OCR AS Level Past Papers

The June 2025 H020 set comprises Breadth in biology and Depth in biology: 140 marks in 180 minutes. Overall demand is moderate, with accessible recall and completion marks balanced by practical evaluation, precise explanations and two extended responses. Classification, cell division and exchange surfaces lead the biological primary-topic allocation. All 77 independently marked parts are mapped without double counting. Insights are inferred from the mark schemes; no examiner-performance report is attached.

The 2024 OCR AS Level Biology A exam series consists of H020/01 (Breadth in Biology) and H020/02 (Depth in Biology). This series presents a balanced test of theoretical recall and practical experimental application, with an increased focus on quantitative mathematical skills and the evaluation of scientific methodology.

The June 2023 OCR AS Level Biology A (H020) series comprises H020/01 (Breadth) and H020/02 (Depth), presenting a balanced mix of fundamental recall, demanding practical-experimental design questions, and mathematical calculations including uncertainty and Spearman's rank.

The June 2022 OCR AS Level Biology A papers (H020/01 and H020/02) present a challenging assessment of fundamental biology, prioritizing biochemistry, cellular transport, and practical design. Key differentiators included mathematical calculations of surface area, rate of osmosis, and genetic polymorphism indices, alongside rigorous extended-response questions on membrane permeability.

The H022 June 2024 Advancing Biology papers represent a balanced assessment covering foundational biological concepts. Paper 1 offers a rapid-fire tour of the specification with 20 multiple-choice questions followed by structured practical and theoretical applications. Paper 2, Biology in Depth, tests students' investigative skills, detailed biochemical cycles, and analytical comprehension through two 6-mark extended-response questions and multiple data interpretation exercises.

Comprehensive analysis of OCR AS Level Biology B (H022) June 2022 Paper 1 and Paper 2, covering core conceptual domains, practical competencies, mathematical calculations, and common student errors from the examiner report.

OCR AS Chemistry A (H032) June 2025: two 70-mark, 90-minute papers (140 marks). Paper 1 mixes 20 multiple-choice marks with structured questions on atomic structure, halogens, equilibrium, alkenes and alcohols; Paper 2 is a depth paper with two level-of-response questions, practical titration work, alkanes, shapes of molecules, organic synthesis and mass spectrometry/IR. Amount of substance and enthalpy calculations carry the most marks.

A highly balanced assessment of AS Level Chemistry, rewarding thorough procedural accuracy in moles calculations and precision in mechanism drawing while challenging students with multi-step organic structure identification.

A highly rigorous AS chemistry suite that tests core physical principles alongside demanding organic pathways. The papers feature an exceptionally strong emphasis on quantitative skills, including multi-step stoichiometry, percentage yield under non-standard conditions, and comprehensive enthalpy calculations.

The 2022 OCR AS Chemistry A papers (H032/01 and H032/02) present a balanced yet rigorous assessment. Breadth in Chemistry features rapid-fire concept testing alongside demanding calculations (ideal gas and titration stoichiometry), while Depth in Chemistry pushes students with detailed reaction mechanisms and multi-spectral analysis. Precision in curly arrow placement and intermediate mathematical rounding were the primary differentiators of top performance.

June 2025 AS Chemistry B (Salters) H033: two 70-mark, 90-minute papers (Foundations of chemistry; Chemistry in depth). Heavy on quantitative work (amount of substance, energetics, equilibrium constants) and practical skills (about 17 marks), with a balanced mix of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. Two 6-mark level-of-response questions carry the highest-tariff reasoning.

The June 2024 OCR AS Chemistry B (Salters) suite represents a balanced but demanding assessment, testing core foundations in Paper 1 and challenging conceptual/analytical depth in Paper 2. Key differentiators included multi-step stoichiometry, spectroscopy interpretation, and rigorous physical chemistry applications.

The June 2023 Salters Chemistry B papers (H033/01 and H033/02) present a balanced yet rigorous assessment. The examination is characterized by heavy practical and stoichiometric requirements, containing multi-step calculations like the Group 2 titration LOR, the cyanogen combustion analysis, and several organic synthesis/spectroscopy questions. A solid grasp of experimental design and clear structural explanations for intermolecular forces are key differentiators for high-achieving candidates.

The June 2022 Salters Chemistry B papers (H033/01 & H033/02) present a balanced assessment of foundations and in-depth chemistry. Students require strong skills in quantitative conversions, organic reaction mechanisms, and practical chemistry techniques.

