Is OCR GCSE Biology 2026 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 3 Higher an official exam paper?

No. It is an original StudyVector predicted-practice paper for revision. It is not official, leaked or guaranteed, and students should still revise the full specification.

How many marks and questions are in this predicted paper?

This paper has 90 marks across 10 questions and is designed for a 105-minute practice session.

What are the GCSE Biology Paper 3 Higher predictions for 2026?

StudyVector's 2026 GCSE Biology Paper 3 Higher predicted paper focuses on Cell transport, Osmosis practical, Gas exchange, Xylem and transpiration, Vaccination, Respiration. This is an independent, OCR-style predicted-practice paper modelled on the published specification — it is not a leaked paper and is not official.

What is the GCSE Biology Paper 3 Higher format (J247/03)?

GCSE Biology Paper 3 Higher (J247/03) is 90 marks over 105 minutes. Models OCR Gateway GCSE Biology Paper 3 Higher: 1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks.

Published 8 March 2026Updated 22 April 2026By Lizzie D., founderPrivacy Policy

Source note: use official specifications as the source of truth. StudyVector is an independent revision platform. AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR

Direct answer

This page hosts StudyVector’s independent 2026 GCSE Biology Paper 3 Higher predicted-practice paper modelled on J247/03,90 marks over 105 minutes. Predicted focus topics: Cell transport, Osmosis practical, Gas exchange, Xylem and transpiration, Vaccination. It is not an official paper, not a leaked paper and not a guarantee — students should still revise the full specification and verify against official past papers from OCR.

Qualification: GCSE Biology
Exam board model: OCR
Paper code: J247/03
Total marks: 90 marks
Time allowed: 105 minutes
Last reviewed: 16 May 2026

StudyVector is independent revision support, not affiliated with AQA, Edexcel, OCR, JCQ or any exam provider. Always verify topic coverage with your exam-board specification.

Predicted paper

OCR GCSE Biology 2026 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 3 Higher

Q: Which topics are likely to come up in GCSE Biology Paper 3 Higher 2026?

Based on the OCR-style structure and recent paper patterns, StudyVector's prediction prioritises: Cell transport; Osmosis practical; Gas exchange; Xylem and transpiration; Vaccination; Respiration. Students should still revise the full specification because exam boards rotate topics.

GCSE Biology · OCR-style · 105 minutes · 90 marks

Modelled component: J247/03 · Tier: Higher · Calculator permitted

Models OCR Gateway GCSE Biology Paper 3 Higher: 1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks.

Prediction type: predicted_paper · Evidence mode: historical · Full-length original practice paper modelled on OCR Gateway GCSE Biology public paper structure. It is not official, leaked or guaranteed.

Evidence basis: official public assessment structure, full-paper mark total, board-specific paper code, GCSE Biology topic weighting, required-practical and data-response mix.

AI-generated practice paper. Not an official OCR-style paper, not leaked exam content, and not an exam-board endorsement.

Predicted difficulty score (practice signal)

0–100 model (higher = more demanding)

Candidate focus topics (not guarantees)

Cell transport
Osmosis practical
Gas exchange
Xylem and transpiration
Vaccination
Respiration

Preview mode

0/10 questions attempted · score 0/90 (0%)

105:00Warm up with cards Play Daily

Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided. You must write down all the stages in your working.

Section A

Answer all questions. This paper is written in an OCR Gateway Biology Paper 1 practice style.

Question A1 (9 marks)
(a) State the function of the nucleus. (1) (b) Compare diffusion, osmosis and active transport. (6) (c) Explain why mitochondria are important in active transport. (2)
(Total for Question A1 is 9 marks)
Question A2 (9 marks)
A student investigates osmosis using potato cylinders. (a) Describe a valid method. (5) (b) Explain why percentage change in mass is better than change in mass. (2) (c) Give two control variables. (2)
(Total for Question A2 is 9 marks)
Question A3 (9 marks)
(a) Explain how alveoli are adapted for gas exchange. (4) (b) Describe how ventilation maintains a concentration gradient. (3) (c) Name the gas that diffuses from blood into alveoli. (2)
(Total for Question A3 is 9 marks)
Question A4 (9 marks)
(a) Describe the role of xylem. (2) (b) Explain transpiration. (4) (c) Give three factors that can increase transpiration rate. (3)
(Total for Question A4 is 9 marks)
Question A5 (9 marks)
(a) Describe the function of platelets. (2) (b) Explain why the left ventricle has a thicker wall than the right ventricle. (3) (c) Compare arteries and veins. (4)
(Total for Question A5 is 9 marks)

Section B

Answer all questions. Extended answers should use evidence and key terms.

