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  • Twenty First Century Science Suite - Biology B (9-1) - J257 (from 2016)

GCSE Twenty First Century Science Suite - Biology B (9-1) - J257 Teaching from 2016

Twenty First Century Science Suite - Biology B (9-1) - J257 (from 2016)

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Assessment

Summer 2021 grading support

  • Grade descriptors guidance DOCX 296KB 3 days ago
  • Grade descriptors DOCX 34KB 19 days ago
  • Grading exemplars System login required

Question papers, mark schemes and reports

2020 - November series

  • Modified papers J257 - interchange login required
  • Question papers J257 - interchange login required
  • Mark schemes for all units J257 - interchange login required

2019 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Examiners' report - Breadth in biology J257/01 - interchange login required
  • Examiners' report - Depth in biology J257/02 - interchange login required

Higher tier

  • Examiners' report - Breadth in biology J257/03 - interchange login required
  • Examiners' report - Depth in biology J257/04 - interchange login required
  • Question papers J257 - interchange login required
  • Mark schemes J257 - interchange login required
  • 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

2015 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 336KB

Higher tier

  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/02 - PDF 373KB

Withdrawn qualification materials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

2013 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 204KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 67KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 789KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 82KB
  • Question paper - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 451KB
  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/01 - PDF 418KB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 - A161/02 - PDF 210KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 163KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 178KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 1MB
  • Mark scheme - Module B7 A163/02 - PDF 269KB
  • Question paper - Module B7 A163/02 - PDF 262KB

2013 - January series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 303KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 91KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 182KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 66KB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 269KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 75KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 301KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 337KB

2012 - June series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 380KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 225KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 281KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 78KB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 197KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 - A161/02 - PDF 271KB
  • Question paper - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/02 - PDF 407KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B4, B5, B6 A162/01 - PDF 86KB
  • Modified papers A161 - ZIP 1MB
  • Examiners' reports - June PDF 116KB

2012 - January series

Foundation tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/01 - PDF 275KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 Unit A161/01 - PDF 232KB

Higher tier

  • Question paper - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 217KB
  • Mark scheme - Modules B1, B2, B3 A161/02 - PDF 76KB
  • Examiners' reports - January PDF 68KB
  • Modified papers ZIP 765KB

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 2MB
  • 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 2MB

Practice papers and mark schemes

  • Year 10 practice paper (ZIP) J257 - interchange login required
  • Year 10 practice paper results analysis (ZIP) J257 - interchange login required
  • Year 11 practice papers (ZIP) J257 - interchange login required

Candidate exemplars

2019 - June series

  • Biology interchange login required

2018 - June series

  • Breadth in biology foundation tier J257/01 - PDF 2MB
  • Depth in biology foundation tier J257/02 - PDF 5MB
  • Breadth in biology higher tier J257/03 - PDF 1MB
  • Depth in biology higher tier J257/04 - PDF 6MB
  • Examiner comment summary J247, J257, J248, J258, J249, J259, J250, J260 - PDF 815KB

Candidate style answers

  • Practical activity questions J257 - Candidate style answers for a selection of practical activity questions from the sample assessments, with accompanying commentary. PDF 2MB
  • 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 27 days ago
  • Exam hints for students (A4) J247, J257, J248, J258, J249, J259, J250, J260 - PDF 1MB 27 days ago
  • 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 historic past papers with ExamBuilder, our free assessment builder platform.

    ExamBuilder >
  • Supporting the moderation process

    A new free online training resource has been developed to support the moderation processes for internally assessed qualifications.

    Supporting the moderation process >
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