OCR GCSE Twenty First Century Science Suite Combined Science B (9-1) (J260/2016) Past Papers 2026

Biology Foundation Paper

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Chemistry Foundation Paper

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Physics Foundation Paper

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Combined Science Foundation Paper (Synoptic)

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Biology Higher Paper

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Chemistry Higher Paper

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Physics Higher Paper

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Combined Science Higher Paper (Synoptic)

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Hormones of reproduction — FSH, LH, oestrogen, progesterone roles, and how contraceptives work

J260/05 2024 series overview explicitly listed this as the main area where candidates who did less well failed: 'did not know the hormones of reproduction — Questions 1(a), 1(b)(i), 1(b)(ii) and 1(b)(iii)'. Many candidates gave vague responses naming individual hormones without linking to their roles in the menstrual cycle or contraception mechanism.

J260/01, J260/05

Photosynthesis vs respiration distinction — misconception that plants use CO₂ for respiration and release O₂ for animals

J260/05 2023 Q3(d): 'Many candidates had the misconception that plants and animals use carbon dioxide for respiration and that plants release oxygen for animal respiration. Very few acknowledged that photosynthesis makes food.' This confusion between the two processes was also flagged in the 2023 Foundation biology ER.

J260/01, J260/05

Rates of reaction — confusing frequency of collisions with frequency of SUCCESSFUL collisions, and not referencing activation energy

J260/06 2024 Q7(b)(ii): many candidates explained that increasing temperature 'increases the kinetic energy or speed of the particles' but stopped short of stating that more collisions exceed the activation energy. Others stated there would be 'more collisions' from higher pressure without specifying increased collision frequency. The distinction between total collisions and successful collisions (those exceeding activation energy) was rarely made.

J260/02, J260/06

Electrolysis — which species is discharged at each electrode, ionic vs half equations, and why aluminium oxide must be molten

J260/06 2024 Q9(a)(i): most candidates knew conductivity requires mobile ions but gave incomplete explanations not comparing solid vs molten state. Q9(a)(ii): candidates identified oxidation/reduction correctly but wrote 'aluminium' instead of 'aluminium ions' — confusing the element with the ion. Half equations remained challenging with only a few good answers seen in both series.

J260/02, J260/06

Osmosis required practical — missing key steps including using a cork borer, drying the surface, equilibrium time, and percent change calculation

J260/08 2023 Q6(a): 'Very few candidates were given full marks for this question. Most candidates scored only 1 or 2 marks of the 4 marks available... few candidates mentioned the need to remove the excess solution before finding the mass.' J260/08 2024 overview also flagged osmosis data-handling as an area of difficulty.

J260/04, J260/08

Tangent to a curve — drawing and using it to calculate gradient at a point on a non-linear graph

J260/07 2024 Q2(b)(ii): 'Many candidates did not seem familiar with the idea of a tangent and many others were not able to correctly read the change in y and change in x values in order to correctly calculate the gradient. Some candidates just counted the number of squares on the grid in each direction.' This skill is required every year.

J260/03, J260/07

Water treatment — role of aeration, bacteria addition, sedimentation, and chlorination in producing potable water

J260/08 2023 Q4(b)(i): 'Very few candidates scored marks in this question. There was little to no acknowledgement that 'aeration' is the addition of oxygen. Even fewer candidates could explain that bacteria are added to break down organic matter. Most incorrect responses focused on the bacteria being added to kill other harmful bacteria.' This is a recurring J260 contextual scenario topic.

J260/04, J260/08

Genetic engineering — explaining the precise steps (cutting, vector insertion, transformation) rather than a vague 'genes are moved'

J260/05 2024 Q7(e)(ii): 'Many candidates had a basic understanding of genetic engineering but did not explain it well. Candidates were aware that genes are removed and inserted into a vector but after that, the responses tended to become unclear.' Selective breeding and natural selection were also frequently confused with each other.

J260/01, J260/05