1 Coverage

a Most topics in the curriculum are covered. The chart below shows the top 10 chapters to which most marks are allocated in Paper 1.

Top 10 chapters covered in Paper 1

Chapter in 3rd edition
Ch 26 Molecular genetics
Ch 6 Nutrition in humans
3 11
Paper 1A
Paper 1B
2 12

Ch 19 Ecosystems 5 8

Ch 30 Evolution II 0 11

Ch 12 Reproduction in flowering plants 0 9

Ch 20 Photosynthesis 0 9

Ch 8 Transport in humans 1 7

Ch 25 Basic genetics 7 0

Ch 11 Cell cycle and division 0 6

Ch 4 Enzymes and metabolism 0 6

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Mark

b Least marks are allocated to the following chapters:

 Ch 2 The cell as the basic unit of life
 Ch 7 Gas exchange in humans
 Ch 22 Non-infectious diseases
 Ch 23 Infectious diseases and disease prevention
 Ch 29 Evolution I

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition) - 2 -  Oxford University Press 2021
 2 Level of difficulty

Paper 1
a Paper 1A (MC questions) is easier than last year. About half of the questions are fairly straightforward. They assess students’ ability to recall facts and show
basic understanding of facts and concepts of biology. Q10, 12, 16, 24 and 28−30 are more challenging and may be set to differentiate students of different
abilities.

b The level of difficulty of Paper 1B (conventional questions) is similar to last year. However, quite many questions are based on scientific investigations which
are unfamiliar to students (e.g. Q4, 7, 9 and 10), assessing students’ SBA-related skills. Moreover, these questions feature many sets of experimental data for
students to interpret and analyze. It would be difficult for students who are weak in data analysis and SBA-related skills to score well.

c The essay question (Q11) in Paper 1B requires students to recall the causes of variations and explain how variations allow populations to adapt to the changing
environment. The level of difficulty is similar to last year.

d Quite a number of questions in Paper 1 are cross-topic questions. These questions assess students’ ability to integrate knowledge learnt from different chapters.
Examples are given in the following table.

Cross-topic question Chapters (3rd edition) covered

Paper 1A Q2 Ch 5 Food and humans + Ch 26 Molecular genetics
Q22 Ch 12 Reproduction in flowering plants + Ch 13 Reproduction in humans
Paper 1B Q6 Ch 24 Body defence mechanisms + Ch 26 Molecular genetics
Q8 Ch 9 Nutrition and gas exchange in plants + Ch 20 Photosynthesis
Q9 Ch 14 Growth and development + Ch 19 Ecosystems
Q10 Ch 4 Enzymes and metabolism + Ch 6 Nutrition in humans
Q11 Ch 11 Cell cycle and division + Ch 25 Basic genetics + Ch 30 Evolution II

Paper 2
a The level of difficulty of section A (E1) and B (E2) is similar to last year. Section C (E3) and D (E4) are easier than last year.

b Challenging parts are found in Q1b(ii), 2a(ii), 2b(iii), 3a(i) and 4b(iii).

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition) - 3 -  Oxford University Press 2021
 3 Skills or abilities assessed

Similar to previous years, questions in the papers assess various skills and abilities of students. The table below lists some examples.

Paper 1A Paper 1B

a Skills related to scientific investigation/SBA

i Making observations  Q1a, 2, 3b

ii Designing experiments
 Proposing questions Q10b
 Identifying variables
 Designing fair tests
 Setting up controls Q9
 Ensuring reliability of results and validity of conclusions Q31 Q8biii, 9c, 10ai–ii

iii Predicting results Q10 Q7bi

iv Interpreting data or graphs Q13, 14, 15, 16, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34 Q3a, 4c, 6c, 7bii, 8, 9a–b, 10aiii

v Interpreting photomicrographs or electron micrographs Q5, 6 Q5c

vi Drawing conclusions  Q4b, 9a

b Understanding of the nature of science (NOS) Q17 

c Applying knowledge in unfamiliar situations Q12, 18, 26, 27, 34 Q4, 6cii, 7, 9, 10

d Communication  Q4b, 6a, 6cii, 7a, 7bii, 9a, 10ai, 11

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition) - 4 -  Oxford University Press 2021
 4 Challenging questions

Some questions in the papers are challenging. The table below lists some examples and the difficulties students may encounter when answering the questions.
Suggestions for developing the necessary skills and abilities to address similar questions are also given.

