AQA A-Level Biology Past Papers

The AQA A-Level Biology (7402) and AS-Level Biology (7401)  past exam papers section of Revision Science. You can download the papers and marking schemes by clicking on the links below. Scroll down to find papers from previous years.

June 2023 AQA A-Level Biology (7402) 

June 2023 - A-Level Biology – Paper 1 (7402/1)  Download Paper      -     Download Marking Scheme

June 2023 - A-Level Biology – Paper 2 (7402/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2023 - A-Level Biology – Paper 3 (7402/3)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2023 AQA AS-Level Past Papers (7401)

June 2023 - AS Biology – Paper 1 (7401/1)  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2023 - AS Biology – Paper 2 (7401/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2022 AQA A-Level Biology (7402) 

June 2022 - A-Level Biology – Paper 1 (7402/1)  Download Paper      -     Download Marking Scheme

June 2022 - A-Level Biology – Paper 2 (7402/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2022 - A-Level Biology – Paper 3 (7402/3)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2022 AQA AS-Level Past Papers (7401)

June 2022 - AS Biology – Paper 1 (7401/1)  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2022 - AS Biology – Paper 2 (7401/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

November 2021 AQA A-Level Biology (7402) and AS-Level Past Papers (7401) (Labelled as June 2021)

November 2021 - A-Level Biology – Paper 1 (7402/1)  Download Paper      -     Download Marking Scheme

November 2021 - A-Level Biology – Paper 2 (7402/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

November 2021 - A-Level Biology – Paper 3 (7402/3)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

November 2021 - AS Biology – Paper 1 (7401/1)  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

November 2021 - AS Biology – Paper 2 (7401/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

November 2020 AQA A-Level Biology (7402) and AS-Level Past Papers (7401) (Labelled as June 2020)

November 2020 - A-Level Biology – Paper 1 (7402/1)  Download Paper      -     Download Marking Scheme

November 2020 - A-Level Biology – Paper 2 (7402/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

November 2020 - A-Level Biology – Paper 3 (7402/3)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

November 2020 - AS Biology – Paper 1 (7401/1)  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

November 2020 - AS Biology – Paper 2 (7401/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2019 AQA A-Level Biology (7402) and AS-Level Past Papers (7401)

June 2019 - A-Level Biology – Paper 1 (7402/1)  Download Paper      -     Download Marking Scheme

June 2019 - A-Level Biology – Paper 2 (7402/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2019 - A-Level Biology – Paper 3 (7402/3)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2019 - AS Biology – Paper 1 (7401/1)  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2019 - AS Biology – Paper 2 (7401/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2018 AQA A-Level Biology (7402) and AS-Level Past Papers (7401)

June 2018 - A-Level Biology – Paper 1 (7402/1)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2018 - A-Level Biology – Paper 2 (7402/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2018 - A-Level Biology – Paper 3 (7402/3)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2018 - AS Biology – Paper 1 (7401/1) -  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2018 - AS Biology – Paper 2 (7401/2) -  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2017 AQA A-Level Biology Past Papers (7401 and 7402)

June 2017 - AS Biology – Paper 1 (7401/1)  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2017 - AS Biology – Paper 2 (7401/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2017 - A-Level Biology – Paper 1 (7402/1)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2017 - A-Level Biology – Paper 2 (7402/2)  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2017 - A-Level Biology – Paper 3 (7402/3)  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2016 AQA AS-Level Biology Past Papers (7401)

June 2016 - AS Biology – Paper 1 (7401/1)  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2016 - AS Biology – Paper 2 (7401/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

AQA A-Level Biology (7402) Specimen Papers

A-Level Biology – Paper 1 (7402/1)  Download Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

A-Level Biology – Paper 2 (7402/2)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

A-Level Biology – Paper 3 (7402/3)  Download Paper     -    Download Marking Scheme

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A-Level Biology Papers

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How to answer A-level Biology essay questions

How to answer A-level biology essay questions

The Synoptic essay question on paper 3 of the AQA A-level biology course carries 25 marks, so doing well can make a big difference to your overall grade. The essay encourages you to think across different topics (some call this “synoptic” or “holistic” thinking). This is also valuable for other areas of the exams, particularly the application questions .

Here are a few tips for tackling your A-level biology essay: (As an example, let’s use the title “ The importance of movement in cells and tissues ”)

Think broadly…

Essay titles are deliberately vague to give you the chance to show your knowledge in a variety of topics. To help you to choose what’s most relevant, look out for subjective words like “movement” and “cells”. Think of the possible alternatives. “Cells”, for example, hints that you could discuss plants, animals, single-celled organisms etc. in your essay. “Movement” could mean short distances (across a membrane) or much further (circulation or mass flow) or even the whole tissue moving (phototropism).

Visualize and catastrophize!

If you can’t think of enough topics for an “importance” essay, flip the question around – what would happen if movement in cells suddenly ground to a halt? Or if ATP suddenly vanished, or our cells were robbed of their ions? Sometimes catastrophizing in this way frees up thoughts, and helps you see what is really important. Another way is to picture every diagram in your notes or textbook that features the thing-that’s-important-in-the-question. If it’s in a diagram, it could go in your essay.