Question B1 (9 marks)
(a) Explain how enzymes catalyse reactions. (3) (b) Explain the effect of pH on enzyme activity. (3) (c) Describe how to test for starch using iodine solution. (3)
(Total for Question B1 is 9 marks)
Question B2 (9 marks)
(a) Explain how vaccination protects a population. (4) (b) Describe how white blood cells defend against pathogens. (3) (c) Give two ways pathogens can spread. (2)
(Total for Question B2 is 9 marks)
Question B3 (9 marks)
(a) Write the word equation for aerobic respiration. (2) (b) Explain why cells need respiration. (3) (c) Compare aerobic and anaerobic respiration in muscle cells. (4)
(Total for Question B3 is 9 marks)
Question B4 (9 marks)
(a) Describe the lock-and-key model of enzyme action. (4) (b) Explain why digestion is necessary before absorption. (3) (c) Name the products of protein digestion. (2)
(Total for Question B4 is 9 marks)
Question B5 (9 marks)
A student estimates plant population using quadrats. (a) Describe a random sampling method. (4) (b) Explain how to calculate population estimate from mean per quadrat. (3) (c) Give two reasons the estimate may be unreliable. (2)
(Total for Question B5 is 9 marks)

Train weak areas

Turn this paper into targeted practice. Start with the topics where you lost marks, then come back and resit the same style of question.

Start low-focus cards Play Daily Save full practice progress

Direct answer

Qualification

GCSE Biology

Exam board model

OCR

Paper code

J247/03

Total marks

90 marks

Time allowed

105 minutes

Last reviewed

16 May 2026

StudyVector is independent revision support, not affiliated with AQA, Edexcel, OCR, JCQ or any exam provider. Always verify topic coverage with your exam-board specification.

OCR GCSE Biology 2026 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 3 Higher

GCSE Biology · OCR-style · 105 minutes · 90 marks

Modelled component: J247/03 · Tier: Higher · Calculator permitted

Models OCR Gateway GCSE Biology Paper 3 Higher: 1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks.

Evidence basis: official public assessment structure, full-paper mark total, board-specific paper code, GCSE Biology topic weighting, required-practical and data-response mix.

Section A

Answer all questions. This paper is written in an OCR Gateway Biology Paper 1 practice style.

Question A1 (9 marks)

(a) State the function of the nucleus. (1) (b) Compare diffusion, osmosis and active transport. (6) (c) Explain why mitochondria are important in active transport. (2)

(Total for Question A1 is 9 marks)

Question A2 (9 marks)

A student investigates osmosis using potato cylinders. (a) Describe a valid method. (5) (b) Explain why percentage change in mass is better than change in mass. (2) (c) Give two control variables. (2)

(Total for Question A2 is 9 marks)

Question A3 (9 marks)

(a) Explain how alveoli are adapted for gas exchange. (4) (b) Describe how ventilation maintains a concentration gradient. (3) (c) Name the gas that diffuses from blood into alveoli. (2)

(Total for Question A3 is 9 marks)

Question A4 (9 marks)

(a) Describe the role of xylem. (2) (b) Explain transpiration. (4) (c) Give three factors that can increase transpiration rate. (3)

(Total for Question A4 is 9 marks)

Question A5 (9 marks)

(a) Describe the function of platelets. (2) (b) Explain why the left ventricle has a thicker wall than the right ventricle. (3) (c) Compare arteries and veins. (4)

(Total for Question A5 is 9 marks)

Section B

Answer all questions. Extended answers should use evidence and key terms.

Question B1 (9 marks)

(a) Explain how enzymes catalyse reactions. (3) (b) Explain the effect of pH on enzyme activity. (3) (c) Describe how to test for starch using iodine solution. (3)

(Total for Question B1 is 9 marks)

Question B2 (9 marks)

(a) Explain how vaccination protects a population. (4) (b) Describe how white blood cells defend against pathogens. (3) (c) Give two ways pathogens can spread. (2)

(Total for Question B2 is 9 marks)

Question B3 (9 marks)

(a) Write the word equation for aerobic respiration. (2) (b) Explain why cells need respiration. (3) (c) Compare aerobic and anaerobic respiration in muscle cells. (4)

(Total for Question B3 is 9 marks)

Question B4 (9 marks)

(a) Describe the lock-and-key model of enzyme action. (4) (b) Explain why digestion is necessary before absorption. (3) (c) Name the products of protein digestion. (2)

(Total for Question B4 is 9 marks)

Question B5 (9 marks)

A student estimates plant population using quadrats. (a) Describe a random sampling method. (4) (b) Explain how to calculate population estimate from mean per quadrat. (3) (c) Give two reasons the estimate may be unreliable. (2)

(Total for Question B5 is 9 marks)