GCSE (9–1) Biology B (Twenty First Century Science)
J257/01 Breadth in biology (Foundation Tier)
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
You must have:
• a ruler (cm/mm)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• an HB pen
F
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.
OCR GCSE Biology B (Twenty First Century Science)Breadth in
biology (Foundation Tier) (J257/01)Q uestion Paper and Mark
Scheme 2026
, 2
1 This question is about health.
(a) Which statements about health and disease are true and which are false?
Tick (✓) one box in each row.
True False
A healthy person has good mental and physical health.
An unhealthy person always shows symptoms of disease.
An unhealthy person is more likely to get other diseases.
Only pathogens cause disease.
[3]
(b) Draw lines to connect each treatment to the correct named disease it is used to treat.
Treatment Named disease
Cardiovascular
disease
Antibiotics HIV
Insulin Salmonella
Type 1 diabetes
[2]
© OCR 2025
, 3
(c) Which two of these diseases are communicable?
Tick (✓) two boxes.
Cardiovascular disease
HIV
Salmonella
Type 1 diabetes
[2]
(d)
(i) Complete the sentences to describe the cause and transmission of malaria.
Use words from the list.
bacteria blood mosquito
protist urine virus
Malaria is caused by a type of pathogen called a ........................................................ .
It is transmitted when an infected person is bitten by a ........................................................ .
The organism sucks ....................................................... from the infected person and passes the
pathogen to another person when it bites them.
[3]
(ii) Suggest one way that the transmission of malaria can be prevented.
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [1]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
2 Fig. 2.1 shows part of a food web for a marine ecosystem.
Fig. 2.1
Marlin
Shark
Tuna
Mackerel
Shrimp
Copepod
Phytoplankton
© OCR 2025
J257/01 Breadth in biology (Foundation Tier)
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
You must have:
• a ruler (cm/mm)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• an HB pen
F
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.
OCR GCSE Biology B (Twenty First Century Science)Breadth in
biology (Foundation Tier) (J257/01)Q uestion Paper and Mark
Scheme 2026
, 2
1 This question is about health.
(a) Which statements about health and disease are true and which are false?
Tick (✓) one box in each row.
True False
A healthy person has good mental and physical health.
An unhealthy person always shows symptoms of disease.
An unhealthy person is more likely to get other diseases.
Only pathogens cause disease.
[3]
(b) Draw lines to connect each treatment to the correct named disease it is used to treat.
Treatment Named disease
Cardiovascular
disease
Antibiotics HIV
Insulin Salmonella
Type 1 diabetes
[2]
© OCR 2025
, 3
(c) Which two of these diseases are communicable?
Tick (✓) two boxes.
Cardiovascular disease
HIV
Salmonella
Type 1 diabetes
[2]
(d)
(i) Complete the sentences to describe the cause and transmission of malaria.
Use words from the list.
bacteria blood mosquito
protist urine virus
Malaria is caused by a type of pathogen called a ........................................................ .
It is transmitted when an infected person is bitten by a ........................................................ .
The organism sucks ....................................................... from the infected person and passes the
pathogen to another person when it bites them.
[3]
(ii) Suggest one way that the transmission of malaria can be prevented.
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [1]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
2 Fig. 2.1 shows part of a food web for a marine ecosystem.
Fig. 2.1
Marlin
Shark
Tuna
Mackerel
Shrimp
Copepod
Phytoplankton
© OCR 2025