Question Difficulty Suggestion OUP resources

Paper 1A Q9 Students’ understanding of how to set up Students should clearly understand the Textbook (3rd edition) Book 1A Ch 6 p. 23
- Identifying the controls is usually poor. It may not be difference between controls and Skill builder: Setting up a controlled
experimental set-up and easy for them to identify the correct experimental set-ups. The control is experiment
control set-up in an experimental set-up and control set-up. identical to the experimental set-up
experiment about the except that the factor under investigation
action of amylase on is absent. Students should also be
starch exposed to more experiments involving
controls.

Paper 1B Q4b, Q9a
- Drawing conclusions
from experimental
results
Students often find questions involving
the interpretation of experimental results
difficult. Also, they may not be able to
draw conclusions that are valid and
address the aims of the investigations.
Exposing to different types of Skill building pack: Scientific investigation
experiments allows students to develop Drawing conclusions
skills in interpreting experimental results
and drawing valid conclusions.

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition) - 5 -  Oxford University Press 2021
 Question Difficulty
Paper 1B Q6c Students often mistake the coding strand
- Interpreting genetic of the gene for the template strand. They
code may wrongly use the coding strand to
work out the mRNA sequence and then
the amino acid sequence.
Paper 1B Q8 Students may be unfamiliar with the
- Explaining the structural differences between sun leaves
differences between and shade leaves. Even if they know the
sun leaves and shade differences, they may not be able to
leaves integrate the data from the question with
the biological concepts they have learnt
as they are generally weak in applying
concepts to unfamiliar situations.
New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition)
Suggestion OUP resources
Students need to read the question Textbook (3rd edition) Book 4 Ch 26 p. 11
carefully and underline the key Skill builder: Interpreting genetic code
information (e.g. ‘coding strand’).
Furthermore, more practice on
interpreting genetic code may help them
better understand the roles of the coding
strand and template strand of DNA in the
transcription process.
Doing more practice that requires Textbook (3rd edition) Book 3 Ch 20 p. 47
higher-order thinking helps students get Reading to learn: Sun leaves and shade leaves
accustomed to this type of question.
- 6 -  Oxford University Press 2021
 Question Difficulty
Paper 1B Q11 (essay) Students are required to integrate the
- Sources and the biological concepts they learnt from
significance of various chapters and present them in a
variations logical and systematic manner. The
essays written by students often lack
organization or contain discrete ideas.
Irrelevant materials may also be present.
Paper 2 Q2a Students are usually weak in making use
- Discussing the of their knowledge and selecting relevant
effectiveness of information provided to make
chemical pest control comparison, especially in an unfamiliar
and biological pest situation. Also, students often fail to use
control comparative adjectives in their answers.
New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition)
Suggestion OUP resources
Students need to pay attention to essay Textbook (3rd edition) Book 1B Ch 10 p. 39
planning. Identifying the main areas for Skill builder: Answering essay questions
discussion and organizing their ideas
using tables, flow charts or mind maps
can help reduce the amount of irrelevant
materials and present ideas logically.
Students should read the question Textbook (3rd edition) Book 3 Ch 24 p. 19
carefully to understand the situation. Skill builder: Comparing and contrasting
Exposing to more questions with
different graphs or tables helps students
develop skills in analyzing the data
given. Training in the use of language,
e.g. in making comparison, should also
be strengthened.
- 7 -  Oxford University Press 2021
 5 Exam trend

Compulsory part

Chapter (3rd edition) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
1 Introducing biology MC BIO IA Q2

2 The cell as the basic MC BIO IA Q3 MC BIO IA Q3 MC BIO IA Q1 MC BIO IA Q12 BIO IB Q4 MC BIO IA Q1
unit of life
MC BIO IA Q5 MC BIO IA Q9

