AQA GCSE Biology Exam Questions
Practise exam-style questions on every AQA GCSE Biology topic, check your answers, and use what you get wrong to decide what to revise next. Questions on Recall are original practice written for the AQA specification, not official AQA papers, and Recall is not affiliated with AQA.
AQA GCSE Biology exam questions by topic
The seven topics of the AQA GCSE Biology specification. Where Recall has a full topic page, the button opens its exam-style questions; otherwise it opens Exam Mode so you can generate questions for that topic.
Paper 1: topics 1 to 4
- Topic 1
Cell Biology
Cell structure, microscopy, cell division, stem cells and transport across membranes by diffusion, osmosis and active transport.
- Topic 2
Organisation
Tissues and organs, the digestive system and enzymes, the heart and blood vessels, non-communicable disease and plant tissues.
- Topic 3
Infection and Response
Communicable diseases and pathogens, the body's defences, vaccination, antibiotics and the development of new drugs.
- Topic 4
Bioenergetics
Photosynthesis and its limiting factors, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and metabolism.
Revise: Photosynthesis, Respiration
Paper 2: topics 5 to 7
- Topic 5
Homeostasis and Response
The nervous system and reflexes, the endocrine system, blood glucose control and hormones in reproduction.
- Topic 6
Inheritance, Variation and Evolution
Reproduction, DNA and inheritance, genetic crosses, variation, evolution, selective breeding and classification.
- Topic 7
Ecology
Communities and adaptations, organisation of ecosystems, biodiversity and the effect of human activity.
Practise AQA Biology questions by paper
Paper 1
Written exam, 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE.
- 1. Cell Biology
- 2. Organisation
- 3. Infection and Response
- 4. Bioenergetics
Paper 2
Written exam, 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE.
- 5. Homeostasis and Response
- 6. Inheritance, Variation and Evolution
- 7. Ecology
Both papers mix multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response questions, and either paper can draw on practical skills.
What types of Biology questions should you practise?
Knowledge and retrieval
Short state, name or describe questions that check you know definitions, structures and processes precisely.
Application
Unfamiliar contexts where you use what you know, for example explaining why a new organism is adapted to its habitat.
Calculations
Magnification, percentage change, rate and mean calculations, often with units and significant figures to get right.
Data interpretation
Reading graphs and tables, describing trends with numbers, and linking patterns back to the biology.
Practical methods
Describing a method, naming variables, suggesting improvements and explaining sources of error.
Evaluation
Weighing up evidence or a method and reaching a justified conclusion, such as the benefits and risks of a treatment.
Extended responses
Six-mark style answers that need a logical sequence of linked points rather than a list of facts.
AQA GCSE Biology required practical questions
There is no separate practical exam. Instead, the written papers ask about the required practicals, such as microscopy, osmosis in potato tissue, enzyme activity and the rate of photosynthesis. Expect to describe a method, identify variables, process results and suggest improvements.
Revise the AQA GCSE Biology required practicals with methods, variables and practice questions.
How to use exam questions effectively
- 1
Attempt it without notes
Answer from memory first, as you would in the exam. Struggling to recall is what makes the knowledge stick.
- 2
Check your answer
Compare against a model answer, or paste your attempt into Mark My Answer for an estimated mark and the points you missed.
- 3
Find the exact gap
Name the specific idea you missed, such as "water moves from dilute to concentrated solution", not just "osmosis".
- 4
Revise that concept
Go back to the topic notes and turn the missing idea into flashcards so you can test it again quickly.
- 5
Try another question
Answer a fresh question on the same idea, or start an Exam Mode assessment to check it has stuck.
- 6
Revisit it later
Come back in a few days with a quiz. Spacing your practice out is far more effective than repeating it in one sitting.
AQA GCSE Biology question topics
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find AQA GCSE Biology exam questions?+
AQA publishes past papers and mark schemes on its website. On Recall you can practise original exam-style questions on each Biology topic, generate more from your own notes, and use Exam Mode for a marked set of questions. Recall's questions are AI-generated practice, not official AQA papers.
Can I practise Biology questions by topic?+
Yes. Pick a topic from the list on this page to open its revision notes and exam-style questions, then generate flashcards, a quiz or more exam questions on that topic.
What topics are on AQA Biology Paper 1?+
Paper 1 covers topics 1 to 4: Cell Biology, Organisation, Infection and Response, and Bioenergetics.
What topics are on AQA Biology Paper 2?+
Paper 2 covers topics 5 to 7: Homeostasis and Response, Inheritance, Variation and Evolution, and Ecology.
How should I use exam questions when revising Biology?+
Attempt each question without notes, check it against the answer or get feedback, identify the exact idea you missed, revise it, then try a new question and revisit the topic a few days later.
Are required practicals tested in AQA GCSE Biology?+
Yes. The written papers include questions on the required practical activities and on practical skills such as planning methods, identifying variables, processing results and evaluating.
Keep your Biology practice in one place
Save flashcard sets and track weak topics with a free account.