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AQA AS and A-level Biology specification (7401/7402)
AQA Biology is 7401 for the AS and 7402 for the A-level. The A-level is three two-hour papers. Paper 1 covers topics 1 to 4, Paper 2 covers topics 5 to 8, and Paper 3 can ask about any topic and includes a 25-mark essay. The AS examines topics 1 to 4 only. The map below takes every heading of the specification in AQA’s order, with the lessons that teach it and any missing detail named in its row. The twelve required practicals have their own list by number, and all three papers can ask about them. The practical endorsement is assessed by your teacher in the lab, so it is not mapped.
Checked against AQA Biology 7401/7402, version 1.6 (July 2026) on 16 August 2026. The table links each specification heading to the lessons that teach it and names any partial or missing coverage. Treat AQA’s current specification as the final word.
3.1 Biological molecules
| Ref | Specification heading | Taught in | Coverage |
|---|
| 3.1.1 | Monomers and polymers | Carbohydrate structure and function, Protein structure and function, DNA and RNA structure, Lipids: triglycerides, phospholipids and ester bonds | Covered |
| 3.1.2 | Carbohydrates | Carbohydrate structure and function | Covered |
| 3.1.3 | Lipids | Lipids: triglycerides, phospholipids and ester bonds | Covered |
| 3.1.4.1 | General properties of proteins | Protein structure and function | Covered |
| 3.1.4.2 | Many proteins are enzymes | Enzyme action and specificity, Factors affecting enzyme rate: temperature, pH and concentration, Enzyme inhibition and metabolic control | Covered |
| 3.1.5.1 | Structure of DNA and RNA | DNA and RNA structure, Eukaryotic cell structure and organelles | Covered |
| 3.1.5.2 | DNA replication | DNA replication | Covered |
| 3.1.6 | ATP | Glycolysis, ATP and the link reaction | Covered |
| 3.1.7 | Water | Water and inorganic ions | Covered |
| 3.1.8 | Inorganic ions | Water and inorganic ions | Covered |
3.2 Cells
| Ref | Specification heading | Taught in | Coverage |
|---|
| 3.2.1.1 | Structure of eukaryotic cells | Eukaryotic cell structure and organelles, Cell specialisation and biological organisation | Covered |
| 3.2.1.2 | Structure of prokaryotic cells and of viruses | Prokaryotic cells and viruses | Covered |
| 3.2.1.3 | Methods of studying cells | Microscopy, magnification and resolution, Optical microscopy and calibrated measurement | Covered |
| 3.2.2 | All cells arise from other cells | The cell cycle and mitosis, Prokaryotic cells and viruses | Covered |
| 3.2.3 | Transport across cell membranes | Membrane structure and the fluid mosaic model, Diffusion and osmosis, Active transport, co-transport and bulk transport | Covered |
| 3.2.4 | Cell recognition and the immune system | Pathogens and non-specific defences, The specific immune response, Antibodies, vaccination and the four kinds of immunity | Covered |
3.3 Organisms exchange substances with their environment
| Ref | Specification heading | Taught in | Coverage |
|---|
| 3.3.1 | Surface area to volume ratio | Surface area to volume ratio: why size limits diffusion | Covered |
| 3.3.2 | Gas exchange | Gas exchange in mammals: lungs and ventilation, Gas exchange in insects, fish and plants, Transpiration and stomatal control | Covered |
| 3.3.3 | Digestion and absorption | Digestion and absorption in the human gut, Active transport, co-transport and bulk transport | Covered |
| 3.3.4.1 | Mass transport in animals | Haemoglobin and oxygen dissociation curves, The heart and cardiac cycle, Blood vessels, tissue fluid and lymph, Cholesterol, atheroma and what a risk factor means, Diet, energy and how to read a health claim, Dissection and biological drawing | Covered |
| 3.3.4.2 | Mass transport in plants | Xylem and the transpiration stream, Transpiration and stomatal control, Phloem translocation and the mass-flow hypothesis | Covered |
3.4 Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
| Ref | Specification heading | Taught in | Coverage |
|---|
| 3.4.1 | DNA, genes and chromosomes | The genetic code and transcription, DNA and RNA structure, Prokaryotic cells and viruses, Eukaryotic cell structure and organelles | Covered |
| 3.4.2 | DNA and protein synthesis | The genetic code and transcription, Translation and protein synthesis, Genome analysis, genetic screening and gene therapy | Covered |
| 3.4.3 | Genetic diversity can arise as a result of mutation or during meiosis | Meiosis and the sources of genetic variation, Mutation, gene expression and cancer, DNA replication, Natural selection: variation, selection and allele frequency | Covered |
