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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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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
...
Examiners will have to apply judgement as to whether a ‘second response’
on a line is a development of the ‘first response’, rather than a separate, discrete response
...
)

3

J247/02

Mark Scheme

June 2024

Short Answer Questions (requiring a more developed response, worth two or more marks)
If the candidates are required to provide a description of, say, three items or factors and four items or factors are provided, then mark on a
similar basis – that is downwards (as it is unlikely in this situation that a candidate will provide more than one response in each section of the
response space
...
Examiners will need to apply professional judgement as to
whether the second (or a subsequent) response is a ‘new start’ or simply a poorly expressed continuation of the first response
...


Always check the pages (and additional objects if present) at the end of the response in case any answers have been continued there
...


7
...

Team Leaders must confirm the correct use of the NR button with their markers before live marking commences and should check this
when reviewing scripts
...


The RM Assessor comments box is used by your Team Leader to explain the marking of the practice responses
...
Do not use the comments box for any other reason
...


9
...
The report should contain notes on particular strengths displayed as well as common errors or weaknesses
...


4

J247/02
10
...
The
indicative scientific content in the Guidance column indicates the expected parameters for candidates’ answers, but be prepared to recognise and
credit unexpected approaches where they show relevance
...


Once the level is located, award the higher or lower mark:
The higher mark should be awarded where the level descriptor has been evidenced and all aspects of the communication statement
(in italics) have been met
...

In summary:
The skills and science content determines the level
...
Level of response question on this paper is 23(c)
...


Mark Scheme

Annotations available in RM Assessor

Annotation

Meaning
Correct response
Incorrect response
Omission mark
Benefit of doubt given
Contradiction
Rounding error
Error in number of significant figures
Error carried forward
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Benefit of doubt not given
Noted but no credit given
Ignore

6

June 2024

J247/02

Mark Scheme

June 2024

Abbreviations, annotations and conventions used in the detailed Mark Scheme (to include abbreviations and subject-specific conventions)
...


Mark Scheme

June 2024

Subject-specific Marking Instructions

INTRODUCTION
Your first task as an Examiner is to become thoroughly familiar with the material on which the examination depends
...


You should ensure that you have copies of these materials
...
These are set out in the OCR
booklet Instructions for Examiners
...

Please ask for help or guidance whenever you need it
...


8

J247/02

Mark Scheme

June 2024

The breakdown of Assessment Objectives for GCSE (9-1) in Biology A:
Assessment Objective
AO1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas and scientific techniques and procedures
...
1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas
...
2
AO2

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific techniques and procedures
...


AO2
...


AO2
...


AO3
AO3
...

Analyse information and ideas to interpret and evaluate
...
1a

Analyse information and ideas to interpret
...
1b

Analyse information and ideas to evaluate
...
2

Analyse information and ideas to make judgements and draw conclusions
...
2a

Analyse information and ideas to make judgements
...
2b

Analyse information and ideas to draw conclusions
...
3

Analyse information and ideas to develop and improve experimental procedures
...
3a

Analyse information and ideas to develop experimental procedures
...
3b

Analyse information and ideas to improve experimental procedures
...
g
...

Question

Answer

Marks

AO
element

1

B

1

1
...
1

3

C

1

2
...
1

5

C

1

1
...
1

7

B

1

1
...
1

9

C

1

1
...
1

11

B

1

1
...
1

13

C

1

2
...
1

15

B

1

1
...


Cells lining the
airways

Clot the blood to
prevent entry of
pathogens
...


White blood
cells

Release acid to kill
pathogens
...
1 All four correct = 3 marks
Two or three correct = 2 marks
1 correct = 1 mark


(b)

Answers in either order

2



Weakened



2 x 1
...
2

Guidance

Ratio

1
...
1

2

2 x 3
...
1

2

2 x 2
...
1

2

2
...
1b





ALLOW contaminating / infecting / moving as AW
for spreading

13

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question
19 (a)

Answer

Marks

First check the answer on the answer line
If answer = 0
...
1 ALLOW 5x10 (%)



(35 ÷ 700 000) × 100
0
...
1

1

3
...
1 x 3

Their motor neurones cannot pass impulses to their



muscles

Their muscles cannot contract
(c)

