Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Examinations Foundation
GCSEBiology A
GatewayJ247/04: Paper 4
(Higher Tier) General Certificate
of Secondary Education with
marking scheme
, Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 9 June 2023 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Biology A (Gateway Science)
J247/04 Paper 4 (Higher Tier)
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
H
You must have:
* 9 1 2 9 6 1 8 7 9 5 *
• a ruler (cm/mm)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• an HB pencil
* J 2 4 7 0 4 *
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 the answer is wrong.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 90.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 32 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2023 [601/8589/2] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (ST/SW) 301214/6 Turn over
, 2
Section A
You should spend a maximum of 30 minutes on this section.
Write your answers to each question in the box provided.
1 Which group will have the most organisms in any ecosystem?
A Community
B Population
C Species
D Trophic level
Your answer [1]
2 Biomass is lost as it passes through a food chain.
Which processes are responsible for this loss in biomass?
A Egestion, excretion and respiration
B Egestion, transpiration and respiration
C Excretion, transpiration and respiration
D Photosynthesis, egestion and excretion
Your answer [1]
© OCR 2023
, 3
3 Lichens grow on trees and can indicate air pollution levels.
A student wants to find out the level of pollution in an area by measuring the abundance of a
particular species of lichen.
Which two tools should the student use to find out the abundance of the lichen in the area?
A Key and net
B Key and quadrat
C Line transect and key
D Pooter and quadrat
Your answer [1]
4 What is the definition of the genome?
A All the alleles that are expressed in the phenotype of an individual.
B All the coding DNA that is present in an individual.
C All the genetic material that is present in an individual.
D All the non-coding DNA that is present in an individual.
Your answer [1]
5 Which sentence describes Gregor Mendel’s discovery that helped develop our understanding of
genetics?
A Characteristics are controlled by DNA found in the nucleus of each cell.
B Characteristics are controlled by factors and these factors can be dominant or recessive.
C Chromosomes are found in pairs and one from each pair is found in the gamete.
D Genes are found on chromosomes and each chromosome is made of DNA.
Your answer [1]
© OCR 2023 Turn over
Examinations Foundation
GCSEBiology A
GatewayJ247/04: Paper 4
(Higher Tier) General Certificate
of Secondary Education with
marking scheme
, Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 9 June 2023 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Biology A (Gateway Science)
J247/04 Paper 4 (Higher Tier)
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
H
You must have:
* 9 1 2 9 6 1 8 7 9 5 *
• a ruler (cm/mm)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• an HB pencil
* J 2 4 7 0 4 *
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 the answer is wrong.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 90.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 32 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2023 [601/8589/2] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (ST/SW) 301214/6 Turn over
, 2
Section A
You should spend a maximum of 30 minutes on this section.
Write your answers to each question in the box provided.
1 Which group will have the most organisms in any ecosystem?
A Community
B Population
C Species
D Trophic level
Your answer [1]
2 Biomass is lost as it passes through a food chain.
Which processes are responsible for this loss in biomass?
A Egestion, excretion and respiration
B Egestion, transpiration and respiration
C Excretion, transpiration and respiration
D Photosynthesis, egestion and excretion
Your answer [1]
© OCR 2023
, 3
3 Lichens grow on trees and can indicate air pollution levels.
A student wants to find out the level of pollution in an area by measuring the abundance of a
particular species of lichen.
Which two tools should the student use to find out the abundance of the lichen in the area?
A Key and net
B Key and quadrat
C Line transect and key
D Pooter and quadrat
Your answer [1]
4 What is the definition of the genome?
A All the alleles that are expressed in the phenotype of an individual.
B All the coding DNA that is present in an individual.
C All the genetic material that is present in an individual.
D All the non-coding DNA that is present in an individual.
Your answer [1]
5 Which sentence describes Gregor Mendel’s discovery that helped develop our understanding of
genetics?
A Characteristics are controlled by DNA found in the nucleus of each cell.
B Characteristics are controlled by factors and these factors can be dominant or recessive.
C Chromosomes are found in pairs and one from each pair is found in the gamete.
D Genes are found on chromosomes and each chromosome is made of DNA.
Your answer [1]
© OCR 2023 Turn over