OCR H046 AS Level Computer Science, June 2025 (Papers 01 and 02, 140 marks in total). Paper 01 mixes principles (processor, operating systems, data representation, Boolean logic, networks, ethics) with some coding; Paper 02 is dominated by programming, data structures, algorithms and software development. Programming techniques is the biggest single block of marks, followed by algorithms and data structures.

The June 2024 OCR AS Level Computer Science series presents a balanced but rigorous test. Paper 1 targets core machine architectures, translators, and low-level execution (LMC), while Paper 2 shifts heavily into procedural programming, queue trace corrections, and algorithmic search and sorting mechanics.

A highly balanced and comprehensive AS Level series containing 140 marks across two papers. It heavily rewards logical program design and precise technical definitions of processor architectures, hardware suitability, and networking models.

A balanced and comprehensive assessment of AS Level Computer Science across Computing Principles (01) and Algorithms & Problem Solving (02). Key areas of strength required include robust pseudocode construction, a solid grasp of data representation, and a critical appreciation of software models (open source vs closed source) and societal impact (facial recognition).

June 2025 OCR AS Economics H060 comprises two 60-mark, 90-minute papers. Secure definitions, numerical interpretation and standard diagrams provide accessible marks, but half the attempted marks require extended evaluation. Inflation leads the compulsory macroeconomic coverage; microeconomics stresses elasticity, market adjustment and welfare. Chapter totals use equal weighting of the two essay alternatives in each paper, giving 120 marks overall. Difficulty and accessibility are estimates, and the supplied mark schemes contain no candidate-performance report.

The June 2024 AS Level Economics (H060) papers offer a balanced and comprehensive assessment of foundational microeconomic and macroeconomic theories. Microeconomics emphasized resource allocation, market interactions, and agricultural subsidies through a relevant case study on vegan food trends. Macroeconomics explored trade balances, exchange rates, the circular flow, and policy conflicts, highlighting the real-world economic context of post-pandemic recovery and trade agreements.

A robust and highly balanced AS-level examination set that tests both foundational microeconomic principles (market forces, elasticity, and externalities) and core macroeconomic targets, indicators, and policies. The paper rewards precise quantitative applications and coherent chains of logical analysis, particularly in the evaluative essays.

Comprehensive analysis of OCR AS Level Economics June 2022 H060/01 and H060/02 exams, assessing core micro and macro concepts, quantitative skills, and high-tariff evaluation skills.

OCR AS Level English Language and Literature (EMC) H074, June 2025: two 90-minute papers of 50 marks each. Paper 1 pairs a 30-mark comparison of a spoken podcast extract and a scripted talk with a 20-mark piece of original non-fiction writing. Paper 2 asks for a 25-mark narrative analysis of a prose extract and a 25-mark comparison of two poems from a chosen set text.

A comprehensive assessment of AS Level English Language across H070/01 (Exploring language) and H070/02 (Exploring contexts). The papers test students' abilities in systematic linguistic analysis, comparative methodologies, topical essay writing, and contextual application of power and gender frameworks.

An in-depth analysis of the 2023 OCR AS Level English Language (H070) examinations, covering Papers 01 (Exploring language) and 02 (Exploring contexts). This suite evaluates linguistic precision, comparative synthesis, topical journalism, and critical analysis of power and gender dynamics in contemporary media.

The 2022 OCR AS Level English Language series (H070/01 and H070/02) evaluated students' technical linguistic analysis, comparative skills across news modes, and ability to adapt registers for topical writing and contextual frameworks of power and gender.

OCR AS Level English Literature H072 (June 2025): two 60-mark components (Shakespeare and pre-1900 poetry; post-1900 drama and prose), each requiring two 30-mark essays. All questions are single holistic level-of-response essays, so difficulty lies in sustained argument, close analysis and (for prose and poetry) connection-making rather than in recall.

The H072 June 2024 English Literature series provided highly accessible and well-balanced essay questions on Shakespeare and pre-1900 poetry, combined with demanding comparative prose and post-1900 drama prompts. Key challenges centered on integrating unseen connections and avoiding isolated, pre-prepared contextual knowledge.

An in-depth analysis of the OCR AS Level English Literature (H072) June 2023 examinations (Papers 1 and 2). This series features challenging thematic essay prompts in Shakespeare and Drama, detailed contextual extract analysis in pre-1900 Poetry, and demanding comparative essays in Prose pairing set texts with unseen extracts.

