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AQA A-Level Biology Paper 1 Insights

Ellena Gilson

21st May 2026

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The AQA A-Level Biology Paper 1 Exam is on Thurs 4th June. Here are my observations about which topics haven't been examined for a while and could come up.

General observations:

2026

  • Chromatography (not yet)
  • Water (2019)
  • Prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells (2022)
  • Root tip squash (2018)
  • Antibody (last big question 2021)
  • HIV (2019)
  • Fish gills (2022)
  • Insect trachea (2023)
  • Xerophyte (2019)
  • Micelles (last 2020)
  • Dipeptidases (2017)
  • Cardiac cycle (2020)
  • Transpiration (2022)
  • Translocation (2018 / 2022)
  • Gene definition (not yet) / non-coding sequences definition (2020)
  • Stabilising selection (2019)
  • Species richness / community (2018)
  • Random sampling (2019)
  • Index of Diversity last in 2022
  • Observable characteristics (3.4.7 investigating diversity) (2017)
  • Ways to collect and process data (3.4.7 investigating diversity) (2017)

It is vital to revise and prepare for ALL topics. This is not a set of predictions for the paper, rather a set of observations of the topics that haven't been deeply assessed for a while.

Good luck everyone!

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Ellena Gilson