MC BIO IA Q22

3 Movement of MC BIO IA Q5 BIO IB Q7 MC BIO IA Q2 MC BIO IA Q1 BIO IB Q2 MC BIO IA Q1 MC BIO IA Q8 MC BIO IA Q2 MC BIO IA Q8
substances across
cell membrane MC BIO IA Q23 BIO IB Q6 MC BIO IA Q24 MC BIO IA Q36 MC BIO IA Q11 MC BIO IA Q3

MC BIO IA Q24 MC BIO IA Q25 BIO IB Q2 BIO IB Q6

MC BIO IA Q25

4 Enzymes and MC BIO IA Q6 MC BIO IA Q9 MC BIO IA Q3 MC BIO IA Q8 MC BIO IA Q4 MC BIO IA Q3 MC BIO IA Q9 MC BIO IA Q6 BIO IB Q4
metabolism
MC BIO IA Q7 BIO IB Q7 MC BIO IA Q27 MC BIO IA Q5 MC BIO IA Q4 MC BIO IA Q10 MC BIO IA Q7

MC BIO IA Q27 BIO IB Q2 MC BIO IA Q8

5 Food and humans MC BIO IA Q3 MC BIO IA Q3 MC BIO IA Q26 MC BIO IA Q9

MC BIO IA Q5 MC BIO IA Q10

MC BIO IA Q6

6 Nutrition in humans MC BIO IA Q1 MC BIO IA Q26 MC BIO IA Q1 MC BIO IA Q7 MC BIO IA Q2 MC BIO IA Q1 MC BIO IA Q18 MC BIO IA Q23 MC BIO IA Q10 MC BIO IA Q7

MC BIO IA Q20 BIO IB Q3 MC BIO IA Q24 MC BIO IA Q8 MC BIO IA Q7 MC BIO IA Q2 MC BIO IA Q23 MC BIO IA Q24 BIO IB Q4 MC BIO IA Q19

MC BIO IA Q34 MC BIO IA Q25 MC BIO IA Q9 MC BIO IA Q25 MC BIO IA Q25 BIO IB Q1

BIO IB Q10 MC BIO IA Q26 MC BIO IA Q10 BIO IB Q8 BIO IB Q10

BIO IB Q11

7 Gas exchange in MC BIO IA Q22 MC BIO IA Q1 MC BIO IA Q27 MC BIO IA Q13 BIO IB Q11 BIO IB Q5 MC BIO IA Q8 BIO IB Q5 MC BIO IA Q11
humans
MC BIO IA Q30 BIO IB Q2 MC BIO IA Q15 MC BIO IA Q13

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 Chapter (3rd edition) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
8 Transport in humans MC BIO IA Q21 MC BIO IA Q31 MC BIO IA Q14 MC BIO IA Q13 MC BIO IA Q18 MC BIO IA Q34 MC BIO IA Q15 MC BIO IA Q12 MC BIO IA Q20

MC BIO IA Q31 BIO IB Q11 MC BIO IA Q16 BIO IB Q11 MC BIO IA Q35 MC BIO IA Q22 MC BIO IA Q14 BIO IB Q3

MC BIO IA Q32 MC BIO IA Q17 BIO IB Q11

MC BIO IA Q33 MC BIO IA Q28

BIO IB Q1 MC BIO IA Q29

9 Nutrition and gas BIO IB Q5 MC BIO IA Q6 BIO IB Q9 BIO IB Q3

exchange in plants
MC BIO IA Q7

MC BIO IA Q8

10 Transpiration, MC BIO IA Q3 BIO IB Q6 MC BIO IA Q20 MC BIO IA Q17 MC BIO IA Q11 MC BIO IA Q13 MC BIO IA Q24 MC BIO IA Q32 MC BIO IA Q23 MC BIO IA Q30
transport and
support in plants MC BIO IA Q10 MC BIO IA Q21 MC BIO IA Q18 MC BIO IA Q21 MC BIO IA Q14 MC BIO IA Q30 BIO IB Q10 MC BIO IA Q24 MC BIO IA Q31

