OCR · GCSE
OCR GCSE Biology
OCR GCSE Biology A (Gateway Science) (J247). What it covers, how it is assessed, a link to the official specification, and the free study material Marlbridge publishes for it.
- Syllabus
- J247
- Board
- OCR
- Qualification
- GCSE
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Topics and resources
Each topic below is from the official OCR document for OCR GCSE Biology A (Gateway Science) (J247), with its study guides, revision notes and practice questions together. Everything here is for OCR GCSE Biology (J247) only.
- Learn with study guides
- Revise with revision notes
- Practise with practice questions
Searches topic names and resource titles for this course only.
No Biology (J247) resources match “”.
- Try one shorter word, or check the spelling.
- Try the wording the syllabus uses for the topic, as listed below once you clear the search.
- Some topics have no Marlbridge resource yet; they are still listed.
- Topic 1
Cell level systems
Covers Cell structures, What happens in cells (and what do cells need)?, Respiration, Photosynthesis
Study guides
- DNA structure, protein synthesis and enzyme action (J247) Read guide
- Microscopy, eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and electron microscopy (J247) Read guide
- Photosynthesis: process, investigation and limiting factors (J247) Read guide
- Respiration and the synthesis and breakdown of biological molecules (J247) Read guide
- Cell Level Systems (J247) Read guide
Revision notes
- DNA structure, protein synthesis and enzyme action (J247) Revise topic
- Microscopy, eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and electron microscopy (J247) Revise topic
- Photosynthesis: process, investigation and limiting factors (J247) Revise topic
- Respiration and the synthesis and breakdown of biological molecules (J247) Revise topic
- Cell Level Systems Revise topic
Practice questions
- DNA structure, protein synthesis and enzyme action (J247) Try questions
- Microscopy, eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and electron microscopy (J247) Try questions
- Photosynthesis: process, investigation and limiting factors (J247) Try questions
- Respiration and the synthesis and breakdown of biological molecules (J247) Try questions
- Cell Level Systems Try questions
- Topic 2
Scaling up
Covers Supplying the cell, The challenges of size
Study guides
Revision notes
- Topic 3
Organism level systems
Covers Coordination and control – the nervous system, Coordination and control – the endocrine system, Maintaining internal environments
Study guides
- Endocrine system, thyroxine, adrenaline and menstrual cycle (J247) Read guide
- Homeostasis, temperature control and blood glucose regulation (J247) Read guide
- Hormones in contraception and fertility treatment, and plant hormones (J247) Read guide
- Nervous system, coordinated responses and reflex arcs (J247) Read guide
- Osmoregulation: water balance, the kidney and ADH (J247) Read guide
- The eye, eye defects, the brain and limits of treatment (J247) Read guide
Revision notes
- Endocrine system, thyroxine, adrenaline and menstrual cycle (J247) Revise topic
- Homeostasis, temperature control and blood glucose regulation (J247) Revise topic
- Hormones in contraception and fertility treatment, and plant hormones (J247) Revise topic
- Nervous system, coordinated responses and reflex arcs (J247) Revise topic
- Osmoregulation: water balance, the kidney and ADH (J247) Revise topic
- The eye, eye defects, the brain and limits of treatment (J247) Revise topic
Practice questions
- Endocrine system, thyroxine, adrenaline and menstrual cycle (J247) Try questions
- Homeostasis, temperature control and blood glucose regulation (J247) Try questions
- Hormones in contraception and fertility treatment, and plant hormones (J247) Try questions
- Nervous system, coordinated responses and reflex arcs (J247) Try questions
- Osmoregulation: water balance, the kidney and ADH (J247) Try questions
- The eye, eye defects, the brain and limits of treatment (J247) Try questions
- Topic 4
Community level systems
Covers Ecosystems
Study guides
Revision notes
- Topic 5
Genes, inheritance and selection
Covers Inheritance, Natural selection and evolution
Study guides
- Genome, alleles, variants and mutations (J247) Read guide
- Sexual and asexual reproduction, haploid and diploid cells and meiosis (J247) Read guide
- Single gene inheritance, genetic crosses, sex determination and the history of genetics (J247) Read guide
- Variation, natural selection, evolution and classification (J247) Read guide
Revision notes
- Genome, alleles, variants and mutations (J247) Revise topic
- Sexual and asexual reproduction, haploid and diploid cells and meiosis (J247) Revise topic
