Oxford Cambridge and RSA - 2025
Tuesday 13 May 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Biology B (Twenty First Century Science)
J257/03 Breadth in biology (Higher Tier)
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
(Verified Question Paper With Mark
Scheme Combined June 2025)
,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 your answer is
wrong.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 90.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 32 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 3
1 There are approximately 350 000 African savannah elephants.
(a) 130 000 of these elephants live in Botswana, a country in southern Africa.
Which of these is the closest approximation to the fraction of African savannah
elephants that live in Botswana?
Tick (✓) one
box. 1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
[1]
(b) The African savannah elephant is an endangered species.
Conservation efforts have been successful in increasing the number of
elephants. Suggest one method that may have been used to help conserve
this species.
............................................................................................................................................
..............
.................................................................................................................................. [1]
© OCR Turn over
2025
, 2
(c) In May 2020, many elephants were found dead in a region of Botswana.
Scientists discovered that their death was caused by a bacterium that only causes
disease once in the blood of an elephant.
The bacterium usually lives in the nose of some elephants where it does not cause
disease.
Scientists think a rise in environmental temperature caused the bacteria to enter
the blood of these elephants.
(i) Suggest why the scientists may be concerned about this bacterium.
............................................................................................................................................
..............
.................................................................................................................................. [1]
(ii) Which of these will ingest and digest the
bacterium? Tick (✓) one box.
Antibodies
Platelets
Red blood cells
White blood cells
[1]
(iii) Which of these will tag the bacterium for
attack? Tick (✓) one box.
Antibodies
Platelets
Red blood cells
White blood cells
[1]
© OCR
2025
Tuesday 13 May 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Biology B (Twenty First Century Science)
J257/03 Breadth in biology (Higher Tier)
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
(Verified Question Paper With Mark
Scheme Combined June 2025)
,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 your answer is
wrong.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 90.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 32 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 3
1 There are approximately 350 000 African savannah elephants.
(a) 130 000 of these elephants live in Botswana, a country in southern Africa.
Which of these is the closest approximation to the fraction of African savannah
elephants that live in Botswana?
Tick (✓) one
box. 1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
[1]
(b) The African savannah elephant is an endangered species.
Conservation efforts have been successful in increasing the number of
elephants. Suggest one method that may have been used to help conserve
this species.
............................................................................................................................................
..............
.................................................................................................................................. [1]
© OCR Turn over
2025
, 2
(c) In May 2020, many elephants were found dead in a region of Botswana.
Scientists discovered that their death was caused by a bacterium that only causes
disease once in the blood of an elephant.
The bacterium usually lives in the nose of some elephants where it does not cause
disease.
Scientists think a rise in environmental temperature caused the bacteria to enter
the blood of these elephants.
(i) Suggest why the scientists may be concerned about this bacterium.
............................................................................................................................................
..............
.................................................................................................................................. [1]
(ii) Which of these will ingest and digest the
bacterium? Tick (✓) one box.
Antibodies
Platelets
Red blood cells
White blood cells
[1]
(iii) Which of these will tag the bacterium for
attack? Tick (✓) one box.
Antibodies
Platelets
Red blood cells
White blood cells
[1]
© OCR
2025
