Biology › Exam boards
Exam-board routes
InkBiology has detailed coverage maps for five qualifications: AQA 7401/7402, OCR Biology A H020/H420, Cambridge International 9700, Pearson Edexcel Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) 8BN0/9BN0 and Pearson Edexcel Biology B 8BI0/9BI0. Six other routes are listed for reference but have not yet been mapped. Choose your qualification to see its assessment structure, specification link and current coverage status.
AQA Biology
Coverage: mapped heading by heading. Open the route map to see the relevant lessons and any gaps.
How it is examined: Linear; Paper 1 (topics 1-4, 2h, 91), Paper 2 (topics 5-8, 2h, 91), Paper 3 (all topics, 2h, 78, incl. practical/data and one 25-mark essay). Separate Practical Endorsement.
Taught in England. AQA is withdrawing 7401/7402 from UK overseas centres: the last sittings there are AS in summer 2027 and A level in summer 2028, with final resits in September 2028 and 2029.
OCR Biology A
Coverage: mapped heading by heading. Open the route map to see the relevant lessons and any gaps.
How it is examined: Linear; Biological Processes (M1,2,3,5, 2h15, 100), Biological Diversity (M1,2,4,6, 2h15, 100), Unified Biology (M1-6, 1h30, 70). Separate endorsement.
Cambridge International Biology
Coverage: mapped heading by heading. Open the route map to see the relevant lessons and any gaps.
How it is examined: Staged or linear; P1 MCQ (1h15, 40), P2 AS structured (1h15, 60), P3 Advanced Practical (2h, 40), P4 A-level structured (2h, 100), P5 Planning/Analysis/Evaluation (1h15, 30).
Cambridge says the 2028 update changes nothing significant about what is taught, so both exam windows are recorded together.
Pearson Edexcel Biology A (Salters-Nuffield)
Coverage: mapped heading by heading. Open the route map to see the relevant lessons and any gaps.
How it is examined: Linear; contextual SNAB topics; P1 (T1-6, 2h, 100), P2 (T1-4+7-8, 2h, 100), P3 (all, 2h, 100, with a scientific article pre-released 8 weeks before). Separate endorsement.
The Paper 3 article changes every year, so no revision library can cover it in advance.
Pearson Edexcel Biology B
Coverage: mapped heading by heading. Open the route map to see the relevant lessons and any gaps.
How it is examined: Linear; conventional topic order; P1 (T1-7, 1h45, 90), P2 (T1-4+8-10, 1h45, 90), P3 (all, 2h30, 120). Separate endorsement.
Eduqas Biology
Coverage: not yet mapped. Use the awarding body’s current specification to check which topics are examinable.
How it is examined: Linear; three components, each 2h/100/33.3%; Component 3 is 80 compulsory marks plus 20 on one option. Separate endorsement.
Structured differently from the WJEC route, which is listed separately below.
WJEC Biology
Coverage: not yet mapped. Use the awarding body’s current specification to check which topics are examinable.
How it is examined: Unitised; AS contributes 40%; Unit 4 has 70 compulsory + 20 option marks; Unit 5 is an external practical examination (50 marks, 10%).
The AS content may be amended from September 2028.
CCEA Biology
Coverage: not yet mapped. Use the awarding body’s current specification to check which topics are examinable.
How it is examined: Unitised; AS contributes 40%; AS3 and A2 3 combine external theory with internally assessed practical work.
Pearson Edexcel International A Level Biology
Coverage: not yet mapped. Use the awarding body’s current specification to check which topics are examinable.
How it is examined: Six externally assessed units; written practical-skills papers (WBI13, WBI16); WBI15 carries a 20-mark scientific-article question. January, June and October sittings vary by unit.
A modular route: units are sat in different exam months.
OxfordAQA International A-level Biology
Coverage: not yet mapped. Use the awarding body’s current specification to check which topics are examinable.
How it is examined: Five modular written units BL01-BL05, each 1h30/75/20%; BL05 synoptic and practical-heavy; practicals assessed in writing.
OCR Biology B (Advancing Biology)
Coverage: not yet mapped. Use the awarding body’s current specification to check which topics are examinable.
How it is examined: Linear; Fundamentals (2h15, 110), Scientific Literacy (2h15, 100, with an advance-notice article), Practical Skills (1h30, 60). Separate endorsement.
Final AS exams in summer 2027 and final A-level exams in summer 2028, with no resit after that.
What each paper is, how long it runs, what it is worth and where the board publishes its own question papers and mark schemes: A-level biology past papers.