Sample exam questions - using food and controlling growthMultiple choice questions
Understanding how to approach exam questions helps to boost exam performance. Question types will include multiple choice, structured, mathematical and practical questions.
Multiple choice questions will appear throughout both exams 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.
Questions taken from the OCR website.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
Cells contain mitochondria.
What is the function of the mitochondria in the cell?
A
Controls entry and exit of substances into the cell
B
Is responsible for photosynthesis
C
Makes ATP
D
Stores genetic information
A
Controls entry and exit of substances into the cell
B
Is responsible for photosynthesis
C
Makes ATP
D
Stores genetic information
OCR 21st Century, GCE Biology, Paper J257, 2016.
C
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
Which of the following is a product of anaerobic respiration?
A
Water
B
Oxygen
C
Ethanol
D
Glucose
A
Water
B
Oxygen
C
Ethanol
D
Glucose
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
C
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
The diameter of a white blood cell was found to be 10 µm.
Which of these correctly shows 10 µm represented in metres and standard form?
A
0.000001 m
B
1.0 × 10-5 m
C
1.0 × 105 m
D
1,000,000 m
A
0.000001 m
B
1.0 × 10-5 m
C
1.0 × 105 m
D
1,000,000 m
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
B
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Which of these correctly describes the four new cells produced by the cell division process of meiosis?
A
Genetically identical and haploid
B
Genetically different and haploid
C
Genetically identical and diploid
D
Genetically different and diploid
A
Genetically identical and haploid
B
Genetically different and haploid
C
Genetically identical and diploid
D
Genetically different and diploid
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
