BIOLOGY-A-H020 · Cambridge OCR AS Level
BIOLOGY-A-H020/21
Depth in Biology
Biology A · June 2022 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
140
180 min
Biological Molecules & Cellular Organisation
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
140
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The June 2022 series represents a moderately high challenge for AS Level candidates.
While basic recall questions provided accessible marks, the paper elevated the difficulty through heavy integration of mathematical calculations and experimental design critiques.
Students who relied purely on rote-learning struggled with the application-focused questions in the Depth paper.
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
Weight: 6100%Recall
Weight: 583%Application of
Weight: 467%Mathematical & Calculation
Weight: 350%Practical & Experimental
Weight: 233%
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. 55% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 46% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 39% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 31% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 23% 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.
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 “Name” questions.
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
Match the expected response style for “Outline” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation
19 marks this session
Biological molecules
19 marks this session
Biological membranes
17 marks this session
Transport in animals
17 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
Biological molecules
Biological membranes
Transport in animals
Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system
Transport in plants
Enzymes
Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
H020/01 Breadth in biology: H020/02 Depth 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
Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation
19 marks this session
Practise in RevuiBiological molecules
19 marks this session
Practise in RevuiBiological membranes
17 marks this session
Practise in RevuiTransport in animals
17 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 2022 series represents a moderately high challenge for AS Level candidates.
- 2Message
While basic recall questions provided accessible marks, the paper elevated the difficulty through heavy integration of mathematical calculations and experimental design critiques.
- 3Message
Students who relied purely on rote-learning struggled with the application-focused questions in the Depth paper.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2022 2022
Biology A
The June 2022 series represents a moderately high challenge for AS Level candidates. While basic recall questions provided accessible marks, the paper elevated the difficulty through heavy integration of mathematical calculations and experimental design critiques. Students who re
The June 2022 series represents a moderately high challenge for AS Level candidates.
While basic recall questions provided accessible marks, the paper elevated the difficulty through heavy integration of mathematical calculations and experimental design critiques.
Students who relied purely on rote-learning struggled with the application-focused questions in the Depth paper.
- Total marks
- 140
- Duration
- 180 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The June 2022 series represents a moderately high challenge for AS Level candidates. While basic recall questions provided accessible marks, the paper elevated the difficulty through heavy integration of mathematical calculations and experimental design critiques. Students who relied purely on rote-learning struggled with the application-focused questions in the Depth paper.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
H020/01 Breadth in biology: H020/02 Depth 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.
79% 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
(1-3 marks)
72·35·51%
Structured
(4-5 marks)
36·8·26%
Multiple Choice
20·20·14%
Extended Response / Level of Response
(6 marks)
12·2·9%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
H020/01 Section A (
0.80 m/minH020/02 Depth quest
0.78 m/minH020/02 Depth quest
0.78 m/minTotal marks
90
Total time
115 min
Avg pace
0.78
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Nucleic Acids and DNA Replication
90%90%
Enzymes and Inhibitors
85%85%
Classification & Phylogeny
80%80%
Difficulty Verdict
The June 2022 series represents a moderately high challenge for AS Level candidates. While basic recall questions provided accessible marks, the paper elevated the difficulty through heavy integration of mathematical calculations and experimental design critiques. Students who relied purely on rote-learning struggled with the application-focused questions in the Depth paper.
Where the Marks Are
A vast proportion of the marks was concentrated in two primary modules: Cell Division & Cellular Organisation and Biological Molecules. Notably, high-tariff questions focused on practical models—such as using the bell jar model to explain mammal ventilation, and assessing beetroot membrane permeability under thermal stress. Mathematical skills were tested heavily, requiring students to compute rate of osmosis using the cylinder volume formula V=πr2l V = \pi r^2 l V=πr2l, determine larval growth rates, and calculate the proportion of polymorphic gene loci.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Terminological Confusion: Candidates frequently substituted 'lysozyme' (the enzyme) for 'lysosome' (the organelle), losing marks in phagocytosis descriptions. Similarly, writing 'sucrose solution diffuses' instead of 'sucrose diffuses' was penalized.
- Graphing & Microscopy Work: Many students lost simple marks on the beetroot permeability graph by drawing straight ruled lines between points instead of a smooth, continuous curve. On microscopy questions, failing to use a straight-edged ruler or adding arrows to labeling lines when identifying the meristem was a common pitfall.
- Incomparable Comparisons: When comparing prophase in mitosis and meiosis, students often listed isolated facts about each process rather than providing direct, comparative pairings.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Total marks
- 70
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- structured-short-answer, structured-medium-answer, level-of-response
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.