(i)



ALLOW muscles cannot move

(The nucleus) contains the DNA / genetic material /
chromosomes / faulty gene

(ii)

ALLOW signals as AW for impulses







Make sure it is safe / identify side effects /
To see if it works /
To find the correct dosage

✓

14

1

2
...
1

ALLOW could go wrong / unknown effect
IGNORE cannot test on humans

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question
20 (a)
(b)

Answer
Parasite

Chlorophyll
Sunlight
Phloem

Marks

AO
element

1

1
...
1

✓

Photosynthesis

June 2024

✓

✓

✓
✓

15

Guidance

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question
21 (a)

(i)

Answer

Marks

First check the answer on the answer line
If answer = 3
...
2



1 300 000 ÷ 400 000

Guidance

ALLOW ECF for wrong conversion of 1
...
g
...
25
(ii)

Any two from:

2

There are too many to count them all

2 x 3
...
1
ALLOW habitats are protected

Local people benefit from ecotourism because:
They receive money/employment due to the tourists 

16

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question



Bacteria / fungi

22 (a)
(b)

(c)

Answer





June 2024

Marks

AO
element

1

1
...
2

1

2
...
2

(ii)

Faster 

4

3
...
2
2
...
2

ALLOW substrate

2 x 3
...
1

Marks

Growing crops with their roots in water 



Axes labelled

Bars correctly drawn

June 2024

Guidance

(b)

Suitable scale

3

3 x 2
...


6

2 x 1
...
1 Demonstrates knowledge and
2 x 2
...
2a reasons why people might be short of food
...

There is a well-developed line of reasoning which is clear
and logically structured
...

Level 2 (3–4 marks)
Identifies and explains reasons why people may be short
of food
OR
Compares the information between Haiti and USA
recognising the difference between percentage and the
actual number of people
...
g
...
1 Applies knowledge and understanding
to explain why people might be short of food
• Increasing population means there is less food
to go round
• New pests and pathogens will result in lower
yields of crops
• Changes to the environment / weather might
reduce crop yields
• Costs of agricultural inputs may be too high for
farmers to afford

J247/02
Question

Mark Scheme
Answer

Marks

There is a line of reasoning presented with some
structure
...


June 2024
AO
element

Guidance
AO3
...

• A much larger percentage (almost half) in Haiti
do not have enough food compared to USA
• The population in USA is much higher than
Haiti
• More people in USA do not have enough food
• The impact on Haiti is more significant as it
affects a larger proportion of the population

Level 1 (1–2 marks)
Identifies a reason why people may be short of food with
a limited explanation
OR
Makes a basic comparison between Haiti and USA
There is an attempt at a logical structure with a line of
reasoning
...

0 marks
No response or no response worthy of credit
...
1
2 x 2
...
1

1
1

1
...
1

1

3
...
1b

ALLOW predators / new predators
ALLOW idea predator/tourists would eat snakes’
food
IGNORE snakes become extinct/endangered
ALLOW e
...
, tourists litter the island




20

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question
25 (a)
(b)

(i)

Answer
Antibiotics are used inside the body, but antiseptics are
not 
Use a wire / (inoculating) loop / pour liquid culture over
the agar

1



Lift lid of Petri dish slightly / sterilise (wire)

(ii)

Marks

AO
Guidance
element
1
...
2

2

2 x 1
...
2b

ALLOW anaerobic bacteria can grow = 2
ALLOW bacteria can’t get oxygen which is needed
for aerobic respiration = 2
IGNORE references to petri dish A
ALLOW B is more efficient than C/D (at killing
bacteria)
ALLOW D is more efficient than C (at killing

Idea C is the least effective/killed/removed the least



bacteria

bacteria)
Correct order of efficiency (of killing bacteria) is B
→

D → C = two marks

IGNORE strongest/weakest

21

J247/02

Mark Scheme

Question
(ii)

Answer

Marks

Any two from:

2

Using different concentrations/volume of disinfectant /
make each disinfectant more dilute 
Using different concentrations/amounts of bacteria
Using different types of bacteria

June 2024
AO
element
2 x 3

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