OCR B GCSE Biology revision

Topic B1: You and your genes

There are 6 parts: we start with DNA structure, and finish with human Genome Project, genetic testing and embryo screening.

1. B1.1DNA structure: nucleotides, base pairing and extracting DNA24 questions
2. B1.2DNA and inheritance18 questions
3. B1.3Reproduction and meiosisFree 10 questions
4. B1.4Mendel, the discovery of genes and the development of genetic understandingFree 27 questions
5. B1.5Mutations and their effects on proteins and phenotype28 questions
6. B1.6Human Genome Project, genetic testing and embryo screening: ethical issues21 questions

Topic B2: Keeping healthy

There are 10 parts: we start with pathogens and communicable diseases, and finish with diet, exercise and health.

1. B2.1Pathogens and communicable diseasesFree 27 questions
2. B2.2Communicable diseases in detail: cholera, TB, malaria, HIV, Ebola, STIs and Chalara ash dieback26 questions
3. B2.3Human barriers to infection: skin, mucus, cilia, stomach acid and lysozyme19 questions
4. B2.4Human defences and vaccination23 questions
5. B2.5Antibiotics and drug development29 questions
6. B2.6Required/core practical: Culturing microorganisms, aseptic technique and testing antibiotics/antiseptics31 questions
7. B2.7Monoclonal antibodies and plant disease (Biology only)25 questions
8. B2.8Non-communicable diseases68 questions
9. B2.9Treating cardiovascular disease: stents, statins, valves and transplants44 questions
10. B2.10Diet, exercise and health: balanced diet, BMI and malnutrition62 questions

Topic B3: Living together – food and ecosystems

There are 13 parts: we start with enzyme action, and finish with fertilisers, biological control and GM crops.

1. B3.1Enzyme action: lock and key model, specificity, temperature, pH and substrate concentration69 questions
2. B3.2Required/core practical: Effect of pH or temperature on enzyme activity (amylase)63 questions
3. B3.3PhotosynthesisFree 39 questions
4. B3.4Required/core practical: Effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis (including inverse square law)36 questions
5. B3.5Plant tissues and transport29 questions
6. B3.6Transpiration and stomata: factors affecting water loss and the potometer37 questions
7. B3.7Plant mineral ion requirements and deficiency symptoms (nitrate, magnesium)30 questions
8. B3.8Communities and adaptationsFree 29 questions
9. B3.9Ecosystem organisation and cycles69 questions
10. B3.10The water cycle and the nitrogen cycle20 questions
11. B3.11Decomposition: required practical on rate of decay, composting and biogas29 questions
12. B3.12Trophic levels and food production (Biology only)63 questions
13. B3.13Fertilisers, biological control and GM crops: benefits and risks16 questions

Topic B4: Using food and controlling growth

There are 9 parts: we start with carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and finish with the practical on Investigating plant responses to light and gravity (tropisms).

1. B4.1Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids: structure, monomers and polymersFree 38 questions
2. B4.2Required/core practical: Food tests for sugars, starch, protein and lipids23 questions
3. B4.3Respiration and metabolism31 questions
4. B4.4Required/core practical: Measuring the rate of respiration (respirometer, germinating seeds, yeast, exercise)32 questions
5. B4.5Cell division and stem cells60 questions
6. B4.6Cell specialisation and differentiation31 questions
7. B4.7Protein synthesis: transcription and translation26 questions
8. B4.8Cloning: tissue culture, cuttings, embryo transplants and adult cell cloning32 questions
9. B4.9Required/core practical: Investigating plant responses to light and gravity (tropisms)36 questions

Topic B5: The human body – staying alive

There are 15 parts: we start with cell structure and microscopy, and finish with kidneys, temperature and plant hormones.

1. B5.1Cell structure and microscopyFree 62 questions
2. B5.2Required/core practical: Using a light microscope to observe, draw and measure cells63 questions
3. B5.3Transport in cells58 questions
4. B5.4Required/core practical: Osmosis in plant tissue (potato cylinders)24 questions
5. B5.5Surface area to volume ratio and exchange surfaces26 questions
6. B5.6Digestive system and enzymesFree 59 questions
7. B5.7Breathing system and gas exchange in the lungs42 questions
8. B5.8Heart, blood vessels and blood69 questions
9. B5.9Homeostasis and the nervous systemFree 29 questions
10. B5.10Required/core practical: Investigating the effect of a factor on human reaction time24 questions
11. B5.11The brain and the eye (Biology only)31 questions
12. B5.12The endocrine system: pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, thyroxine and adrenaline32 questions
13. B5.13Hormones and blood glucose65 questions
14. B5.14Hormones in reproduction30 questions
15. B5.15Kidneys, temperature and plant hormones (Biology only)56 questions

Topic B6: Life on Earth – past, present and future

There are 8 parts: we start with variation, evolution and evidence, and finish with eutrophication, bioaccumulation and water pollution.

1. B6.1Variation, evolution and evidence20 questions
2. B6.2Speciation and extinction30 questions
3. B6.3Classification9 questions
4. B6.4Selective breeding and genetic engineering10 questions
5. B6.5Required/core practical: Field investigation using quadrats and transects; estimating population size70 questions
6. B6.6Biodiversity and human impact25 questions
7. B6.7Environmental change, species distribution and indicator species33 questions
8. B6.8Eutrophication, bioaccumulation and water pollution69 questions

Topic S: Ideas about science and practical skills

There are 7 parts: we start with working scientifically, and finish with evidence, peer review, risk and ethics in biology.

1. S.1Working scientifically: hypotheses, variables, controls, apparatus and risk assessmentFree 29 questions
2. S.2Evaluating data: accuracy, precision, repeatability, reproducibility, uncertainty and anomalies68 questions
3. S.3Arithmetic skills: standard form, significant figures, fractions, ratios, percentages and percentage change17 questions
4. S.4Magnification, units and scale calculations59 questions
5. S.5Tables and graphs: plotting, line of best fit, gradients, tangents and calculating rates26 questions
6. S.6Statistics and probability: mean, median, mode, range, random sampling, correlation and causation, genetic probabilities65 questions
7. S.7Evidence, peer review, risk and ethics in biology31 questions

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