MC BIO IA Q11 MC BIO IA Q22 BIO IB Q9 MC BIO IA Q22 MC BIO IA Q15 MC BIO IA Q31 BIO IB Q5

MC BIO IA Q12 MC BIO IA Q23 MC BIO IA Q23 MC BIO IA Q16 CS B Q3

BIO IB Q3 BIO IB Q4 MC BIO IA Q17

11 Cell cycle and division BIO IB Q11 MC BIO IA Q14 BIO IB Q3 BIO IB Q2 MC BIO IA Q18 MC BIO IA Q22 BIO IB Q3 MC BIO IA Q20 BIO IB Q5

MC BIO IA Q18 MC BIO IA Q19

MC BIO IA Q20

 12 Reproduction in MC BIO IA Q24 MC BIO IA Q4 MC BIO IA Q19 MC BIO IA Q31 BIO IB Q3 MC BIO IA Q15 MC BIO IA Q21 BIO IB Q7
flowering plants
BIO IB Q8 MC BIO IA Q24 MC BIO IA Q32 MC BIO IA Q16 MC BIO IA Q25

MC BIO IA Q25 MC BIO IA Q17

13 Reproduction in MC BIO IA Q25 MC BIO IA Q35 MC BIO IA Q28 MC CS A Q22 BIO IB Q2 MC BIO IA Q19 MC BIO IA Q12 BIO IB Q10 MC BIO IA Q21
humans
MC BIO IA Q26 MC BIO IA Q36 MC BIO IA Q29 MC BIO IA Q20 MC BIO IA Q27 MC BIO IA Q22

MC BIO IA Q27 MC BIO IA Q23

MC BIO IA Q28

MC BIO IA Q29

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition) - 9 -  Oxford University Press 2021
 Chapter (3rd edition) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
 14 Growth and MC BIO IA Q28 MC BIO IA Q21 MC BIO IA Q30 MC BIO IA Q26
development
MC BIO IA Q24 MC BIO IA Q31

15 Detecting the MC BIO IA Q8 MC BIO IA Q27 MC BIO IA Q36 MC BIO IA Q27 MC BIO IA Q35 MC BIO IA Q25 MC BIO IA Q7 MC BIO IA Q16 MC BIO IA Q27 MC BIO IA Q18
environment
MC BIO IA Q9 MC BIO IA Q28 MC BIO IA Q29 MC BIO IA Q36 MC BIO IA Q26 MC BIO IA Q17 MC BIO IA Q28

MC BIO IA Q30 MC BIO IA Q29 BIO IB Q1 MC BIO IA Q27 MC BIO IA Q28 BIO IB Q3

BIO IB Q7 MC BIO IA Q28

MC BIO IA Q31

16 Coordination in MC BIO IA Q4 BIO IB Q1 MC BIO IA Q2 MC BIO IA Q22 BIO IB Q1 MC BIO IA Q29 MC BIO IA Q20 MC BIO IA Q18 BIO IB Q2
humans
MC BIO IA Q6 BIO IB Q10 MC BIO IA Q23 MC BIO IA Q30 MC BIO IA Q21 MC BIO IA Q21

MC BIO IA Q22

BIO IB Q1

 17 Movement in humans MC BIO IA Q5 BIO IB Q2 MC BIO IA Q34 MC BIO IA Q20 MC BIO IA Q33 BIO IB Q1 MC BIO IA Q19 MC BIO IA Q19 MC BIO IA Q23

MC BIO IA Q7 MC BIO IA Q35 MC BIO IA Q21 MC BIO IA Q20

BIO IB Q5 BIO IB Q4

18 Homeostasis MC BIO IA Q2 BIO IB Q7 MC BIO IA Q31 MC BIO IA Q26

MC BIO IA Q33 MC BIO IA Q27

MC BIO IA Q34

19 Ecosystems MC BIO IA Q13 BIO IB Q5 MC BIO IA Q30 MC BIO IA Q30 MC BIO IA Q30 MC BIO IA Q12 MC BIO IA Q5 MC BIO IA Q29 MC BIO IA Q32 MC BIO IA Q32

