2025 OCR A Level Biology B (Advancing Biology)
H422/02 Scientific literacy in biology
Verified Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 13 June 2025 – Morning
A Level Biology B (Advancing Biology)
H422/02 Scientific literacy in biology
Time allowed: 2 hours 15 minutes
You must have:
• a clean copy of the Advance Notice Article (inside this
document)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• a ruler (cm/mm)
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.
• Use the Advance Notice Article to answer Question 1.
• 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 100.
• 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 28 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer
© OCR 2025 [601/4720/9] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (WW/CT) 347451/3 Turn over
, 2
1 This question is based on the Advance Notice Article ‘Dormancy in cereals: not too much, not too little’.
The article describes dormancy in cereal seeds, such as barley.
The diagram shows a drawing of a cross section through a barley seed.
A
B
C
(a)
(i) State the name of the structure labelled A in the diagram and state its function.
Name ................................................................................................................................................
Function ...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(ii) Outline how the structure labelled B is formed and state its function.
Formation .........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Function ...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
© OCR 2025
, 3
(iii) The article describes how the hormones ABA and GA regulate seed dormancy.
Suggest how removal of the structure labelled C can reduce seed dormancy.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
. .................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
(b)
(i) Outline an experimental plan to investigate the effect of temperature on the germination of barley seeds.
You do not need to include a risk assessment or details of apparatus in your answer.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
. .................................................................................................................................................................... [4]
(ii) State two environmental factors, other than temperature and oxygen concentration, that affect
germination in barley seeds.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(iii) Seed dormancy is usually the result of seeds being exposed to a period of cold.
State the name of another process in plants that requires exposure to a period of cold.
. .................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
© OCR 2025
H422/02 Scientific literacy in biology
Verified Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 13 June 2025 – Morning
A Level Biology B (Advancing Biology)
H422/02 Scientific literacy in biology
Time allowed: 2 hours 15 minutes
You must have:
• a clean copy of the Advance Notice Article (inside this
document)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• a ruler (cm/mm)
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.
• Use the Advance Notice Article to answer Question 1.
• 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 100.
• 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 28 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer
© OCR 2025 [601/4720/9] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (WW/CT) 347451/3 Turn over
, 2
1 This question is based on the Advance Notice Article ‘Dormancy in cereals: not too much, not too little’.
The article describes dormancy in cereal seeds, such as barley.
The diagram shows a drawing of a cross section through a barley seed.
A
B
C
(a)
(i) State the name of the structure labelled A in the diagram and state its function.
Name ................................................................................................................................................
Function ...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(ii) Outline how the structure labelled B is formed and state its function.
Formation .........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Function ...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
© OCR 2025
, 3
(iii) The article describes how the hormones ABA and GA regulate seed dormancy.
Suggest how removal of the structure labelled C can reduce seed dormancy.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
. .................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
(b)
(i) Outline an experimental plan to investigate the effect of temperature on the germination of barley seeds.
You do not need to include a risk assessment or details of apparatus in your answer.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
. .................................................................................................................................................................... [4]
(ii) State two environmental factors, other than temperature and oxygen concentration, that affect
germination in barley seeds.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(iii) Seed dormancy is usually the result of seeds being exposed to a period of cold.
State the name of another process in plants that requires exposure to a period of cold.
. .................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
© OCR 2025
