GCSE Biology (9-1) Exam: free practice test
GCSE Biology is the separate-science biology GCSE, usually taken alongside GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics. With AQA (8461) it is assessed by two 1 hour 45 minute papers of 100 marks each: Paper 1 covers cells, organisation, infection and bioenergetics, and Paper 2 covers homeostasis, inheritance and ecology. Exams are sat in the May/June series only.
Premium: 3,000 practice questions, 6 full mock exams, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes, topic by topic. See the study path ·
About the GCSE Biology exam
GCSE Biology is the separate-science biology GCSE, usually taken alongside GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics. With AQA (8461) it is assessed by two 1 hour 45 minute papers of 100 marks each: Paper 1 covers cells, organisation, infection and bioenergetics, and Paper 2 covers homeostasis, inheritance and ecology. Exams are sat in the May/June series only.
What's on the exam
Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →
How to pass the GCSE Biology exam
- 100 marks in 105 minutes is about 1 minute per mark. A 6-mark extended answer deserves about 6 minutes: plan three linked points with a reason for each.
- Required practicals are examined in the written papers. Know the method, the variables and the safety point for all 10 AQA biology practicals, especially osmosis, enzymes, photosynthesis and the food tests.
- Command words matter: 'describe' means say what happens, 'explain' means say why, and 'evaluate' needs a judgement backed by evidence from the question.
- In calculations show every step and give units. Magnification, percentage change in mass, rate (1 ÷ time) and quadrat estimates come up in almost every series.
- Never say enzymes are 'killed' or that bacteria 'become immune'. Use 'denatured' and 'resistant'; vague words lose marks even when the idea is right.
Save your results and get your Readiness Score
Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the GCSE Maths Formula Sheet.
What's in the premium GCSE Biology prep
Premium GCSE Biology prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1Cell Biology9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 450 practice questions in 18 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Organisation9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 3Infection and Response9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 4Bioenergetics9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 5Homeostasis and Response8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 6Inheritance, Variation and Evolution8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 7Ecology8 key notes, 110 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like exam day. Hit your target on them before your first paper.Premium
Read the complete GCSE Biology study notes for “Cell Biology”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 18 minutes of reading: Animal, plant and bacterial cells · Size, units and magnification · Specialised cells and differentiation · Chromosomes, the cell cycle and mitosis · Stem cells · Culturing microorganisms (separate biology) · Diffusion, osmosis and active transport, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
Study tools included
3,000 practice questions
3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organised topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.
6 full mock exams
6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.
Exam Readiness Score
One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready for exam day. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.
800 flashcards + spaced repetition
800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.
60 comprehensive key notes
60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.
Mind maps
See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.
Sample questions with answers
These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.
1. A drawing of a cell is 30 mm long. The real cell is 0.06 mm long. What is the magnification of the drawing?
2. Potato cylinders are placed in a concentrated sugar solution for 30 minutes and lose mass. Which statement explains this?
3. Why does the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction fall sharply above about 45 °C?
4. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood out to the rest of the body?
5. Why are antibiotics not used to treat measles?
6. What does a vaccine contain?
7. Which is the balanced symbol equation for photosynthesis?
8. A lamp is moved from 10 cm to 20 cm away from a pondweed plant. What happens to the light intensity reaching the plant?
9. During vigorous exercise, what is produced by anaerobic respiration in human muscle cells?
10. Which hormone does the pancreas release when the blood glucose concentration is too high?
11. What is the correct order of structures in a reflex arc?
12. Two parents are both carriers (Ff) of cystic fibrosis, which is caused by a recessive allele. What is the probability that their child will have cystic fibrosis?
13. How many chromosomes are in a human sperm cell?
14. A student places 10 quadrats, each 0.25 m², in a field of 200 m² and counts 30 daisies in total. What is the estimated daisy population of the field?
15. Why is only about 10% of the biomass at one trophic level transferred to the next level?
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- One subject of your choice: any GCSE, A-level or Functional Skills exam
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: GCSE Maths formula sheet, command words cheat sheet, 12-week revision planner and more
- Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back
Renews once a year until you cancel. We email you before each renewal. Cancel any time from your account; you keep access until the end of the year you've paid for.
Exam guide
GCSE Biology exam guide (2027): GCSE Biology (9-1) is the separate-science biology GCSE, often called triple science biology. Whichever board your school uses, you sit two written papers of 1 hour 45 minutes at the end of Year 11. This guide uses AQA 8461, the most widely taken specification, and notes where Pearson Edexcel (1BI0) and OCR Gateway (J247) differ.
GCSE Biology exam FAQ
How many questions are on the GCSE Biology exam?
AQA: 2 written papers, 100 marks each (200 marks in total). Edexcel 1BI0 is also 2 × 100 marks; OCR Gateway J247 is 2 × 90 marks, with a time limit of 3 hours 30 minutes in total (2 × 1 hour 45 minutes); the same for aqa, edexcel and ocr. Format: written exam, calculator allowed on both papers. foundation tier (grades 1 to 5) or higher tier (grades 4 to 9), and both papers must be taken at the same tier.
What is the passing score for GCSE Biology?
Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 a strong pass. Boundaries are set after every exam series, so aim for 70% in practice.
How much does the GCSE Biology exam cost?
No fee for school and college students (the school pays). Private candidates pay the exam centre; fees vary by centre. School and college students don't pay exam fees themselves. Private candidates pay the exam centre, and fees vary by centre and board.
Which languages is the GCSE Biology exam offered in?
English.
Where do I take the GCSE Biology exam?
At your school or college, or as a private candidate at an exam centre that accepts them.
Is this GCSE Biology practice test free?
Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full GCSE Biology prep is Premium at £29 a month for this exam.
What's in the premium GCSE Biology prep?
3,000 practice questions organised topic by topic (Cell Biology: 450; Organisation: 425; Infection and Response: 425; Bioenergetics: 425; Homeostasis and Response: 425; Inheritance, Variation and Evolution: 425; Ecology: 425), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 50 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 7 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.
Compare GCSE Biology with the related qualifications
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Exam details are summarised from the exam boards' published specifications available in November 2026. the exam boards changes formats and fees, so confirm with AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR before you book. Kennington College is not affiliated with any exam board or with Ofqual.