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BIOLOGY A

OCR 2024
GCSE Biology A (Gateway Science)
J247/02 (Foundation Tier)
With Marking Scheme Merged

Oxford Cambridge and RSA

Friday 7 June 2024 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Biology A (Gateway Science)
J247/02 (Foundation Tier)
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes

F

You must have:
• a ruler (cm/mm)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• an HB pencil

*

J

2

4

7

0

2

*

Please write clearly in black ink
...

Centre number

Candidate number

First name(s)
Last name
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink
...

• Write your answer to each question in the space provided
...
The question numbers must be clearly shown
...

• Where appropriate, your answer should be supported with working
...

INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 90
...

• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*)
...

ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer
...

Write your answer to each question in the box provided
...

Grass
5000 kJ

Grasshopper
500 kJ

Snake
100 kJ

How much energy is lost between the producer and primary consumer?
A

400 kJ

B

4400 kJ

C

4500 kJ

D

4900 kJ

Your answer

4

[1]

Many plants can reproduce either asexually or
sexually
...
B
More offspring are produced
...

D The offspring show variation
...
B
All the different species living in a habitat
...
D
All the organisms that live in a habitat
...

The diagram shows a genetic cross
...

What features do the scientists use in their classification?
A The number of bones in the limbs B
The sequence of the DNA
C The type of circulatory system
D Where in the cell respiration occurs

Your answer

© OCR 2024

[1]

5
8

Using stem cells to treat disease is a new technique in medicine
...
B
It is very expensive
...

D Some patients may need repeat treatments
...

This involves only some of the female cows breeding with male bulls
...

B The cows best suited to the environment will breed
...

D Which cows breed is a random process
...

B All egg cells have one Y chromosome
...

D Egg cells have either an X chromosome or a Y chromosome
...

B HIV infection increases the risk of getting tuberculosis
...

D Patients with tuberculosis are more likely to be infected with HIV
...

He crossed tall pea plants with short pea plants
...

How did Mendel explain this result?
A Offspring are always taller than the parent plant
...

C The height of the pea plants is a mixture of tall and short
...


Your answer

© OCR 2024

[1]

7
13 Scientists studied groups of people that have diabetes, heart disease or neither condition
...
The
graph shows the percentage in each group that died within 20 years of the study
...


B

Sleep prevents a person getting heart disease
...


D

The number of hours a person sleeps has no effect on how long they live
...

(a) Draw lines to join each type of cell to its correct function
...

Complete this sentence about vaccinations
...

or
...

[2]

© OCR 2024

Turn over

10
17 A scientist investigates the effects of pesticide on a population of
insects
...


They sprayed the insecticide twice, with a time gap between the sprayings
...

Pesticide
sprayed
Key:
= Insect resistant to pesticide
= Insect affected by pesticide

At the start
Time to allow insects
to reproduce
Pesticide
sprayed

At the end
(a) Complete the table using the information in the diagram
...

Genetic engineering
Natural selection
Selective breeding
[1]
(c) Explain why the results of this investigation are important for farmers
...


...


...

(a) Which type of pathogen causes each of these
diseases? Use words from the list
...

Crown gall disease:
...
The diagram shows the life cycle of the fungus
...
Suggest two reasons why
...

1
...

2
...

[2]
© OCR 2024

13
(ii) The fungus reproduces using spores
...
[1]

(iii) Farmers make sure that they clear all the dead barley plants from their fields in the autumn
...


...


...
[2]

© OCR 2024

Turn over

14
19 Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease
...

35 of these babies are born with SMA
...


Percentage of babies with SMA =
...

SMA is caused by a recessive allele
...


...

Heterozygous
Homozygous dominant
Homozygous recessive
[1]

© OCR 2024

15
(iii) People that have SMA cannot produce a protein that is needed for their motor neurones
to function
...


...


...
[3]

(c) Researchers have developed a treatment for SMA
...

(i)

Why is the gene inserted into the nucleus of the motor neurone?

...
Suggest one reason why they did this
...


...


