Exam guide

The exam at a glance

For 2027, Biology is a newly redeveloped specification examined for the first time, meaning adjustments and extra question choices from previous years do not apply. The written examination is offered at Higher and Ordinary level, while the coursework investigation is based on a single common brief across both levels.

Your time plan

At an even pace you have exactly 0.5 minutes per mark (150 minutes divided by 300 marks), which is a mathematical calculation rather than an official recommendation.

How your work is marked

No marking scheme has been published for the 2027 specification or its sample papers, so the precise breakdown of marks inside each 50-mark question is not known. In the 2026 marking scheme under the previous syllabus, examiners marked by awarding points for key words and phrases used in the correct context, where the marks for a sub-question indicated the number of required points:

The overall marks have changed: the written examination was reduced from 400 marks up to 2026 to 300 marks in 2027, with 200 marks allocated to the new coursework component.

What this means for you: You cannot assume the 2027 marking scheme will use the same internal mark splits as past papers. Because marks historically depended on specific key terms in the right context, you must state precise biological terms rather than vague descriptions, and check whether sample marking schemes are issued by the State Examinations Commission.

Rules that win and lose marks

• Show supporting work: You may lose marks if your solutions do not include relevant supporting work.
• Include units of measurement: You may lose marks if appropriate units are missing from your answers where relevant.
• Keep writing within answer areas: The booklet is scanned; anything written outside the designated answer areas may not be seen by the examiner.
• Use blue or black pen: You must write answers in blue or black pen; pencil is permitted for sketches, graphs, and diagrams only.
• Key terms in context (the 2026 marking scheme): Key words, terms, or phrases were awarded marks only when presented in the correct biological context.
• Exact scientific terminology (the 2026 marking scheme): Synonyms were usually accepted, but marks were not awarded if the scheme specifically required an exact scientific term.
• Surplus incorrect answers (the 2026 marking scheme): In short questions, an extra incorrect answer cancelled out the marks awarded for a correct answer.
• Multiple uncrossed attempts (the 2026 marking scheme): If you provided two uncrossed answers to a question, the examiner awarded the higher mark of the two, but marks could not be combined across different attempts.

The sections of the paper

Question 1: This is a compulsory question carrying 50 marks. It consists of multiple short parts assessing knowledge across different syllabus topics. You must answer this question.

Questions 2 to 7: These are six questions carrying 50 marks each. They assess a range of question types drawn from the three contextual strands, the unifying strand, and the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, health, and technology. You choose and answer any five of these six questions.

Coursework

The coursework component is the Biology in Practice Investigation. It carries 200 marks, which represents 40% of the total subject grade, meaning two fifths of your final result is completed before the written exam. The investigation is based on an annual brief published by the State Examinations Commission in term two of fifth year, which is common to both Higher and Ordinary levels. Over approximately 20 hours and across six stages, you carry out two elements: research from secondary sources on an issue in the brief, and an experiment gathering primary data. You submit an investigation report during sixth year in a format specified by the State Examinations Commission; the submission date and exact report length have not yet been published. The specification states that high-level work must draw valid conclusions justified by the data, link back to the hypothesis, and evaluate sources of error, but the exact mark breakdown for the 200 marks is not known.

Using past papers

The 2026 marking scheme for the previous syllabus showed how marks were awarded for specific scientific terms used in the correct context. However, official marking schemes for the 2027 sample papers and the new course layout have not yet been published.

What examiners said

The 2013 Chief Examiner's report is the only published report available, making it fourteen years old in 2027, and it was written for the previous syllabus and exam structure.

• Diagrams: Practise drawing large, tidy, accurate diagrams and clearly label all parts.
• Definitions: Learn to define biological terms without using words from the term itself.
• Instructions: Read question instructions carefully and answer the exact question being asked.

In the exam hall

• Answer booklet: Write your answers in the spaces provided in the examination booklet.
• Scanning limits: Booklets are scanned for marking; work written outside the official answer areas may not be seen by the examiner.
• Pens and pencils: Write your responses in blue or black pen; pencil is allowed only for sketches, graphs, and diagrams.
• Supporting calculations: Include relevant supporting work in your solutions, as marks may be lost if it is not shown.
• Units: Include appropriate units of measurement wherever relevant to avoid losing marks.
• Answer space: You are not required to fill all the space provided; the blank area provided is not a target length.