OCR GCSE (9–1) Biology B (Twenty First Century Science)
Breadth in biology (Higher Tier) (J257/03)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
May 2026 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Biology B (Twenty First Century Science)
J257/03 Breadth in biology (Higher Tier)
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
H
You must have:
• a ruler (cm/mm)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• an HB pencil
* J 2 5 7 0 3 *
Please write clearly in black ink. Do not write in the barcodes.
Centre number Candidate number
First name(s)
Last name
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You can use an HB pencil, but only for graphs and diagrams.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If you need extra space use
the lined pages at the end of this booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Answer all the questions.
• Where appropriate, your answer should be supported with working. Marks might be
given for using a correct method, even if your answer is wrong.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 90.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 32 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
1 There are approximately 350 000 African savannah elephants.
(a) 130 000 of these elephants live in Botswana, a country in southern Africa.
Which of these is the closest approximation to the fraction of African savannah elephants that live
in Botswana?
Tick (✓) one box.
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
[1]
(b) The African savannah elephant is an endangered species.
Conservation efforts have been successful in increasing the number of elephants.
Suggest one method that may have been used to help conserve this species.
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... [1]
, 3
(c) In May 2020, many elephants were found dead in a region of Botswana.
Scientists discovered that their death was caused by a bacterium that only causes disease once
in the blood of an elephant.
The bacterium usually lives in the nose of some elephants where it does not cause disease.
Scientists think a rise in environmental temperature caused the bacteria to enter the blood of
these elephants.
(i) Suggest why the scientists may be concerned about this bacterium.
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Which of these will ingest and digest the bacterium?
Tick (✓) one box.
Antibodies
Platelets
Red blood cells
White blood cells
[1]
(iii) Which of these will tag the bacterium for attack?
Tick (✓) one box.
Antibodies
Platelets
Red blood cells
White blood cells
[1]
Turn over
, 4
(d) To identify the type of bacterium responsible for the death of the elephants, the scientists cultured
the bacteria.
They poured some of the bacteria onto agar jelly in a Petri dish and spread it with a glass
spreader.
Then they incubated the Petri dish.
The diagram shows the equipment they used.
Glass bottle containing Petri dish containing Glass spreader
the sample of bacteria agar jelly
Suggest two ways the scientists could improve their method to make sure the technique was
aseptic.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(e) Some bacteria have evolved to become resistant to antibiotics.
The statements describe the steps in this process.
They are not in the correct order.
A Bacterium survives.
B Bacterium has a selective advantage.
C Bacterium passes resistance gene to offspring.
D Bacterium reproduces.
E Mutation occurs in the DNA of a bacterium creating a gene for antibiotic resistance.
Write the letters in the boxes to show the correct order of the steps.
One of the steps has been done for you.
A
[2]
Breadth in biology (Higher Tier) (J257/03)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
May 2026 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Biology B (Twenty First Century Science)
J257/03 Breadth in biology (Higher Tier)
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
H
You must have:
• a ruler (cm/mm)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• an HB pencil
* J 2 5 7 0 3 *
Please write clearly in black ink. Do not write in the barcodes.
Centre number Candidate number
First name(s)
Last name
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You can use an HB pencil, but only for graphs and diagrams.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If you need extra space use
the lined pages at the end of this booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Answer all the questions.
• Where appropriate, your answer should be supported with working. Marks might be
given for using a correct method, even if your answer is wrong.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 90.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 32 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
1 There are approximately 350 000 African savannah elephants.
(a) 130 000 of these elephants live in Botswana, a country in southern Africa.
Which of these is the closest approximation to the fraction of African savannah elephants that live
in Botswana?
Tick (✓) one box.
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
[1]
(b) The African savannah elephant is an endangered species.
Conservation efforts have been successful in increasing the number of elephants.
Suggest one method that may have been used to help conserve this species.
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... [1]
, 3
(c) In May 2020, many elephants were found dead in a region of Botswana.
Scientists discovered that their death was caused by a bacterium that only causes disease once
in the blood of an elephant.
The bacterium usually lives in the nose of some elephants where it does not cause disease.
Scientists think a rise in environmental temperature caused the bacteria to enter the blood of
these elephants.
(i) Suggest why the scientists may be concerned about this bacterium.
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Which of these will ingest and digest the bacterium?
Tick (✓) one box.
Antibodies
Platelets
Red blood cells
White blood cells
[1]
(iii) Which of these will tag the bacterium for attack?
Tick (✓) one box.
Antibodies
Platelets
Red blood cells
White blood cells
[1]
Turn over
, 4
(d) To identify the type of bacterium responsible for the death of the elephants, the scientists cultured
the bacteria.
They poured some of the bacteria onto agar jelly in a Petri dish and spread it with a glass
spreader.
Then they incubated the Petri dish.
The diagram shows the equipment they used.
Glass bottle containing Petri dish containing Glass spreader
the sample of bacteria agar jelly
Suggest two ways the scientists could improve their method to make sure the technique was
aseptic.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(e) Some bacteria have evolved to become resistant to antibiotics.
The statements describe the steps in this process.
They are not in the correct order.
A Bacterium survives.
B Bacterium has a selective advantage.
C Bacterium passes resistance gene to offspring.
D Bacterium reproduces.
E Mutation occurs in the DNA of a bacterium creating a gene for antibiotic resistance.
Write the letters in the boxes to show the correct order of the steps.
One of the steps has been done for you.
A
[2]
