Thursday 21 May 2026 – Morning
AS Level Biology B (Advancing Biology)
H022/02 Biology in depth
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
You must have:
* 2 6 4 5 8 4 0 2 7 3 *
• a ruler (cm/mm)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
* H 0 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 page 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 a correct method, even if your answer is wrong.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 70.
• 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 20 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© Cambridge OCR 2026 [601/4721/0] Cambridge OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (PQ/FC) 359631/4 Turn over
, 2
1 Blood samples are stained to allow easy identification of different types of cells.
This is a blood smear stained with Leishman’s stain.
A
B
C
(a)
(i) Name the cells labelled A and B.
A .......................................................................................................................................................
B .......................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(ii) State two safety precautions when taking blood from a patient to make a blood smear.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
[2]
© Cambridge OCR 2026
, 3
(b)
(i) Outline a procedure that could be used to produce the blood smear.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [4]
(ii) The cytoplasm of cell A is stained purple and the cytoplasm of cell C is stained red.
Suggest one reason for this difference.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) The surface of the microscope slide used to produce a blood smear measures 75 mm × 25 mm.
A single drop of blood is taken from a healthy person to produce a blood smear.
A single drop of blood has a volume of 0.05 cm3.
The concentration of red blood cells in a healthy person is 5.4 × 106 per cm3.
Calculate the number of cells that would be found per mm2 of the microscope slide.
Assume the drop is evenly spread over the whole surface of the microscope slide.
Number of cells per mm2 = .......................................................... [2]
© Cambridge OCR 2026 Turn over
AS Level Biology B (Advancing Biology)
H022/02 Biology in depth
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
You must have:
* 2 6 4 5 8 4 0 2 7 3 *
• a ruler (cm/mm)
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
* H 0 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 page 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 a correct method, even if your answer is wrong.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 70.
• 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 20 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© Cambridge OCR 2026 [601/4721/0] Cambridge OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (PQ/FC) 359631/4 Turn over
, 2
1 Blood samples are stained to allow easy identification of different types of cells.
This is a blood smear stained with Leishman’s stain.
A
B
C
(a)
(i) Name the cells labelled A and B.
A .......................................................................................................................................................
B .......................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(ii) State two safety precautions when taking blood from a patient to make a blood smear.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
[2]
© Cambridge OCR 2026
, 3
(b)
(i) Outline a procedure that could be used to produce the blood smear.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [4]
(ii) The cytoplasm of cell A is stained purple and the cytoplasm of cell C is stained red.
Suggest one reason for this difference.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) The surface of the microscope slide used to produce a blood smear measures 75 mm × 25 mm.
A single drop of blood is taken from a healthy person to produce a blood smear.
A single drop of blood has a volume of 0.05 cm3.
The concentration of red blood cells in a healthy person is 5.4 × 106 per cm3.
Calculate the number of cells that would be found per mm2 of the microscope slide.
Assume the drop is evenly spread over the whole surface of the microscope slide.
Number of cells per mm2 = .......................................................... [2]
© Cambridge OCR 2026 Turn over