| 3.4.4 | Genetic diversity and adaptation | Natural selection: variation, selection and allele frequency, Evidence for evolution, resistance and genetic drift, Aseptic technique and the effect of antimicrobials | Covered |
| 3.4.5 | Species and taxonomy | Classification, phylogeny and molecular evidence, Speciation and reproductive isolation | Covered |
| 3.4.6 | Biodiversity within a community | Measuring biodiversity | Covered |
| 3.4.7 | Investigating diversity | Measuring biodiversity, Classification, phylogeny and molecular evidence, Averages, spread and the null hypothesis | Covered |
3.5 Energy transfers in and between organisms (A-level only)
3.6 Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (A-level only)
| Ref | Specification heading | Taught in | Coverage |
|---|
| 3.6.1.1 | Survival and response | Plant responses: tropisms, auxins and the classic experiments, Receptors: transduction and the reflex arc, Choosing, carrying out and concluding a statistical test | Covered |
| 3.6.1.2 | Receptors | Receptors: transduction and the reflex arc | Covered |
| 3.6.1.3 | Control of heart rate | The heart and cardiac cycle, Organisation of the nervous system | Covered |
| 3.6.2.1 | Nerve impulses | The action potential and its propagation | Covered |
| 3.6.2.2 | Synaptic transmission | The synapse: transmission, and why it runs one way, Muscles and movement: the sliding-filament model | Covered |
| 3.6.3 | Skeletal muscles are stimulated to contract by nerves and act as effectors | Muscles and movement: the sliding-filament model | Covered |
| 3.6.4.1 | Principles of homeostasis and negative feedback | Hormonal communication and negative feedback, Regulation of blood glucose and diabetes mellitus, Factors affecting enzyme rate: temperature, pH and concentration, Thermoregulation in endotherms and ectotherms | Covered |
| 3.6.4.2 | Control of blood glucose concentration | Regulation of blood glucose and diabetes mellitus, Hormonal communication and negative feedback | Covered |
| 3.6.4.3 | Control of blood water potential | Osmoregulation and kidney function | Covered |
3.7 Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems (A-level only)
| Ref | Specification heading | Taught in | Coverage |
|---|
| 3.7.1 | Inheritance | Monohybrid inheritance and genetic diagrams, Dihybrid inheritance, linkage, epistasis and the chi-squared test, Choosing, carrying out and concluding a statistical test | Covered |
| 3.7.2 | Populations | Population genetics and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, Populations and their limits | Covered |
| 3.7.3 | Evolution may lead to speciation | Natural selection: variation, selection and allele frequency, Evidence for evolution, resistance and genetic drift, Speciation and reproductive isolation, Meiosis and the sources of genetic variation | Covered |
| 3.7.4 | Populations in ecosystems | Populations and their limits, Succession and environmental change, Measuring biodiversity, Conservation in situ and ex situ | Covered |
3.8 The control of gene expression (A-level only)
| Ref | Specification heading | Taught in | Coverage |
|---|
| 3.8.1 | Alteration of the sequence of bases in DNA can alter the structure of proteins | Mutation, gene expression and cancer, The genetic code and transcription | Covered |
| 3.8.2.1 | Most of a cell's DNA is not translated | Stem cells and cell potency, Cell specialisation and biological organisation, Mutation, gene expression and cancer | Covered |
| 3.8.2.2 | Regulation of transcription and translation | Control of gene expression, Mutation, gene expression and cancer | Covered |
| 3.8.2.3 | Gene expression and cancer | Mutation, gene expression and cancer, Control of gene expression | Covered |
| 3.8.3 | Using genome projects | Genome analysis, genetic screening and gene therapy | Covered |
| 3.8.4.1 | Recombinant DNA technology | Recombinant DNA technology, Genome analysis, genetic screening and gene therapy | Covered |
| 3.8.4.2 | Differences in DNA between individuals of the same species can be exploited for identification and diagnosis of heritable conditions | Genome analysis, genetic screening and gene therapy | Covered |
| 3.8.4.3 | Genetic fingerprinting | Genome analysis, genetic screening and gene therapy, Recombinant DNA technology | Covered |
For what each paper is, how long it lasts and where AQA publishes it, see the 7402 past papers.
Found a mismatch between this map and a lesson? Please report it from that lesson’s page.