Friday 12 June 2026 – Morning
A Level Biology B (Advancing Biology)
H422/02 Scientific literacy in biology
Time allowed: 2 hours 15 minutes
You must have:
* 2 6 6 4 3 2 1 4 1 3 *
• a clean copy of the Advance Notice Article (inside
this document)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• a ruler (cm/mm)
* H 4 2 2 0 2 *
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.
© Cambridge OCR 2026 [601/4720/9] Cambridge OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (EV/FC) 361068/5 Turn over
, 2
1 This question is based on the Advance Notice Article The Rise and Fall of Antibiotics.
(a)
(i) Explain why antibiotics are not effective in treating viral infections.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Outline two modes of action by which antibiotics act on bacterial cells and explain why these two
modes of action do not affect human cells.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
(b) A student compares the effects of two different antibiotics on the population growth of two
species of bacterium.
• The student spreads bacteria from species 1 evenly on agar plate 1 and bacteria from
species 2 evenly on agar plate 2.
• The student places four discs soaked with antibiotic on each plate. On each plate, two of the
discs are soaked with antibiotic A and two are soaked with antibiotic B.
• The student places the plates in an incubator and allows the bacteria to grow until they cover
the surface of the plates.
© Cambridge OCR 2026
, 3
Their results are shown in the diagram.
Key:
Antibiotic A
Antibiotic B
Area with bacterial population growth
Plate 1 Plate 2
(i) Good aseptic technique is essential when culturing microorganisms.
Describe one other precaution that you would take to prevent growth of pathogenic organisms
when culturing microorganisms.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Suggest what can be concluded from the results about the effects of the two antibiotics on each
species of bacterium.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [3]
© Cambridge OCR 2026 Turn over
A Level Biology B (Advancing Biology)
H422/02 Scientific literacy in biology
Time allowed: 2 hours 15 minutes
You must have:
* 2 6 6 4 3 2 1 4 1 3 *
• a clean copy of the Advance Notice Article (inside
this document)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• a ruler (cm/mm)
* H 4 2 2 0 2 *
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.
© Cambridge OCR 2026 [601/4720/9] Cambridge OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (EV/FC) 361068/5 Turn over
, 2
1 This question is based on the Advance Notice Article The Rise and Fall of Antibiotics.
(a)
(i) Explain why antibiotics are not effective in treating viral infections.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Outline two modes of action by which antibiotics act on bacterial cells and explain why these two
modes of action do not affect human cells.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
(b) A student compares the effects of two different antibiotics on the population growth of two
species of bacterium.
• The student spreads bacteria from species 1 evenly on agar plate 1 and bacteria from
species 2 evenly on agar plate 2.
• The student places four discs soaked with antibiotic on each plate. On each plate, two of the
discs are soaked with antibiotic A and two are soaked with antibiotic B.
• The student places the plates in an incubator and allows the bacteria to grow until they cover
the surface of the plates.
© Cambridge OCR 2026
, 3
Their results are shown in the diagram.
Key:
Antibiotic A
Antibiotic B
Area with bacterial population growth
Plate 1 Plate 2
(i) Good aseptic technique is essential when culturing microorganisms.
Describe one other precaution that you would take to prevent growth of pathogenic organisms
when culturing microorganisms.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Suggest what can be concluded from the results about the effects of the two antibiotics on each
species of bacterium.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [3]
© Cambridge OCR 2026 Turn over