Mistletoe can make its own food but very slowly
...
The tree does not benefit
...

mutualistic partner

parasite

predator

prey

[1]

(b) Complete these sentences about how the mistletoe feeds
...


chlorophyll

leaf

phloem

photosynthesis

respiration

starch

sunlight

xylem

Mistletoe can make some food by
...


which traps energy

from
...

The mistletoe also gets some sugars from the
...

[4]

© OCR 2024

17
21 The number of elephants living in Africa is decreasing
...
The table shows estimates for the number of elephants in Africa
...
3 million

600 000

400 000

(a)
(i) Calculate how many times more elephants there were in 1979 compared to in 2015
...
[2]
(ii) Suggest two reasons why it is difficult for scientists to give an accurate estimate for the number
of elephants living in Africa
...


...


...

Explain how ecotourism benefits the elephants and the local people
...


...

Local people benefit from ecotourism because
...


...

These microorganisms make enzymes that can cause milk to decompose
...


...

This is the method the students use:

(i)

•
•

3
Pour 20 cm of milk into a beaker
...


•

Measure the pH of the milk at different times over 72 hours
...


...

To show how fast the milk decomposes, the students measure the time it takes for the pH
to change
...

Control variable
Dependent variable
Independent variable
[1]

© OCR 2024

19
(c) The students repeated the experiment at two other temperatures
...

pH of milk

(i)

Temperature
(°C)

At the start

After 12
hours

After 24
hours

After 48
hours

After 72
hours

15

6
...
4

6
...
1

5
...
5

6
...
2

5
...
5

35

6
...
3

6
...
5

4
...
Draw a line on the graph to show the pattern at 25 °C
...

Milk decomposes
...

Increasing the temperature increases the
...

This causes more frequent
...
molecules
...

How could they extend their experiment to find this out?
Tick (3) two boxes
...

Repeat at lower temperatures
...

Identify the lowest pH reached
...

Identify the temperature where pH does not decrease
...

This means they do not have enough food to eat
...

What is hydroponics?
Tick (3) one box
...

Country

Percentage of people who do not
get enough food (%)

Haiti

48

Pakistan

12

Sri Lanka

8

USA

3

Draw a bar chart to show the percentage of people that do not get enough food in each of the
countries in the table
...

Total population
(million)

Percentage of people
who do not get
enough food (%)

Number of people
who do not get
enough food (million)

Haiti

11
...
5

USA

331
...
0

Write about food security
...



...


...


...


...


...


...
[6]

© OCR 2024

Turn over

24
24 The St Lucia racer is the rarest snake in the world
...
The diagram shows a food web from St Lucia
...
[1]

(b) Mongooses are described as both predators and competitors of St Lucia racers
...


...


...
[2]

(c) Biomass is lost as it passes through this food web
...

egestion

growth

photosynthesis

respiration
[1]

© OCR 2024

25
(d) Mongooses were introduced into St Lucia by farmers to control pests in their fields
...

Abiotic control
Biological control
Chemical control
Genetic control
[1]

(ii) The mongooses soon spread throughout St Lucia
...

The St Lucia racer lays about 5 eggs each year
...


...
[1]

(e) By 1973 the St Lucia racers were thought to be extinct but a small number were found on a small
island off the coast of St Lucia
...

(i)

Suggest why these snakes have survived on the island
...


...


...


...

(a) Which is a correct statement about antiseptics and antibiotics?
Tick (3) one box
...

Antibiotics are used inside the body, but antiseptics are not
...

Antibiotics are used on non-living tissue and antiseptics on living tissue
...

Some students do an experiment to see how well four different disinfectants (A, B, C and D) kill
bacteria
...

Pour each of the mixtures into separate Petri dishes and allow to set
...

Put each Petri dish in an incubator
...


...


...

Explain why
...


...
[2]

© OCR 2024

27
(c) The diagrams show the Petri dishes after 3 days
...

1
...

2
...

[2]

(ii) One of the students said that disinfectant A is equally effective at killing bacteria as
disinfectant B
...


...


...
[2]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

© OCR 2024

28
EXTRA ANSWER SPACE
If you need extra space use this lined page
...


...


...


...


...


...


...


...


...


...


...


...


...


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...



