How to revise for AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1: a topic-by-topic plan
1 Nov 2026 · 6 min read
AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1 covers the first four topics of the course. It’s 1 hour 45 minutes and 100 marks for separate Biology (1 hour 15 minutes and 70 marks for Combined Science), and it mixes short recall questions with calculations, practical questions and 6-markers.
What’s on Paper 1
- 4.1 Cell biology: cell structure, microscopy, cell division and stem cells, and transport in cells (diffusion, osmosis and active transport).
- 4.2 Organisation: digestion and enzymes, the heart and blood, the lungs, non-communicable diseases and plant tissues.
- 4.3 Infection and response: pathogens, the immune system, vaccines, antibiotics and drug development.
- 4.4 Bioenergetics: photosynthesis and respiration.
The required practicals
- Using a light microscope
- Osmosis in potato
- Food tests
- The effect of pH on amylase
- The effect of light intensity on photosynthesis
- Separate Biology only: the effect of antiseptics or antibiotics on bacterial growth
A four-week plan
- Week 1: Cell biology. Learn the cell diagrams and practise magnification calculations.
- Week 2: Organisation. The heart, blood vessels and enzymes come up every year.
- Week 3: Infection and response, then Bioenergetics: the photosynthesis and respiration equations.
- Week 4: Exam questions on all four topics, then a full past paper under timed conditions.
Revise actively
Reading notes feels productive but doesn’t stick. Test yourself instead: answer questions, check, and come back to the ones you got wrong a few days later. Little and often beats one long session.
Questions people ask
- What topics are on AQA Biology Paper 1?
- Cell biology, organisation, infection and response, and bioenergetics (topics 4.1 to 4.4).
- How long is AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1?
- 1 hour 45 minutes for separate Biology (100 marks), or 1 hour 15 minutes for Combined Science Trilogy Biology Paper 1 (70 marks).
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