AQA, specification 8461
AQA GCSE Biology
AQA GCSE Biology (8461) is the separate science (Triple Biology), sat as two papers of 1 hour 45 minutes and 100 marks each. Here are all 7 topics and 10 required practicals, with free revision notes, exam questions with mark schemes, flashcards and mind maps.
What do you want to do?
Revision notesShort notes for every spec point, with diagrams133 notesExam questionsExam-style questions with mark schemes186 questionsFlashcardsFlip, mark and practise what you don't know476 cardsMind mapsEach topic on one page7 mind mapsTopic testsPrintable tests with the mark scheme7 printable testsPracticalsMethod, variables and safety for each one10 practicals
Topics
Paper 1
1 hour 45 minutes · 100 marks- 1Cell biologyCell structure · Cell division · Transport in cells3 subtopics
- 2OrganisationPrinciples of organisation · Animal tissues, organs and organ systems · Plant tissues, organs and systems3 subtopics
- 3Infection and responseCommunicable diseases · Monoclonal antibodies · Plant disease3 subtopics
- 4BioenergeticsPhotosynthesis · Respiration2 subtopics
Paper 2
1 hour 45 minutes · 100 marks- 5Homeostasis and responseHomeostasis · The human nervous system · Hormonal coordination in humans · Plant hormones4 subtopics
- 6Inheritance, variation and evolutionReproduction · Variation and evolution · The development of understanding of genetics and evolution · Classification of living organisms4 subtopics
- 7EcologyAdaptations, interdependence and competition · Organisation of an ecosystem · Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems · Trophic levels in an ecosystem · Food production5 subtopics
What the labels mean
- Triple only
- Only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it.
- Higher tier
- Only on the Higher tier papers. Foundation students can skip it.
Anything without a label is for everyone taking AQA GCSE Biology.
About AQA GCSE Biology
AQA GCSE Biology (8461) is the separate science, often called Triple Biology. It goes further than Combined Science, with extra content such as culturing microorganisms, monoclonal antibodies and plant disease. You sit two papers at Foundation or Higher tier, and both include multiple choice, structured, short answer and longer 6-mark questions.
Paper 1
- Time
- 1 hour 45 minutes
- Marks
- 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE
- Topics
- Cell biology, Organisation, Infection and response, Bioenergetics
Paper 2
- Time
- 1 hour 45 minutes
- Marks
- 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE
- Topics
- Homeostasis and response, Inheritance, variation and evolution, Ecology