OCRGCSE399 resourcesFoundation & Higher

OCR GCSE Twenty First Century Science Suite Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free OCR GCSE Twenty First Century Science (Biology B, Chemistry B, Physics B, Combined Science B) past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. 399 resources.

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June 2023

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in physics

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June 2022

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in physics

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November 2021

5 files
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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in chemistry

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November 2020

6 files
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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in chemistry

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in chemistry

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June 2019

4 files
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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in chemistry

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in chemistry

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June 2018

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in physics

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in chemistry

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Twenty First Century Science Suite – Question paper – Depth in chemistry

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Twenty First Century Science: OCR's Ideas-About-Science Approach to GCSE Biology B, Chemistry B, and Physics B

The Twenty First Century Science Suite is OCR's alternative set of GCSE science specifications — Biology B (J257), Chemistry B (J258), Physics B (J259), and Combined Science B (J260). Where the Gateway suite emphasises applications, the Twenty First Century specifications foreground 'Ideas about Science': how scientific knowledge is generated, tested, and communicated. This philosophical thread runs through every paper. Each separate science has two tiered papers: a Breadth paper covering the full specification at moderate depth, and a Depth paper probing selected topics in more detail. Both papers last 1 hour 45 minutes and carry 90 marks (50% each). Combined Science B mirrors this structure with six papers (two per discipline), each lasting 1 hour 10 minutes. A hallmark of this suite is the emphasis on data interpretation and scientific literacy. Questions regularly present unfamiliar research scenarios and ask students to evaluate the methodology, identify sources of error, and discuss whether the conclusions are justified. This makes the Twenty First Century papers particularly good preparation for A-Level science, where evaluative skills are weighted heavily. All papers are tiered (Foundation and Higher) and an equation/data sheet is provided for Chemistry and Physics papers. The 399 resources in this collection span multiple exam series and include examiner reports that give valuable insight into common misconceptions.

Exam Paper Structure

Biology B — Paper 1

Breadth in Biology (Foundation/Higher)

1 hour 45 minutes🎯 90 marks📊 50% of grade
Cell biology and organisationScaling up — organisms in their environmentIdeas about science — data and evidence
Biology B — Paper 2

Depth in Biology (Foundation/Higher)

1 hour 45 minutes🎯 90 marks📊 50% of grade
Genetics and evolutionThe human body — coordination and homeostasisEcosystems and material cycles
Chemistry B — Paper 1

Breadth in Chemistry (Foundation/Higher)

1 hour 45 minutes🎯 90 marks📊 50% of grade
Elements, compounds and mixturesChemical patterns — the Periodic TableIdeas about science
Chemistry B — Paper 2

Depth in Chemistry (Foundation/Higher)

1 hour 45 minutes🎯 90 marks📊 50% of grade
Quantitative chemistryChemical changes — rates and energyOrganic chemistry and polymers
Physics B — Paper 1

Breadth in Physics (Foundation/Higher)

1 hour 45 minutes🎯 90 marks📊 50% of grade
Radiation and wavesSustainable energyElectric circuits
Physics B — Paper 2

Depth in Physics (Foundation/Higher)

1 hour 45 minutes🎯 90 marks📊 50% of grade
Forces and motionThe Earth in spaceIdeas about science and practical skills

Key Information

Exam BoardOCR
Specification CodeJ257 (Bio B), J258 (Chem B), J259 (Phys B), J260 (Combined B)
QualificationGCSE
Grading Scale9–1 (separate) / 9-9 to 1-1 (combined)
Assessment TypeWritten exams only (no coursework)
TiersFoundation and Higher for all papers
Number Of Papers2 per separate science / 6 for combined
Exam Duration1 hour 45 minutes (separate) / 1 hour 10 minutes (combined)
Total Marks180 per separate science / 360 for combined
Calculator StatusCalculator allowed in all papers
Total Resources399

Key Topics in Twenty First Century Science Suite

Topics you need to know

Cell biology and organisation of organismsIdeas about science — evaluating evidence and dataChemical patterns and the Periodic TableQuantitative chemistry and rates of reactionForces, motion and energy transferRadiation, waves and the electromagnetic spectrumGenetics, evolution and ecosystems

Exam Command Words

Command wordWhat the examiner expects
StateGive a fact or value without further explanation
DescribeGive the main features of a process or observation
ExplainGive reasons, using scientific knowledge and appropriate terminology
CalculateWork out a numerical answer, showing working and correct units
EvaluateAssess data, a method or a claim, weighing evidence and reaching a conclusion
SuggestApply scientific principles to an unfamiliar context to propose an answer
CompareIdentify similarities and differences between processes, substances or organisms
JustifyGive reasons to support a scientific conclusion or recommendation

Typical Grade Boundaries

GradeApproximate mark needed
Grade 976–86%
Grade 864–75%
Grade 752–63%
Grade 643–51%
Grade 535–42%
Grade 426–34%

⚠️ Typical Higher tier boundaries for separate sciences. Combined Science B uses double grades (9-9 to 4-4). Actual boundaries vary — check OCR's website.

Ideas About Science and Data Evaluation: Mastering the Twenty First Century Approach

Twenty First Century Science papers test your ability to think like a scientist, not just recall scientific facts. When you see a data-interpretation question, follow a checklist: What is being measured? What are the variables? Is the sample size adequate? Are there anomalous results? What are the limitations of the method? Practising this systematic approach will lift your responses from descriptive to evaluative. The Breadth papers cover a wider range of topics at accessible difficulty, while the Depth papers probe fewer topics in much greater detail. Start your revision with Breadth papers to consolidate your knowledge base, then move to Depth papers to develop the extended analytical writing that earns top marks. For Chemistry B and Physics B, know the equations on the data sheet thoroughly so you do not waste time looking them up. More importantly, know which equations are NOT on the sheet and must be recalled from memory — this is where many students lose marks on Higher tier. Examiner reports for this suite are unusually detailed and highlight the gap between students who describe observations and those who explain them using scientific models. When a question asks 'Explain why...', your answer must include the underlying mechanism (e.g., particle theory, electron transfer, force balance), not just the observable outcome.

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