A level Biology: Exam Structure by Board
Your Teacher Information Pack for A level Biology: how it is assessed for each board, key dates for summer 2027, and links to specifications, past papers and grade boundaries.
Learn how – Exam course packs: watch the 1-minute video · print (PDF) · also Teacher Information Packs
- Qualification
- A level (linear, two years)
- Years
- Year 12 and Year 13
- Ages
- 16–18
- Boards covered
- AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC Eduqas
- Entries 2026 (England)
- 68,860 (no. 3 A level by entries)
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
Entries: Ofqual provisional entries, summer 2026 (rounded to the nearest 5).
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Exam structure by board
Pick your board to see every paper with its length, marks and weighting, plus practicals, booklets and links.
AQA A-level Biology (7402)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017 · 12 required practicals
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Topics 1-4 | 2 h | 91 | 35% |
| Paper 2: Topics 5-8 | 2 h | 91 | 35% |
| Paper 3: Topics 1-8 | 2 h | 78 | 30% |
| Practical endorsement: Practical endorsement Endorsement | not stated | – | Reported separately |
Pearson Edexcel A level Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) (9BN0)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017 · 18 required practicals
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: The Natural Environment and Species Survival | 2 h | 100 | 33.3% |
| Paper 2: Energy, Exercise and Co-ordination | 2 h | 100 | 33.3% |
| Paper 3: General and Practical Applications in Biology | 2 h | 100 | 33.3% |
| Science Practical Endorsement: Science Practical Endorsement Endorsement | not stated | – | Reported separately |
Full Pearson Edexcel pack · specification on the Pearson Edexcel website
Pearson Edexcel A level Biology B (9BI0)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017 · 16 required practicals
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Advanced Biochemistry, Microbiology and Genetics | 1 h 45 min | 90 | 30% |
| Paper 2: Advanced Physiology, Evolution and Ecology | 1 h 45 min | 90 | 30% |
| Paper 3: General and Practical Principles in Biology | 2 h 30 min | 120 | 40% |
| Science Practical Endorsement: Science Practical Endorsement Endorsement | not stated | – | Reported separately |
Full Pearson Edexcel pack · specification on the Pearson Edexcel website
OCR A Level Biology A (H420)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 01: Biological processes | 2 h 15 min | 100 | 37% |
| Component 02: Biological diversity | 2 h 15 min | 100 | 37% |
| Component 03: Unified biology | 1 h 30 min | 70 | 26% |
| Component 04: Practical Endorsement Endorsement | not stated | – | Reported separately |
OCR A Level Biology B (Advancing Biology) (H422)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017 · being replaced
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 01: Fundamentals of biology | 2 h 15 min | 110 | 41% |
| Component 02: Scientific literacy in biology | 2 h 15 min | 100 | 37% |
| Component 03: Practical skills in biology | 1 h 30 min | 60 | 22% |
| Component 04: Practical Endorsement Endorsement | not stated | – | Reported separately |
WJEC Eduqas A level Biology (QAN 601/5706/9)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Energy for Life | 2 h | 100 | 33.3% |
| Component 2: Continuity of Life | 2 h | 100 | 33.3% |
| Component 3: Requirements for Life | 2 h | 100 | 33.3% |
| Practical endorsement: Practical endorsement Endorsement | not stated | – | Reported separately |
Full WJEC Eduqas pack · specification on the WJEC Eduqas website
Key dates
Summer 2027 exam series
- First exam (GCSE and A level): Mon, 10 May 2027
- Contingency day: Wed, 23 June 2027
- Special consideration deadline: Wed, 30 June 2027
A levels are linear: all exams are sat at the end of the two-year course. Source: JCQ key dates June 2027. Check each board's final timetable for paper dates and results day.
Official documents
- Ofqual subject-level conditions and requirements (GOV.UK)
- Grade boundaries: AQA
- Grade boundaries: Pearson Edexcel
- Grade boundaries: OCR
- Grade boundaries: WJEC Eduqas
- Past papers: AQA
- Past papers: Pearson Edexcel
- Past papers: OCR
- Past papers: WJEC Eduqas
More packs
Before this: GCSE Biology exam structure. Other Level 3 packs: A level Mathematics, A level Psychology, A level Chemistry, A level Economics, A level Business, A level History, A level Physics, A level Sociology, A level Art and design, A level English literature, A level Geography, A level Politics, A level Media, film and TV studies, A level Further mathematics, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Core Maths (Level 3). Find another TIP
Exam facts (paper names, times, marks, weightings, codes) are taken from each awarding body's own specification and summarised in our own words; no specification text, papers, mark schemes or booklets are reproduced. Exam details checked against the board's specification on 2026-10-20. Always check the current specification on the board's website.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Ofqual and DfE pages on GOV.UK). Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education, Ofqual, JCQ, AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas.
Questions teachers ask
How many exam papers are there in A level Biology?
AQA 7402: 3 exam papers; Pearson Edexcel 9BN0: 3 exam papers; Pearson Edexcel 9BI0: 3 exam papers; OCR H420: 3 exam papers; OCR H422: 3 exam papers; WJEC Eduqas QAN 601/5706/9: 3 exam papers. Check the specification for options.