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Oxford Cambridge and RSA

Foundation
GCSE
Biology A Gateway
J247/02: Paper 2 (Foundation Tier)
General Certificate of Secondary Education

Mark Scheme for June 2024

Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations

OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a wide range of
qualifications to meet the needs of candidates of all ages and abilities
...


It is also responsible for developing new specifications to meet national requirements and
the needs of students and teachers
...

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and students, to indicate the requirements
of the examination
...
It does not
indicate the details of the discussions which took place at an examiners’ meeting before
marking commenced
...

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the published question papers and the
report on the examination
...


Make sure that you have accessed and completed the relevant training packages for on-screen marking: RM Assessor Online Training; OCR
Essential Guide to Marking
...


Make sure that you have read and understood the mark scheme and the question paper for this unit
...


3
...


MARKING
1
...


2
...


3
...
It is essential that you meet the RM Assessor 50% and 100% (traditional 50% Batch 1 and
100% Batch 2) deadlines
...


4
...


2

J247/02
5
...
Where no
alternative response has been provided, examiners may give candidates the benefit of the doubt and mark the crossed out response where
legible
...
Enter a mark for each question answered into RM
assessor, which will select the highest mark from those awarded
...
)
Multiple Choice Question Responses
When a multiple choice question has only a single, correct response and a candidate provides two responses (even if one of these responses
is correct), then no mark should be awarded (as it is not possible to determine which was the first response selected by the candidate)
...

Contradictory Responses
When a candidate provides contradictory responses, then no mark should be awarded, even if one of the answers is correct
...

The response space should be marked from left to right on each line and then line by line until the required number of responses have been
considered
...

Annotation

Meaning

/

alternative and acceptable answers for the same marking point



Separates marking points

DO NOT ALLOW

Answers which are not worthy of credit

IGNORE

Statements which are irrelevant

ALLOW

Answers that can be accepted

()

Words which are not essential to gain credit

__

Underlined words must be present in answer to score a mark

ECF

Error carried forward

AW

Alternative wording

ORA

Or reverse argument

7

J247/02
12
...
This material includes:
•

the specification, especially the assessment objectives

•

the question paper

•

the mark scheme
...

You should ensure also that you are familiar with the administrative procedures related to the marking process
...
If you are examining for the first time, please read carefully Appendix 5 Introduction to Script Marking:
Notes for New Examiners
...
Your first point of contact is your Team Leader
...


AO1
...


AO1
...

Apply knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas and scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures
...
1

Apply knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas
...
2

Apply knowledge and understanding of scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures
...
1

Analyse information and ideas to interpret and evaluate, make judgements and draw conclusions and develop and improve
experimental procedures
...


AO3
...


AO3
...


AO3
...


AO3
...


AO3
...


AO3
...


AO3
...


AO3
...


9

J247/02

Mark Scheme

June 2024

For answers to Section A if an answer box is blank ALLOW correct indication of answer e
...
circled or underlined
...
1

2

D

1

1
...
1

4

D

1

1
...
1

6

B

1

2
...
1

8

A

1

2
...
1

10

A

1

1
...
1

12

D

1

2
...
1

14

C

1

1
...
1

Guidance

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question

Answer

Marks

16 (a)

3
Cells in the
stomach lining

Produce antibodies
to kill pathogens
...


Platelets

Release mucus to
trap pathogens
...


June 2024
AO
Guidance
element
3 x 1
...
1



Dead

ALLOW antigens / fragments / pieces / attenuated
/ inactive /altered / harmless

11

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question

Answer

Marks

17 (a)

2
Number of
pesticide
resistant
insects

Number of
pesticide
sensitive
insects

4

2

At the end



Natural selection

(c)

Pesticides kill pests/insects

AO
element
2
...
2
2:1

ALLOW 4 : 2





(b)

June 2024



The pests/insects may become resistant 

1

2
...
1a

ALLOW idea that may deter them from using
pesticide
ALLOW may choose alternative named methods /
alternative pesticide/ become organic farmers

12

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question



Bacteria
Virus

18 (a)

(b)

Answer

(i)

