​COURSE CONTENT 
REFERANCE ​https://www.aqa.org.uk/ 

GCSE Biology
​Subject content

• 1. Cell biology
• 2. Organisation
• 3. Infection and response
• 4. Bioenergetics
• 5. Homeostasis and response
• 6. Inheritance, variation and evolution
• 7. Ecology
• 8. Key ideas

Paper 1What's assessed
Topics 1–4: Cell biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics.

How it's assessed

• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Foundation and Higher Tier
• 100 marks
• 50% of GCSE

Questions

• Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response.

Paper 2What's assessed
Topics 5–7: Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology.

How it's assessed

• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Foundation and Higher Tier
• 100 marks
• 50% of GCSE

Questions

• Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response.

AS and A-level Biology
​Subject contentCore content

• 1 Biological molecules
• 2 Cells
• 3 Organisms exchange substances with their environment
• 4 Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
• 5 Energy transfers in and between organisms (A-level only)
• 6 Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (A-level only)
• 7 Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems (A-level only)
• 8 The control of gene expression (A-level only)

ASAssessmentsPaper 1What's assessed

• Any content from topics 1–4, including relevant practical skills

Assessed

• written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 75 marks
• 50% of AS

Questions

• 65 marks: short answer questions
• 10 marks: comprehension question

Paper 2What's assessed

• Any content from topics 1–4, including relevant practical skills

Assessed

• written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 75 marks
• 50% of AS

Questions

• 65 marks: short answer questions
• 10 marks: extended response questions

A-levelAssessmentsPaper 1What's assessed

• Any content from topics 1–4, including relevant practical skills

Assessed

• written exam: 2 hours
• 91 marks
• 35% of A-level

Questions

• 76 marks: a mixture of short and long answer questions
• 15 marks: extended response questions

Paper 2What's assessed

• Any content from topics 5–8, including relevant practical skills

Assessed

• written exam: 2 hours
• 91 marks
• 35% of A-level

Questions

• 76 marks: a mixture of short and long answer questions
• 15 marks: comprehension question

Paper 3What's assessed

• Any content from topics 1–8, including relevant practical skills

Assessed

• written exam: 2 hours
• 78 marks
• 30% of A-level

Questions

• 38 marks: structured questions, including practical techniques
• 15 marks: critical analysis of given experimental data
• 25 marks: one essay from a choice of two titles