic resistance is an example of:
| A | Natural selection |
| B | Selective breeding |
| C | Artificial selection |
| D | Genetic engineering |
| A |
|---|
| Natural selection |
| B |
|---|
| Selective breeding |
| C |
|---|
| Artificial selection |
| D |
|---|
| Genetic engineering |
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
A
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
Which scientists worked together on the theory of evolution by natural selection?
| A | Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace |
| B | Alfred Darwin and Charles Wallace |
| C | Charles Darwin and James Watson |
| D | Albert Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace |
| A |
|---|
| Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace |
| B |
|---|
| Alfred Darwin and Charles Wallace |
| C |
|---|
| Charles Darwin and James Watson |
| D |
|---|
| Albert Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace |
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
A
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Which sequence of events could lead to the process of natural selection?
| A | A mutation in DNA → new phenotype → better adapted to environment |
| B | New phenotype → a mutation in DNA → less well adapted to environment |
| C | A mutation in DNA → new phenotype → less well adapted to environment |
| D | A mutation in DNA → no change in phenotype → better adapted to environment |
| A |
|---|
| A mutation in DNA → new phenotype → better adapted to environment |
| B |
|---|
| New phenotype → a mutation in DNA → less well adapted to environment |
| C |
|---|
| A mutation in DNA → new phenotype → less well adapted to environment |
| D |
|---|
| A mutation in DNA → no change in phenotype → better adapted to environment |
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
A