June 2024

Marks

AO
element

2

2 x 1
...
1

Guidance

IGNORE references to wind

Spores / fungi / powdery mildew more likely to be
splashed by the rain (on to plants) / transported by



splashes of rain

(ii)

Spores / fungi / powdery mildew grow better in moist

ALLOW moist weather / rain helps spores / fungi /

weather

powdery mildew to grow





Sexual (reproduction)

(iii) Fungi on the pieces of dead barley



Stops spores / fungi / powdery mildew spreading (to the
new plants)

1

2
...
1
3
...
005 (%) award 2 marks

2

June 2024
AO
Guidance
element
-3
2 x 2
...
005(%)
(b)

(i)
(ii)
(iii)





Homozygous recessive

Person C has SMA
Female without SMA

1

2
...
1b

3

2
...
1

1

1
...
1

4

4 x 1
...
25 award 2 marks

2

June 2024
AO
element
2 x 2
...
3 million
e
...
, 130000



= 3
...
3a



ALLOW idea it would take too long to count them
all



Might count the same ones more than once 

Some areas are difficult to access
They are spread over a large area

Some might be born / some might die

(b)

ALLOW elephants move around



ALLOW population fluctuates
IGNORE references to being killed by hunters

Elephants benefit from ecotourism because:
The elephants are protected (from hunting) 

2

2 x 2
...
1

1

1
...
2

(i)

Water bath

(ii)

Dependent variable

(i)

A line starting at the same point as 15 C and 35 C but
with a slope in between these two 

1

2
...
2b





(Kinetic) energy

Collisions

Sugar






(iii) Repeat at higher temperatures
Identify the temperature where the pH does not decrease


17

2

Guidance

ALLOW descriptions of a water bath
ALLOW incubator

ALLOW quicker/quickly/rapidly
IGNORE more

2
...
2

ALLOW speed / movement
ALLOW interactions
IGNORE reactions

2
...
3a

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question
23 (a)

Answer

1

AO
element
1
...
2

(c)

Please refer to the marking instructions on page 4 of this
mark scheme for guidance on how to mark this question
...
1 AO1
...
1 understanding of scientific ideas to give
2 x 3
...


Level 3 (5–6 marks)
Identifies and explains a reason why people may be short
of food
AND
Compares the information between Haiti and USA
recognising the difference between percentage and the
actual number of people
...
The information presented is
relevant and substantiated
...


18

•
•
•
•
•

Increasing populations
New pests and pathogens
Changes to the environment / weather
Conditions might not be right
Costs of agricultural inputs e
...
, fertilisers, feed
stuffs, pesticides, irrigation systems,
equipment
• Land availability
AO2
...
The information presented is relevant and
supported by some evidence
...
2a Analyses information to compare food
security between Haiti and USA
...
The information is in the most part relevant
...


19

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question

Answer



Two / 2

24 (a)
(b)

(Idea they are Predators) because they hunt/eat the
racers/snake

(c)
(d)

(i)
(ii)



(i)

AO
element

1
2

2
...
1

Guidance
IGNORE lizard and frog
ALLOW racers are its prey

(Idea they are competitors because) they both feed on
lizards / eat the same food

DO NOT ALLOW both feed on lizards and frogs



Egestion and respiration

Biological control

Idea Mongooses produce more offspring and would



(The snakes survived because) there was no/less
mongoose/predator

(ii)

Marks

IGNORE predators of snakes/racers
ALLOW they are both predators of lizards

eat/predate the racer/snake

(e)

June 2024



1
...
1
2
...
1b

ALLOW mongooses produce more offspring and
eat the racer’s/snake food/lizard
ALLOW mongooses produce more offspring and
outcompete the snake
ALLOW mongoose produce 9 offspring where
snake produces 5 / 4 more offspring to eat the
snake/racer
ALLOW no/less competition / not/less eaten by the
mongoose

Any two from:
Mongoose could reach the island



(Tourists) could destroy
habitat/poach/eat/hunt/kill/predate snake

2



They could eat/hunt/kill/predate/the remaining snakes

Introduce disease/pathogens

1



2 x 3
...
g

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