OCR GCSE Biology A, Foundation tier exam papers and weighting (J247)
Guide overview All topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
What each OCR GCSE Biology A, Foundation tier paper assesses
OCR GCSE Biology A (Gateway Science, specification J247) is one of the three separate sciences and is examined by two written papers of 1 hour 45 minutes and 90 marks each, worth 50% apiece. Paper 1 covers the first half of the topics and Paper 2 the second, with the first half assumed. This is the Foundation tier, which sits its own pair of papers and offers grades 1 to 5.
| Paper | Covers | Length | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Paper 1 Biology A Paper 1 |
Cell Level Systems Organism Level Systems Scaling Up |
1 hour 45 minutes | 90 marks | 50% |
|
Paper 2 Biology A Paper 2 |
Community Level Systems Genes, Inheritance and Selection Global Challenges |
1 hour 45 minutes | 90 marks | 50% |
Every topic, and where it is examined
| Topic | Examined on | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Level Systems | Paper 1 | 188 |
| Community Level Systems | Paper 2 | 86 |
| Genes, Inheritance and Selection | Paper 2 | 144 |
| Global Challenges | Paper 2 | 272 |
| Organism Level Systems | Paper 1 | 144 |
| Scaling Up | Paper 1 | 147 |
Assessment details from the OCR GCSE Biology A (Gateway Science) J247, version 4.0, August 2026. OCR specification.
Every paper is covered, because the guide runs the whole specification.Get the guide, £7
OCR GCSE Biology A, Foundation tier Active Recall Guide
981 questions across every paper on the specification.