MC BIO IA Q14 BIO IB Q8 MC BIO IA Q31 MC BIO IA Q31 MC BIO IA Q34 MC BIO IA Q32 MC BIO IA Q6 MC BIO IA Q33 BIO IB Q2 MC BIO IA Q33

MC BIO IA Q16 MC BIO IA Q33 BIO IB Q3 BIO IB Q5 MC BIO IA Q33 MC BIO IA Q14 MC BIO IA Q34 BIO IB Q6 MC BIO IA Q34

MC BIO IA Q17 BIO IB Q5 MC BIO IA Q34 MC BIO IA Q29 BIO IB Q7 MC BIO IA Q35

BIO IB Q6 MC BIO IA Q35 MC BIO IA Q32 BIO IB Q9 MC BIO IA Q36

BIO IB Q8 MC BIO IA Q33 BIO IB Q9

BIO IB Q11

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition) - 10 -  Oxford University Press 2021
 Chapter (3rd edition) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
 20 Photosynthesis MC BIO IA Q2 MC BIO IA Q8 MC BIO IA Q4 MC BIO IA Q9 MC BIO IA Q6 MC BIO IA Q1 BIO IB Q1 BIO IB Q8

MC BIO IA Q23 MC BIO IA Q9 MC BIO IA Q11 MC BIO IA Q10 BIO IB Q7 MC BIO IA Q2

(deleted) MC BIO IA Q12 BIO IB Q3 MC BIO IA Q4

MC BIO IA Q5

MC BIO IA Q6

MC BIO IA Q7

 21 Respiration BIO IB Q9 MC BIO IA Q10 MC BIO IA Q14 MC BIO IA Q6 MC BIO IA Q26 MC BIO IA Q7 MC BIO IA Q11 MC BIO IA Q3 MC BIO IA Q4 MC BIO IA Q4

BIO IB Q1 MC BIO IA Q26 MC BIO IA Q5 MC BIO IA Q5

BIO IB Q9 MC BIO IA Q6

 22 Non-infectious BIO IB Q7 BIO IB Q9 MC BIO IA Q34 BIO IB Q6 MC BIO IA Q36 MC BIO IA Q35
diseases
MC BIO IA Q35

BIO IB Q8

23 Infectious diseases BIO IB Q2 MC BIO IA Q33 BIO IB Q4 MC BIO IA Q29

and disease
prevention

 24 Body defence MC BIO IA Q35 MC BIO IA Q32 MC BIO IA Q32 MC BIO IA Q32 BIO IB Q7 BIO IB Q9 MC BIO IA Q10 MC BIO IA Q36 MC BIO IA Q30 MC BIO IA Q24
mechanisms
MC BIO IA Q36 BIO IB Q9 MC BIO IA Q36 BIO IB Q1 BIO IB Q8 MC BIO IA Q25

25 Basic genetics MC BIO IA Q15 MC BIO IA Q4 MC BIO IA Q10 MC BIO IA Q16 MC BIO IA Q4 MC BIO IA Q8 MC BIO IA Q12 MC BIO IA Q13 MC BIO IA Q18 MC BIO IA Q11

BIO IB Q8 MC BIO IA Q12 MC BIO IA Q11 MC BIO IA Q26 BIO IB Q8 BIO IB Q10 MC BIO IA Q13 MC BIO IA Q14 MC BIO IA Q19 MC BIO IA Q12

MC BIO IA Q13 MC BIO IA Q12 BIO IB Q4 BIO IB Q10 MC BIO IA Q28 BIO IB Q11 MC BIO IA Q33 MC BIO IA Q13

MC BIO IA Q15 MC BIO IA Q13 BIO IB Q5 MC BIO IA Q34 MC BIO IA Q14

MC BIO IA Q16 BIO IB Q6 MC BIO IA Q35 MC BIO IA Q15

MC BIO IA Q17 MC BIO IA Q36 MC BIO IA Q16

BIO IB Q4 MC BIO IA Q17

BIO IB Q10

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition) - 11 -  Oxford University Press 2021
 Chapter (3rd edition) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
 26 Molecular genetics MC BIO IA Q18 MC BIO IA Q11 MC BIO IA Q16 MC BIO IA Q9 BIO IB Q9 MC BIO IA Q1

