The OCR A-Level Biology Paper 2 Exam is on Fri 12th June. Here are my observations about which topics haven't been examined for a while and could come up.

It is vital to revise and prepare for ALL topics. This is not a set of predictions for the paper, rather a set of observations of the topics that haven't been deeply assessed for a while.

Good luck everyone!

General observations:

• Module 2 topics frequently come up in section A MCQ
• Know your diseases and the pathogen that causes them – these are often tested
• The topics below are all for section B – some of these topics have never come up in a section B before

2026

• Organelles / cytoskeleton (in practice paper) / prokaryotic cells
• Always expect biological molecules, colorimeter (last in 2022) and chromatography
• DNA structure last in 2021, RNA polymerase / transcription last in 2022
• Membranes and permeability last in 2021, osmosis practical last in 2019
• Specialised cells (practice paper), sperm cells in 2020
• Plant defences
• Non-specific defences only in practice paper (other than phagocytosis)
• Phagocytosis 2020
• Personalised medicine
• Biodiversity levels
• Mark-release-recapture last in 2017
• Genetic polymorphisms last in 2020
• Seed banks, botanical gardens and zoos and marine conservation zones
• Domains (only in Specimen)
• Adaptation
• Mutation last in 2022
• Lac operon and gene control – cAMP never tested (only in practice set 1)
• Homeobox / body plans last in 2022
• Last genetic cross 2021. None yet on codominance or multiple alleles
• Genetic bottleneck / genetic drift last in 2018 and founder effect not yet tested
• Selective breeding / artificial selection
• Sequencing detail of process last in 2018
• Electrophoresis (as part of profiling) last in 2021 (and in specimen)
• Genetic engineering last in 2017
• Gene therapy last in 2019
• Plant cuttings last in 2019
• never yet tested
• Energy flow / biomass transfer through ecosystems last in 2021
• Carbon cycle last in 2020
• Timber production last in 2019 and fish farming last in 2022
• Preservation last in 2021