The 2022 OCR AS Level English Literature examination papers (H072/01 and H072/02) test students across Shakespeare, pre-1900 poetry, post-1900 drama, and post-1900 prose with a mandatory unseen comparison. The papers balance close stylistic analysis (AO2) with contextual framing (AO3) and critical interpretations (AO5).

OCR AS Geography H081, June 2025: two papers (Landscape and Place, 82 marks, 1h45; Geographical Debates, 68 marks, 1h30) totalling 150 marks. Marks are dominated by 12-20 mark levels-of-response essays and 6-8 mark 'suggest/examine' items, with heavy use of resource material (figures, OS map, data table) and a fieldwork evaluation.

An in-depth analysis of the OCR AS Level Geography 2024 series (H081/01 and H081/02), evaluating the exam's structural composition, key tested skills, and candidate performance trends.

The June 2023 OCR AS Level Geography (H081) examination offered a balanced yet rigorous assessment across human and physical landscapes, emphasizing synoptic connections and data analysis.

The June 2022 OCR AS Level Geography papers (H081/01 and H081/02) presented a balanced yet highly rigorous set of assessment tasks. Candidates were tested on their conceptual depth in Landscape Systems, their spatial analysis in Places, and their synoptic evaluation across the Geographical Debates. The inclusion of precise OS map analysis and the demand for place-specific evidence across all essays marked this as a highly differentiating assessment series.

OCR AS Level Physics A (H156), June 2025: Paper 1 Breadth (69 marks after one multiple-choice question was withdrawn) and Paper 2 Depth (70 marks). Mainly mid-difficulty, with marks concentrated in forces and moments, potential dividers, collisions, power/energy and waves, plus two six-mark levels-of-response practical questions.

An analysis of the 2024 OCR AS Level Physics A (H156) series, comprising Paper 1 (Breadth in Physics) and Paper 2 (Depth in Physics). The papers cover key core principles including experimental uncertainties, wave mechanics, potential dividers, and kinematics, presenting a balanced mix of multiple-choice and complex structured questions.

A highly practical and mathematically rigorous examination focusing heavily on the photoelectric effect, electrical circuits with internal resistance, and experimental uncertainties. It features prominent 6-mark level-of-response practical design questions on terminal velocity and speed of sound resonance.

The June 2022 OCR AS Physics A examination balanced testing core concepts across the syllabus with practical deep dives into experimental methods. Significant weight was placed on Measurements and uncertainties and Wave motion, with Level of Response questions acting as the key grade differentiators.

OCR AS Level Physics B (H157), June 2025: two 70-mark, 90-minute papers (140 marks in total). Paper 1 mixes 20 multiple-choice questions with short structured and data-handling questions. Paper 2 is practical and quantitative, with 6-mark extended-response questions. Marks concentrate on resistivity and potential dividers, Newton's laws and momentum, kinematics and iterative modelling, accuracy and uncertainty, and digital signalling. Superposition and standing waves, which dominated earlier series, carry almost no marks.

An analysis of the OCR Physics B (Advancing Physics) 2024 H157 papers (Foundations of Physics and Physics in Depth), highlighting core mechanics, wave-particle duality, practical uncertainty propagation, and computational spreadsheet modeling.

Comprehensive exam analysis of OCR AS Level Physics B (Advancing Physics) June 2023 papers, covering structural components, mark distributions across the core six chapters, candidate performance indicators, and structural mock blueprint specs.

An analysis of the OCR AS Level Physics B (H157) June 2022 examination series, comprising H157/01 (Foundations of Physics) and H157/02 (Physics in Depth). The papers offer a rigorous balance of multiple-choice, detailed numerical calculations, concept evaluations, and practical design scenarios.

OCR AS Psychology H167, June 2025: two 75-mark, 90-minute papers (150 marks). Paper 1 tests research methods through 15 MCQs, a design-your-own-study scenario and a data-analysis scenario; Paper 2 tests core studies, areas/perspectives/debates and a novel-source application. Largely accessible short-tariff marks, with three levels-based extended responses carrying 32 marks.

Comprehensive analysis of the June 2024 OCR AS Level Psychology (H167/01 and H167/02) papers, highlighting key marking criteria, common candidate pitfalls, and statistical interpretation strategies.

An expert analysis of the 2023 OCR AS Level Psychology (H167) examinations. This series comprises Paper 1 (Research Methods) and Paper 2 (Psychological Themes through Core Studies), highlighting critical mathematical skills, experimental design application, core study details, and key conceptual debates.

A rigorous and comprehensive assessment covering both research methods and core studies, demanding precise methodological application, statistical calculations, and balanced synoptic arguments.