Specification at a glance
This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.
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
Assessments
| Paper 1 |
|---|
What’s assessed Topics 1–4: Cell biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics. |
How it’s assessed
|
Questions
|
| Paper 2 |
|---|
What’s assessed Topics 5–7: Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology. |
How it’s assessed
|
Questions
|
Planning resources
Teacher training: disciplinary language Promoted
Published 1 Sep 2021 | ZIP | 11.4 MB
Teacher training: Maths in science Promoted
Published 24 Jun 2020 | ZIP | 1.4 MB
Teacher training: assessment objective 3 (AO3) – presentations and activities Promoted
Published 27 Mar 2020 | ZIP | 11.7 MB
Teacher training: assessment objective 3 (AO3) – data source Promoted
Published 27 Mar 2020 | ZIP | 10.7 MB
Teacher training: practical questions Promoted
Published 4 Feb 2020 | ZIP | 5.5 MB
Teacher training: assessment objective 2 (AO2) Promoted
Published 21 Nov 2019 | ZIP | 12.4 MB
Teacher training: extended response questions Promoted
Published 2 Oct 2019 | ZIP | 13.4 MB
Getting started: entry restrictions in OxfordAQA territories
Published 23 Aug 2021 | PDF | 528 KB
Tiering guide: quick reference poster
Published 16 Jul 2015 | PDF | 99 KB
Tiering guide: foundation or higher
Published 16 Jul 2015 | PDF | 329 KB
Co-teaching guide: Combined Science: Trilogy and Biology
Published 16 Jul 2015 | PDF | 161 KB
Teaching resources
Community link: Starting to decolonise science curriculums – RSC Education [edu.rsc.org]
Published 30 Nov 2022
Teaching guide: exploring common misunderstandings
Published 23 Aug 2021 | PDF | 6.8 MB
Teaching guide: maths skills – simple probability – notes
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 73 KB
Teaching guide: maths skills – graphs – notes
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 88 KB
Teaching guide: maths skills – algebra – notes
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 100 KB
Teaching guide: maths skills – graphs – slides
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PPTX | 2.4 MB
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 152 KB
Teaching guide: maths skills – algebra – slides
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PPTX | 1.2 MB
Teaching guide: maths skills – estimates and significant figures – notes
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 284 KB
Teaching guide: maths skills – averages – notes
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 226 KB
Teaching guide: maths skills – estimates and significant figures – slides
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PPTX | 1.2 MB
Teaching guide: maths skills – simple probability – slides
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PPTX | 1.3 MB
Teaching guide: maths skills – averages – slides
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PPTX | 1.1 MB
Teaching guide: maths skills – standard form and order of magnitude – notes
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 180 KB
Teaching guide: maths skills – standard form and order of magnitude – slides
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PPTX | 1.4 MB
Teaching guide: biomimicry – six week teaching pack
Published 21 Mar 2016 | ZIP | 9.3 MB
Practical handbook: GCSE Biology
Published 15 Mar 2016 | PDF | 3.1 MB
Scheme of work: topic 4 – bioenergetics
Published 16 Jul 2015 | DOCX | 698 KB
Scheme of work: topic 1 – cell biology
Published 16 Jul 2015 | DOCX | 87 KB
Scheme of work: topic 3 – infection and response
Published 16 Jul 2015 | DOCX | 492 KB
Scheme of work: topic 2 – organisation
Published 16 Jul 2015 | DOCX | 1.6 MB
Scheme of work: topic 5 – homeostasis and response
Published 16 Jul 2015 | DOCX | 715 KB
Scheme of work: topic 6 – inheritance, variation and evolution
Published 16 Jul 2015 | DOCX | 3.2 MB
Scheme of work: topic 7 – ecology
Published 16 Jul 2015 | DOCX | 2.1 MB
AQA GCSE (9-1) Biology [hoddereducation.co.uk]
Authors: Nick Dixon, Ali Hodgson
Publisher: Hodder Education
AQA GCSE Biology (Third edition) [global.oup.com]
Authors: Ann Fullick (Series editor Lawrie Ryan)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
AQA GCSE (9-1) Biology Student Book [collins.co.uk]
Authors: Anne Pilling, John Beeby, series edited by Ed Walsh
Publisher: Collins
Assessment resources
Exampro: Science Onscreen [exampro.co.uk]
Published 12 Dec 2023
Centre declaration form: non-exam assessment, fieldwork and live performance: 2025
Published 10 Nov 2023 | PDF | 90 KB
Centre declaration form: non-exam assessment, fieldwork and live performance 2025
Published 10 Nov 2023 | DOCX | 293 KB
Question paper (Higher): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 2.4 MB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 1.4 MB
Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 1.9 MB
Question paper (Higher): Paper 2 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 3.4 MB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher): Paper 2 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 2 MB
Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher): Paper 2 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 3.6 MB
Question paper (Foundation): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 2.7 MB
Question paper (Foundation): Paper 2 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 4.2 MB
Examiner report (Foundation): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 206 KB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation): Paper 2 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 2 MB
Question paper (Modified A3 24pt) (Foundation): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 1.9 MB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 1.5 MB
Examiner report (Higher): Paper 2 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 190 KB
Question paper (Modified A4 24pt) (Foundation): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 1.8 MB
Examiner report (Foundation): Paper 2 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 194 KB
Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 2 MB
Mark scheme (Foundation): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 515 KB
Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation): Paper 2 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 3.5 MB
Mark scheme (Foundation): Paper 2 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 437 KB
Mark scheme (Higher): Paper 2 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 415 KB
