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  • Twenty First Century Science Suite - Biology B (9-1) - J257

GCSE Twenty First Century Science Suite - Biology B (9-1) - J257

Twenty First Century Science Suite - Biology B (9-1) - J257

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Assessment

Teach Cambridge

Full assessment teaching materials, including secure assessment materials, are now only available on Teach Cambridge. Examples are shown below.

  • Teach Cambridge

Question papers, mark schemes and reports

2022 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 625KB
  • Examiners' report - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 2MB
  • Question paper - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 441KB
  • Examiners' report - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 1MB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 525KB
  • Examiners' report - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 2MB
  • Question paper - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 421KB
  • Examiners' report - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 1MB

Other links

  • Modified papers J257 - ZIP 2MB

2021 - November series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 3MB
  • Mark scheme - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 704KB
  • Question paper - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 415KB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 3MB
  • Mark scheme - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 446KB
  • Question paper - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 415KB

2020 - November series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 643KB
  • Question paper - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 392KB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 531KB
  • Question paper - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 2MB
  • Mark scheme - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 418KB

Other links

  • Modified papers J257/01/02/03/04 - ZIP 9MB

2019 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 4MB
  • Mark scheme - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 983KB
  • Examiners' report - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 1MB
  • Question paper - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 726KB
  • Examiners' report - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 1MB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 4MB
  • Mark scheme - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 1MB
  • Examiners' report - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 1MB
  • Question paper - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 715KB
  • Examiners' report - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 1MB

Other links

  • Modified papers J257 - ZIP 40MB
  • Summer highlights report PDF 459KB

2018 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 3MB
  • Mark scheme - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 830KB
  • Examiners' report - Breadth in biology J257/01 - PDF 1MB
  • Question paper - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 3MB
  • Mark scheme - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 376KB
  • Examiners' report - Depth in biology J257/02 - PDF 1MB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 3MB
  • Mark scheme - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 799KB
  • Examiners' report - Breadth in biology J257/03 - PDF 817KB
  • Question paper - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 3MB
  • Mark scheme - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 424KB
  • Examiners' report - Depth in biology J257/04 - PDF 1MB

Other links

  • Modified papers J257 - ZIP 14MB

Withdrawn qualification materials

2017 - November series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 2MB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 2MB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 2MB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 2MB

2017 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 2MB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 413KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 2MB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 414KB
  • Question paper - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 2MB
  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 784KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 erratum A162/01 - PDF 683KB

Higher tier

  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 376KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 2MB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 429KB
  • Question paper - Module B7 A163/02 - PDF 3MB
  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/02 - PDF 518KB
  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 2MB

2016 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 480KB
  • Question paper - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 502KB
  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 269KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 329KB
  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 605KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 540KB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 601KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 343KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 638KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 429KB
  • Question paper - Module B7 A163/02 - PDF 480KB
  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/02 - PDF 281KB

2015 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 540KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 272KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 308KB
  • Question paper - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 615KB
  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 355KB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 522KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 - Erratum A162/02 - PDF 676KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 271KB
  • Question paper - Module B7 A163/02 - PDF 534KB
  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/02 - PDF 373KB
  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 545KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 261KB

2014 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 189KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 251KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 247KB
  • Question paper - B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 230KB
  • Question paper - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 240KB
  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 228KB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 192KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 260KB
  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 - Erratum A161/02 - PDF 245KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 381KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 356KB
  • Question paper - Module B7 A163/02 - PDF 220KB
  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 266KB

Sample assessment materials

  • Marking instructions are included at the beginning of specimen assessment material mark schemes and were accurate at the time of publication. Marking instructions may be revised in live papers as appropriate during the lifetime of the qualification.

    We're currently revising our SAMs to update third-party copyright agreements. For question examples see our question papers, marks schemes and reports.

  • Taster booklet J257 J258 J259 J260 - Sample assessment taster booklet. PDF 898KB
  • Breadth in biology foundation tier paper 1 J257/01 - Sample question paper and mark scheme PDF 1MB
  • Depth in biology foundation tier paper 2 J257/02 - Sample question paper and mark scheme. PDF 1MB
  • Breadth in biology higher tier paper 3 J257/03 - Sample question paper and mark scheme. PDF 1MB
  • Depth in biology higher tier paper 4 J257/04 - Sample question paper and mark scheme. PDF 1MB

Practice papers and mark schemes

  • Year 10 practice paper (ZIP) J257 - interchange login required

Candidate exemplars

  • How to answer 6 mark LOR questions J247-J250 J257-J260 - This activity is designed to 'unpick' how to tackle 6 mark LOR questions. DOC 460KB

Assessment guides

  • Exploring our question papers - Twenty First Century Science This guide explores our assessment approach. PDF 1MB
  • Tiering guide for parents and students (Separate Sciences) PDF 268KB
  • Which qualification? Combined or separate sciences? PDF 100KB
  • Which tier? Higher or foundation science? PDF 608KB

Resources for students

  • Exam hints for students (A3) J247, J257, J248, J258, J249, J259, J250, J260 - PDF 1MB
  • Exam hints for students (A4) J247, J257, J248, J258, J249, J259, J250, J260 - PDF 1MB
  • Student revision checklist J257 - A checklist of the learning outcomes and the content you need to cover and work on. DOCX 1MB
  • ExamBuilder

    Assemble bespoke mock exams and topic tests from past papers with ExamBuilder, our free assessment builder platform.

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