- Single gene inheritance, genetic crosses, sex determination and the history of genetics (J247) Revise topic
- Variation, natural selection, evolution and classification (J247) Revise topic
Practice questions
- Genome, alleles, variants and mutations (J247) Try questions
- Sexual and asexual reproduction, haploid and diploid cells and meiosis (J247) Try questions
- Single gene inheritance, genetic crosses, sex determination and the history of genetics (J247) Try questions
- Variation, natural selection, evolution and classification (J247) Try questions
- Topic 6
Global challenges
Covers Monitoring and maintaining the environment, Feeding the human race, Monitoring and maintaining health
Study guides
- Field investigations, biodiversity and human impact on ecosystems (J247) Read guide
- Food security, agricultural solutions and selective breeding (J247) Read guide
- Genetic engineering and biotechnology in food production (J247) Read guide
- Health, disease types and the spread and prevention of communicable disease (J247) Read guide
- Monoclonal antibodies, aseptic technique and drug development (J247) Read guide
- Named infections, STIs and plant disease defence and detection (J247) Read guide
- Non-communicable disease, cardiovascular treatment, lifestyle and cancer (J247) Read guide
- Stem cells, gene technology and genomics in medicine (J247) Read guide
- White blood cells, the immune system and vaccination (J247) Read guide
Revision notes
- Field investigations, biodiversity and human impact on ecosystems (J247) Revise topic
- Food security, agricultural solutions and selective breeding (J247) Revise topic
- Genetic engineering and biotechnology in food production (J247) Revise topic
- Health, disease types and the spread and prevention of communicable disease (J247) Revise topic
- Monoclonal antibodies, aseptic technique and drug development (J247) Revise topic
- Named infections, STIs and plant disease defence and detection (J247) Revise topic
- Non-communicable disease, cardiovascular treatment, lifestyle and cancer (J247) Revise topic
- Stem cells, gene technology and genomics in medicine (J247) Revise topic
- White blood cells, the immune system and vaccination (J247) Revise topic
Practice questions
- Field investigations, biodiversity and human impact on ecosystems (J247) Try questions
- Food security, agricultural solutions and selective breeding (J247) Try questions
- Genetic engineering and biotechnology in food production (J247) Try questions
- Health, disease types and the spread and prevention of communicable disease (J247) Try questions
- Monoclonal antibodies, aseptic technique and drug development (J247) Try questions
- Named infections, STIs and plant disease defence and detection (J247) Try questions
- Non-communicable disease, cardiovascular treatment, lifestyle and cancer (J247) Try questions
- Stem cells, gene technology and genomics in medicine (J247) Try questions
- White blood cells, the immune system and vaccination (J247) Try questions
- Topic 7
Practical skills
Study guides
- Practical skills I: microscopy, food tests, sampling and enzyme practicals (PAG 1-4) (J247) Read guide
- Practical skills II: photosynthesis, physiology, microbiology and transport in cells (PAG 5-8) (J247) Read guide
- Working scientifically: planning, recording, presenting and evaluating practical data (J247) Read guide
Revision notes
- Practical skills I: microscopy, food tests, sampling and enzyme practicals (PAG 1-4) (J247) Revise topic
- Practical skills II: photosynthesis, physiology, microbiology and transport in cells (PAG 5-8) (J247) Revise topic
- Working scientifically: planning, recording, presenting and evaluating practical data (J247) Revise topic
Practice questions
- Practical skills I: microscopy, food tests, sampling and enzyme practicals (PAG 1-4) (J247) Try questions
- Practical skills II: photosynthesis, physiology, microbiology and transport in cells (PAG 5-8) (J247) Try questions
- Working scientifically: planning, recording, presenting and evaluating practical data (J247) Try questions
Covering more than one topic
Course guides, exam preparation and pages that span several topics.
Study guides
No study guide for this course yet.
Revision notes
No revision notes for this course yet.
Practice questions
Source: OCR – official GCSE (9-1) Gateway Science Suite Biology A (J247) specification-at-a-glance page — Version 4.0 (August 2026), for first assessment in 2018. Verified 2026-09-02. Subtopics are shown where Marlbridge has entered them; a topic may have more in the official document. This syllabus is tiered: see “About this course” below for the tier structure. A topic listed here is part of the syllabus; it does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.