MC BIO IA Q19 MC BIO IA Q2

MC BIO IA Q3

BIO IB Q6

27 Biotechnology MC BIO IA Q19 MC BIO IA Q17

BIO IB Q7

28 Biodiversity BIO IB Q4 MC BIO IA Q21 MC BIO IA Q15 MC BIO IA Q5 MC BIO IA Q15 BIO IB Q6 MC BIO IA Q9 MC BIO IA Q28

BIO IB Q4 MC BIO IA Q29

29 Evolution I MC BIO IA Q19 MC BIO IA Q17 BIO IB Q10 MC BIO IA Q14 MC BIO IA Q15

MC BIO IA Q20 MC BIO IA Q18

 30 Evolution II MC BIO IA Q22 BIO IB Q6 MC BIO IA Q10 BIO IB Q10 BIO IB Q8 MC BIO IA Q16 BIO IB Q11

MC BIO IA Q11

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition) - 12 -  Oxford University Press 2021
Elective part
Chapter (3rd edition) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
 E1 Human Physiology: Regulation and Control
1 Regulation of water content BIO II Q1a, b(i) BIO II Q1a BIO II Q1b BIO II Q1b BIO II Q1a BIO II Q1a(i)-(iii) BIO II Q1b(iv)

2 Regulation of body BIO II Q1b(ii) BIO II Q1b(iii) BIO II Q1a(iii) BIO II Q1b BIO II Q1b(i)-(iii)
temperature

3 Regulation of gas content BIO II Q1b(iii) BIO II Q1a BIO II Q1b BIO II Q1b(i), (ii) BIO II Q1a BIO II Q1a(i), (ii) BIO II Q1b BIO II Q1b BIO II Q1a
in blood

4 Hormonal control of BIO II Q1b BIO II Q1a BIO II Q1a BIO II Q1a(iv)
reproductive cycle

 E2 Applied Ecology
1 Human impact on the BIO II Q2a BIO II Q2a, b BIO II Q2a, b(ii) BIO II Q2a, b BIO II Q2a, b BIO II Q2a(i), b BIO II Q2a(i), (ii), b BIO II Q2b BIO II Q2a(i), b
environment

2 Human responsibilities BIO II Q2b BIO II Q2b(i), (iii) BIO II Q2a(ii)-(iv) BIO II Q2a(iii) BIO II Q2a, b BIO II Q2a BIO II Q2a(ii)-(iii)
for the environment

 E3 Microorganisms and Humans

1 Basic microbiology BIO II Q3a(i)-(iv), b BIO II Q3b(i) BIO II Q3a BIO II Q3a, b BIO II Q3a(iii) BIO II Q3b(iii) BIO II Q3a BIO II Q3a(i), (ii), b BIO II Q3a(iv), b(iv) BIO II Q3a(iii), b

2 Use of microorganisms BIO II Q3a, b(ii) BIO II Q3b(i), (ii)(2) BIO II Q3b BIO II Q3a

3 Harmful effects of BIO II Q3a(v) BIO II Q3b(iii) BIO II Q3b(ii)(1) BIO II Q3a(i), (ii), BIO II Q3b(i), (ii) BIO II Q3b BIO II Q3a(iii) BIO II Q3 a(i)-(iii), BIO II Q3a(i), (ii)
microorganisms
(iv) b(i)-(iii)

 E4 Biotechnology
1 Techniques in modern BIO II Q4a(i), (ii) BIO II Q4a(i)-(iii), b BIO II Q4a(i), (ii)(1), BIO II Q4b BIO II Q4b BIO II Q4a(ii)-(iii), b BIO II Q4b BIO II Q4a, b BIO II Q4a, b(i)-(ii) BIO II Q4b
biotechnology
b

2 Applications in BIO II Q4a(iii), b BIO II Q4a(iv) BIO II Q4a(ii)(2) BIO II Q4a BIO II Q4a BIO II Q4a(i), (iv) BIO II Q4a BIO II Q4b(iii) BIO II Q4a
biotechnology

END

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition) - 13 -  Oxford University Press 2021