Mark scheme (Higher): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 411 KB
Examiner report (Higher): Paper 1 – June 2022
Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 230 KB
Centre declaration form: non-exam assessment, fieldwork and live performance: 2024
Published 7 Mar 2023 | PDF | 137 KB
Centre declaration form: non-exam assessment, fieldwork and live performance: 2024
Published 7 Mar 2023 | DOCX | 241 KB
Examiner report (Higher): Paper 1 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 137 KB
Question paper (Higher): Paper 1 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 1.4 MB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher): Paper 1 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 4.3 MB
Question paper (Higher): Paper 2 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 4.5 MB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher): Paper 2 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 4 MB
Question paper (Foundation): Paper 1 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 3.8 MB
Examiner report (Higher): Paper 2 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 230 KB
Question paper (Foundation): Paper 2 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 3.6 MB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation): Paper 1 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 4.6 MB
Mark scheme (Foundation): Paper 2 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 472 KB
Mark scheme (Higher): Paper 2 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 455 KB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation): Paper 2 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 3.9 MB
Mark scheme (Foundation): Paper 1 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 484 KB
Mark scheme (Higher): Paper 1 – November 2021
Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 361 KB
Examiner report (Higher): Paper 1 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 127 KB
Examiner report (Foundation): Paper 1 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 128 KB
Examiner report (Foundation): Paper 2 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 160 KB
Question paper (Higher): Paper 2 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 2.5 MB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher): Paper 2 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 3.7 MB
Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher): Paper 2 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 3.9 MB
Question paper (Higher): Paper 1 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 3 MB
Question paper (Foundation): Paper 1 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 3.4 MB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher): Paper 1 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 2.8 MB
Examiner report (Higher): Paper 2 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 169 KB
Question paper (Foundation): Paper 2 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 4.1 MB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation): Paper 1 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 2.9 MB
Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher): Paper 1 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 3.6 MB
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation): Paper 2 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 4.7 MB
Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation): Paper 2 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 7.9 MB
Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation): Paper 1 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 4.7 MB
Mark scheme (Foundation): Paper 1 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 645 KB
Mark scheme (Foundation): Paper 2 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 412 KB
Mark scheme (Higher): Paper 1 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 372 KB
Mark scheme (Higher): Paper 2 – November 2020
Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 340 KB
Using our assessment tools to plan and teach
Published 4 Aug 2020
Insight report: results at a glance – June 2019
Published 17 Sep 2019 | PDF | 395 KB
Insight report: results at a glance – June 2018
Published 1 May 2019 | PDF | 1.1 MB
Question paper (Higher): Paper 1 – June 2018
Published 1 May 2019 | PDF | 1.8 MB
Examiner report (Higher): Paper 1 – June 2018
Published 1 May 2019 | PDF | 254 KB
Mark scheme (Higher): Paper 1 – June 2018
Published 1 May 2019 | PDF | 340 KB
Published 27 Jul 2016
Notes and guidance: how the 9 to 1 grading scale is applied to GCSE separate sciences
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 92 KB
Question paper (Higher): Paper 1 – Sample set 1
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 624 KB
Question paper (Higher): Paper 2 – Sample set 1
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 678 KB
Question paper (Foundation): Paper 1 – Sample set 1
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 666 KB
Question paper (Foundation): Paper 2 – Sample set 1
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 783 KB
Mark scheme (Foundation): Paper 1 – Sample set 1
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 181 KB
Mark scheme (Higher): Paper 1 – Sample set 1
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 232 KB
Mark scheme (Foundation): Paper 2 – Sample set 1
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 219 KB
Mark scheme (Higher): Paper 2 – Sample set 1
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 253 KB
Notes and guidance: making questions clear
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 1.5 MB
Marking grid: KS3 transition tests – year 9 final term
Published 21 Mar 2016 | XLSX | 157 KB
Notes and guidance: our exams explained
Published 21 Mar 2016 | PDF | 1.9 MB
Key dates
May 2024
Exam for GCSE Biology Paper 1 (8461/1F) June 2024 series
Start time: am
Duration: 1h 45m
Exam for GCSE Biology Paper 1 (both tiers) (8461/1F and 1H) June 2024 series
Start time: am
Duration: 1h 45m
Exam for GCSE Biology Paper 1 (8461/1H) June 2024 series
Start time: am
Duration: 1h 45m
June 2024
Exam for GCSE Biology Paper 2 (8461/2F) June 2024 series
Start time: pm
Duration: 1h 45m
Exam for GCSE Biology Paper 2 (both tiers) (8461/2F and 2H) June 2024 series
Start time: pm
Duration: 1h 45m
Exam for GCSE Biology Paper 2 (8461/2H) June 2024 series
Start time: pm
Duration: 1h 45m