Pick your strongest topics

It’s possible to drop marks on the essay for scientific errors. With that in mind, even if you have lots of ideas for things to include, always pick the topics you can write confidently about. For bonus marks, try to order them in a way that “flows” like a story. Take care to use A-level (and not GCSE) language too.

Keep an eye on the question

While you’re writing, keep asking yourself “Where am I placing the emphasis?”. If the essay is about movement, perhaps you don’t need a whole page about nervous responses, only the bits where movement is involved – sodium ions flowing through channels, waves of depolarisation etc. Movement is the focus of the essay, after all, not neurons. Always ask yourself “Does this sentence fit with the title of the essay?”

Use outside knowledge

The top marks for the essay are reserved for displaying “evidence of reading beyond specification requirements”. Often you can drop recent scientific research or news into your writing – how vaccines tackle COVID might work in an essay about viruses, for example. I often encourage students to have a quick look at the news pages of New Scientist pages (eg https://www.newscientist.com/subject/health/ ) before paper 3 for inspiration – you don’t need to spend ages doing this, just long enough to have one or two ideas up your sleeve…

Good luck with your essay!

How to answer A-level biology essay questions

If you’d like to work through some A-level biology describe and explain

If you’d like to work through some example essay questions, please get in touch with me at Woolton Tutors (or Woolton Biology) and we can set up some online biology tutoring sessions.

Best wishes,

Dr John Ankers

Specialist online A-level biology tutor

www.wooltontutors.co.uk

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A-Level AQA Biology Questions by Topic

Finish sign up, filter by paper, 1. biological molecules, questions by topic, more resources, 3. exchanging substances, 4. genetics, classification and biodiversity, 5. energy transfers in and between organisms, 6. responding to changes in environments, 7. genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems, 8. the control of gene expression.

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COMMENTS

  1. Question paper (A-level) : Paper 3 - November 2020 - AQA

    Fill in the boxes at the top of this page. Answer all questions in Section A. Answer one question from Section B. You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write outside the box around each page or on blank pages. If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of this book.

  2. Question paper (A-level) : Paper 2 - November 2020 - AQA

    1 Steroid hormones are hydrophobic. Explain why steroid hormones can rapidly enter a cell by passing through its cell-surface membrane. [2 marks] 0 2 . 2. In the cytoplasm, testosterone binds to a specific androgen receptor (AR). An AR is a protein. Suggest and explain why testosterone binds to a specific AR.

  3. AQA A-Level Biology Past Papers - Revision Science

    November 2021 AQA A-Level Biology (7402) and AS-Level Past Papers (7401) (Labelled as June 2021) November 2021 - A-Level Biology – Paper 1 (7402/1) Download Paper - Download Marking Scheme. November 2021 - A-Level Biology – Paper 2 (7402/2) Download Paper - Download Marking Scheme. November 2021 - A-Level Biology – Paper 3 (7402/3)

  4. Mark scheme (A-level) : Paper 3 - November 2020 - AQA

    Correct answer of 8513/8514 for 2 marks;; Allow 1 mark for 61 127(.5401) in answer 04.3 2. Incorrect answer but shows sequence of 8513(6) with decimal point in any position = 1 mark. 1. (Sodium ions) lower the water potential (of. blood); 04.4 2. Water would move into the blood by osmosis (from cells/tissue fluid); 3.

  5. Biology | AS Level | AS Biology - AQA

    AS Biology 7401. AS Biology. AQA Education has obtained an injunction preventing interference with public examinations. This notice is to alert you to the injunction, so that you are aware of it and can make submissions about it if you wish to do so.

  6. A-Level Biology Past Papers - PMT - Physics & Maths Tutor

    Kick-start your revision with our 2-day online Mock Preparation Courses. Biology AQA and OCR (A) - 2-3rd January. Check them out now! Here you will find past exam papers and mark schemes for each of the modules below.

  7. AQA biology essays - past paper questions Flashcards - Quizlet

    Presented: Haemoglobin/ proteins/ carbohydrates. Study with Quizlet and memorise flashcards containing terms like The importance of movement in biological molecules and cells, How DNA is used by living organisms and it's importance, How Variation is achieved and presented in biological systems. and others.

  8. How to answer A-level Biology essay questions - Woolton Tutors

    The Synoptic essay question on paper 3 of the AQA A-level biology course carries 25 marks, so doing well can make a big difference to your overall grade. The essay encourages you to think across different topics (some call this “synoptic” or “holistic” thinking). This is also valuable for other areas of the exams, particularly the ...

  9. A-Level AQA Biology Questions by Topic - Revisely

    Energy Transfers in and Between Organisms. 6. Responding to Changes in Environments. 7. Genetics, Populations, Evolution and Ecosystems. 8. The Control of Gene Expression. A-Level Biology past paper questions by topic for AQA. Also offering past papers and videos for Edexcel and OCR.

  10. AQA A Level Biology - 25 Mark Essays Flashcards - Quizlet

    AQA A Level Biology - 25 Mark Essays. 4.8 (61 reviews) The structure and function of carbohydrates. Click the card to flip it 👆. 1) Monosaccharides: glucose, fructose, galactose. 2) Disaccharides: condensation / hydrolysis / glycosidic bonds. 3) Energy source (e.g. glucose, fructose, galactose released via respiration) 4) Respiration - use ...