BIOLOGY-B-ADVANCING-BIOLOGY-H422 · Cambridge OCR A Level
BIOLOGY-B-ADVANCING-BIOLOGY-H422/21
Paper 2
Biology B Advancing Biology · June 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
270
360 min
The heart and monitoring heart function
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
270
Duration
360 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The June 2024 OCR GCE Biology B (H422) series was a challenging and balanced set of papers testing deep theoretical knowledge, quantitative skills, and structured scientific writing, with a strong focus on cardiac physiology, meiosis, water transport, and photosynthesis.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Knowledge and Application (AO2)
Weight: 3100%Application AO3:
Weight: 267%Practical Analysis
Weight: 133%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level A*
Approx. 63% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 56% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 49% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 41% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 34% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 27% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Identify similarities and differences explicitly — paired sentences or a table helps.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.2
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
The heart and monitoring heart function
24 marks this session
The developing individual: meiosis, growth and development
23 marks this session
Photosynthesis, food production and management of the environment
15 marks this session
The development of species: evolution and classification
14 marks this session
Water and its importance in plants and animals
14 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Photosynthesis, food production and management of the environment
The heart and monitoring heart function
The developing individual: meiosis, growth and development
The immune system
The impact of population increase
The nervous system and the identification and consequences of damage
Cellular respiration
The development of species: evolution and classification
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
H422/01 Fundamentals of biology: H422/02 Scientific literacy in biology: H422/03 Practical skills in biology:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
The heart and monitoring heart function
24 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe developing individual: meiosis, growth and development
23 marks this session
Practise in RevuiPhotosynthesis, food production and management of the environment
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe development of species: evolution and classification
14 marks this session
Practise in RevuiWater and its importance in plants and animals
14 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The June 2024 OCR GCE Biology B (H422) series was a challenging and balanced set of papers testing deep theoretical knowledge, quantitative skills, and structured scientific writing, with a strong focus on cardiac physiology, meiosis, water transport, and photosynthesis.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Biology B Advancing Biology
The June 2024 OCR GCE Biology B (H422) series was a challenging and balanced set of papers testing deep theoretical knowledge, quantitative skills, and structured scientific writing, with a strong focus on cardiac physiology, meiosis, water transport, and photosynthesis.
The June 2024 OCR GCE Biology B (H422) series was a challenging and balanced set of papers testing deep theoretical knowledge, quantitative skills, and structured scientific writing, with a strong focus on cardiac physiology, meiosis, water transport, and photosynthesis.
- Total marks
- 270
- Duration
- 360 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The June 2024 OCR GCE Biology B (H422) series was a challenging and balanced set of papers testing deep theoretical knowledge, quantitative skills, and structured scientific writing, with a strong focus on cardiac physiology, meiosis, water transport, and photosynthesis.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
H422/01 Fundamentals of biology: H422/02 Scientific literacy in biology: H422/03 Practical skills in biology:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
74% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Short Answer / Structural
116·48·43%
Data Analysis & Calculation
88·22·33%
Level of Response
(6-mark essays)
36·6·13%
Multiple Choice
30·30·11%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section A (
0.75 m/minPaper 1 Section B (
0.84 m/minPaper 3 Section A (
0.67 m/minTotal marks
170
Total time
225 min
Avg pace
0.76
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Cellular Respiration
90%90%
Photosynthesis and Photorespiration
85%85%
Plant Reproduction
75%75%
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.