AQA GCSE Biology Higher Paper 2H 8461 | Mark Scheme 2025

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GCSE
BIOLOGY
HigherTier b Paper 2H b
H
Monday9June2025 b b b Morning Timeallowed:1hour45minutes
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Materials
For Examiner’s Use
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For this paper you must have:
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 a ruler
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Question Mark
 a scientific calculator.
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Instructions
 Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
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 Pencil should only be used for drawing.
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 Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.
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 Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
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 If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of this b
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ook. Write the question number against your answer(s).
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 Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want to be
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marked.
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 In all calculations, show clearly how you work out your answer.
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TOTAL
Information
 The maximum mark for this paper is 100.
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 The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
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 You are expected to use a calculator where appropriate.
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 You are reminded of the need for good English and clear presentation in yo
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ur answers.
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IB/G/Jun25/G4006/E9 8461/2H

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Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
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box
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0 1 Ichthyosaurs are reptiles that lived in the sea millions of years ago.
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Figure 1 shows the fossilised remains of an ichthyosaur.
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Figure 1 b




0 1 . 1 Suggest how the fossil in Figure 1 was formed after the ichthyosaur died.
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[2 marks]
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0 1 . 2 The length of the image of the ichthyosaur in Figure 1 is 120 mm.
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The real length of the ichthyosaur was 17 times longer than the image in Figure 1.
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Calculate the real length of the ichthyosaur.
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Give your answer in metres.
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[3 marks]
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Real length of ichthyosaur =
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0 1 . 3 Table 1 gives the classification of the ichthyosaur in Figure 1.
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Table 1 b




Classification group b Name

Kingdom Animalia

Chordata

Class Reptilia

Order Ichthyosauria

Ichthyosauridae

Genus Ichthyosaurus

Species intermedius




Complete Table 1. b b




[2 marks]
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Choose answers from the box.
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0 1 . 4 Ichthyosaurs were predators. I b b b




chthyosaurs are now extinct. b b b




Scientists think that extinction of the ichthyosaurs was caused by increased co
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mpetition with other predators for food.
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Suggest two other possible causes of extinction of the ichthyosaurs.
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[2 marks]
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Turn over ►
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0 2 Students investigated how many daisy plants were growing in a field at different distanc
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es from a tree.
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This is the method used.
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1. Place a 20-metre tape measure on the ground, with the tree at 0 metres.
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2. Place a 1 m2 quadrat on the ground every 4 metres along the tape measure.
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3. Count the number of daisy plants in each quadrat.
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4. Take a soil sample from each quadrat to find the percentage of water in the soil.
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Figure 2 shows the tree and the tape measure.
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Figure 2 b




This is the method used for finding the percentage of water in each soil sample (step 4):
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5. Weigh an empty container. b b b




6. Place the soil sample in the container and weigh again.
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7. Heat the container of soil in an oven at 100 °C for several hours.
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8. Allow the container of soil to cool and weigh again.
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9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 until there is no further change in mass.
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IB/G/Jun25/8461/2H