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A-Level Revision Aid: This resource is designed to support your revision and may contain errors. If you find a discrepancy with your class teaching, your teacher is correct — please let us know at alevelrevise@scott.scottrix.co.uk.

📐 A-Level Biology

Year 1 / AS Year 2 / A-Level All Boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, CCEA)

Free A-Level Biology revision notes. 9 topics across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, and CCEA specifications.

🔀 Board Differences

Board specifications differ in assessment structure and emphasis. The core content is shared across boards; these are the genuine differences by board:

AQA: Three papers, no multiple choice, and a unique 25-mark synoptic essay in Paper 3. Twelve prescribed required practicals with specific terminology in mark schemes.
Edexcel: Three papers with multiple choice and a pre-released scientific article for Paper 3 (examined in context, apply knowledge to the article). Context-led (Salters-Nuffield style). Sixteen core practicals.
OCR: Three papers; multiple choice on Papers 1 and 2 (15 marks each). No essays, shorter extended-response throughout. Practical work organised as twelve flexible PAGs.
WJEC: Welsh board, largely unitised into five units with an externally marked practical (Unit 5). Optional topics in Unit 4 (e.g. immunology, neurobiology).
CCEA: Northern Ireland's board; unitised structure with content broadly mirroring the other boards.

📊 Course Overview

A-Level Biology covers 8 topic areas with 9 topics total across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, and CCEA specifications.

Biochemistry (1 topic)

Biological (1 topic)

Cell (2 topics)

Ecology (1 topic)

Genetics (1 topic)

Genetics, (1 topic)

Homeostasis (1 topic)

Respiration, (1 topic)