About this course
- Qualification
- OCR GCSE Biology
- Spec code
- J247
- Does Marlbridge teach it?
- Yes, one-to-one only (Rs 6,000 per class; other currencies) — request a free trial class
- Who teaches it?
- Saad Zai · Harris Zaman · Hina Mogul
- Are resources available?
- Yes — 100 published
- Is enrolment open?
- Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
- Official specification
- OCR specification
- Topic checklist
- Printable J247 checklist
- Where was this verified?
- 2026-08-18, official OCR specification
Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official OCR specification on 2026-08-18.
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.
The qualification
OCR GCSE Biology A (Gateway Science) (J247)
Marlbridge's summary of the course
Our GCSE in Biology A (Gateway Science) helps students develop their biological knowledge and scientific thinking. They discover how key concepts in biology make sense of the observed diversity of natural phenomena. Practical skills are integrated with the theoretical topics.
The board's own description is on the official OCR syllabus page.
Qualification number 601/8589/2.
Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the OCR syllabus page for your examination year.
Assessment structure
Linear qualification
| Component | Duration | Marks | Weighting | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J247/01: Paper 1 (Foundation Tier) (Foundation) | 1h 45m | 90 | 50% | Written exam |
| J247/02: Paper 2 (Foundation Tier) (Foundation) | 1h 45m | 90 | 50% | Written exam |
| J247/03: Paper 3 (Higher Tier) (Higher) | 1h 45m | 90 | 50% | Written exam |
| J247/04: Paper 4 (Higher Tier) (Higher) | 1h 45m | 90 | 50% | Written exam |
Source: official OCR specification, verified 2026-08-28. Directly confirmed against OCR's own official "GCSE (9-1) Gateway Science: Exploring our question papers" guide (covering J247/J248/J249/J250, 2026-08-28). For each separate science, assessment is through two exams per tier: Paper 1/3 tests topics 1-3 plus topic 7 (practical); Paper 2/4 tests topics 4-6 plus topic 7 (practical), with assumed knowledge of topics 1-3 and synoptic assessment. Each paper is 90 marks, 1 hour 45 minutes, 50% weighting, for both Foundation tier (Papers 1-2) and Higher tier (Papers 3-4).
Questions about this course
How is OCR Biology (J247) assessed?
OCR Biology (J247) is assessed through: Foundation candidates take: J247/01 (Paper 1 (Foundation Tier)) — 1h 45m, 90 marks, 50% of the qualification; J247/02 (Paper 2 (Foundation Tier)) — 1h 45m, 90 marks, 50% of the qualification. Higher candidates take: J247/03 (Paper 3 (Higher Tier)) — 1h 45m, 90 marks, 50% of the qualification; J247/04 (Paper 4 (Higher Tier)) — 1h 45m, 90 marks, 50% of the qualification. It is a linear qualification. Source: official OCR specification, verified 2026-08-28.
What topics does OCR GCSE Biology (J247) cover?
7 topics in the current syllabus: Cell level systems; Scaling up; Organism level systems; Community level systems; Genes, inheritance and selection; Global challenges; Practical skills. The printable topic checklist lists every topic and subtopic on one page.
Can I get a tutor for OCR GCSE Biology (J247)?
Yes. Marlbridge teaches OCR GCSE Biology (J247) live online, one-to-one only, taught by a named subject teacher from its academy in Lahore, Pakistan. The first trial class is free.
Are there free OCR GCSE Biology (J247) revision notes and practice questions?
Yes. Marlbridge has published 100 free resources for this course (study guides, practice questions, revision notes, exam preparation guides), free to read with no sign-up.
The subject
Biology teaching and study resources, organised by level and topic.
Biology at other qualifications
These are separate qualifications with different syllabuses and assessments — not different names for the same course. Check which one your school enters you for.
- Cambridge A Level Biology Syllabus 9700
- Cambridge IGCSE Biology Syllabus 0610
- Cambridge O Level Biology Syllabus 5090
- Pearson Edexcel A Level Biology Syllabus YBI11
- Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Biology Syllabus 4BI1
- AQA A Level Biology Syllabus 7402
- OCR A Level Biology Syllabus H420
- OxfordAQA IGCSE Biology Syllabus 9201
- OxfordAQA A Level Biology Syllabus 9610
- International Baccalaureate IB Diploma Programme Biology Syllabus DP Biology
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