AQA A-level Biology (7402): papers, topics and grade boundaries
A-level Biology: Year 1
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AQA A-level Biology papers at a glance
| Paper | Topics | Length | Marks | Share of A-level | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 1 to 4 and relevant practical skills | 2 hours | 91 | 35% | 76 marks short and long answer; 15 marks extended response |
| Paper 2 | 5 to 8 and relevant practical skills | 2 hours | 91 | 35% | 76 marks short and long answer; 15 marks comprehension |
| Paper 3 | 1 to 8 and relevant practical skills | 2 hours | 78 | 30% | 38 marks structured, including practical techniques; 15 marks critical analysis of data; 25 marks one essay from a choice of two |
The qualification is linear, so all A-level exams are sat at the end of the course. AQA's June 2023 paper cover lists a scientific calculator. At least 10% of the marks across the assessments require mathematical skills at Level 2 or above.
The eight AQA A-level Biology topics
| Topic | Title | Tested in |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biological molecules | Papers 1 and 3 |
| 2 | Cells | Papers 1 and 3 |
| 3 | Organisms exchange substances with their environment | Papers 1 and 3 |
| 4 | Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms | Papers 1 and 3 |
| 5 | Energy transfers in and between organisms (A-level only) | Papers 2 and 3 |
| 6 | Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (A-level only) | Papers 2 and 3 |
| 7 | Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems (A-level only) | Papers 2 and 3 |
| 8 | The control of gene expression (A-level only) | Papers 2 and 3 |
Paper 3 has no topic list of its own: it can draw on topics 1 to 8 together, which is why synoptic revision matters. Topics 1 to 4 are the AS content too.
Understanding Paper 3 and the essay
Paper 3 is the most distinctive paper. It has 38 marks of structured questions that include practical techniques, 15 marks of critical analysis of given experimental data, and one essay from a choice of two titles, worth 25 marks. The essay rewards a planned answer that draws on several topics and uses correct terminology. A reliable approach is a short plan of 3 or 4 headings, an opening definition, then each paragraph making one point with evidence.
Practical endorsement and required practicals
A-level grades are based only on the written exams. Separately your teacher assesses your practical competence against the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) across a minimum of 12 practical activities, and the result is reported as a pass or not classified. AQA's specification has 12 required practicals, and exam questions on practical skills and data analysis can use any of them. Analyse your own results in the Practical Data Lab.
Worked examples in AQA style
Populations: the Hardy-Weinberg equation
A recessive condition affects 1 in 1600 people. Treat the population as being in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequency of the recessive allele q comes from q² = 1/1600:
About 4.9% of people are carriers. Check the arithmetic in the Hardy-Weinberg Calculator.
Cells: magnification
A mitochondrion is 2.4 μm long and its image is 36 mm long. Convert 36 mm to 36 000 μm first:
Statistics: a chi-squared test
A dihybrid cross produces 160 offspring. Expected 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 gives 90, 30, 30 and 10, and the observed numbers are 85, 33, 29 and 13. Then:
There are 4 − 1 = 3 degrees of freedom. The critical value at the 0.05 probability level for 3 degrees of freedom is 7.815, so 1.51 is far below it. The difference between observed and expected is not significant, and the ratio fits. Practise predicting the odds in our Genetics and DNA course, then press Mark to check your answer in the course:
Type the chance that a child of a random cross has a given trait.
Press Mark to have your answer marked in the Genetics & DNA course.
AQA A-level Biology grade boundaries
These are AQA's subject grade boundaries from its document "Grade boundaries, June 2026 exams: A-level", published on 13 August 2026. Each figure is the lowest total mark, out of 260, that earns that grade.
| June 2026 | A* | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology 7402, out of 260 | 199 | 174 | 146 | 118 | 90 | 63 |
An A* needed 199 of 260, which is 77%, and an A needed 174. An E needed 63, about a quarter of the marks.
How AQA A-level Biology differs from Edexcel
Pearson Edexcel offers two A level Biology specifications, Biology A (Salters-Nuffield, 9BN0) and Biology B (9BI0). Biology A has three 2-hour, 100-mark papers worth a third each, with a pre-released scientific article in Paper 3 and 18 core practicals. Biology B is 1 hour 45 minutes (90 marks), 1 hour 45 minutes (90 marks) and 2 hours 30 minutes (120 marks), worth 30%, 30% and 40%, with 16 core practicals. AQA's essay in Paper 3 is its own feature. See theEdexcel A-level Biology guide.
Use the daily paper as a short timed mock
Uni-Sine publishes a free daily paper on theA-level Biology: Paper 1andA-level Biology: Paper 2tracks. Each is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, not a full AQA paper, and it is not written by AQA. Track 1 covers biological molecules, cell structure, membranes, nucleic acids, enzymes, gas exchange, mitosis, immunity, transport and genetic diversity, which matches AQA's topics 1 to 4. Track 2 covers respiration, photosynthesis, energy in ecosystems, inheritance and Hardy-Weinberg, nervous coordination, muscle contraction, homeostasis, evolution and gene expression, matching topics 5 to 8. Because the papers are short, use the paper-style essay practice separately.
Common mistakes in AQA A-level Biology
- Not planning the essay. A list of facts without a line of argument earns few marks.
- Chi-squared with percentages. Use the actual counts, not percentages.
- Confusing "recessive allele frequency" and "recessive genotype". q is the allele, q² is the genotype.
- Ignoring the context. Quote data from the question when you describe a trend.
Exam answers
The answers and a worked mark scheme come with today's paper once it is marked. We do not publish official or past paper answers. Every question on the daily paper is our own.
Common questions
What is the AQA A-level Biology code?
How many papers is AQA A-level Biology?
What is the AQA A-level Biology essay?
How many required practicals are there in AQA A-level Biology?
What were the AQA A-level Biology grade boundaries in June 2026?
Revision cards
Say the answer first, then flip the card to check it.
Where to go next
- Solve it
Hardy-Weinberg Calculator
Find allele and genotype frequencies in a population
Open the tool - Learn it
Genetics & DNA
From Mendel to CRISPR: how traits are inherited and genomes are edited
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A-level Biology: Year 1
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UK · A-levelAQA A-level Biology grade boundaries 2026: A* to EAQA's official June 2026 A-level Biology (7402) grade boundaries, A* to E out of 260, compared with 2025, with a worked example.