How Long Are Biology A Level Exams?

Reviewed by: Liam Taft

Published

30 August 2025

Contents

If you’re gearing up for A Level Biology, one of the smartest moves you can make is finding out how long your exams actually are. Why? Because the timings shape everything – from how you revise and practise questions to how calm you feel on the day.

Biology A Level exams vary depending on your exam board. So, in this guide we’ll break down the timing by exam boards; AQA, OCR A, OCR B and Edexcel (A & B).

You’ll find clear tables, paper-by-paper timings, and tips to help you plan your revision sessions.

Overview – How Long Are Biology A Level Exams?

Most Biology A Levels have three exam papers at the end of Year 13. Across exam boards, the total exam time usually adds up to around 6 hours.

This table shows you how long each biology A Level is by exam board:

Exam Board	Number of Papers	Total Exam Time
AQA (opens in a new tab)	3	6 hours
OCR A (opens in a new tab)	3	6 hours
OCR B (opens in a new tab)	3	6 hours
Edexcel A	3	6 hours
Edexcel B	3	6 hours

The following tables will break down each paper by the exam board:

AQA Biology A Level Exam Length and Structure

Paper	Duration	Marks	Content	Question Types
Paper 1	2 hours	91	Biological molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids), enzymes, cell structure and membranes, transport across membranes, cell recognition and the immune system, cell cycle, mitosis & meiosis, genetic information, variation & relationships between organisms, exchange systems (gas exchange, digestion & absorption, mass transport in animals and plants)	Multiple choice, short answer, extended response
Paper 2	2 hours	91	Energy transfers in and between organisms (photosynthesis, respiration, ecosystems & nutrient cycles), control of internal environment (homeostasis, nervous coordination, muscles, hormones), inheritance, populations in ecosystems, evolution, speciation, gene expression and regulation, recombinant DNA technology	Short answer, comprehension, extended response
Paper 3	2 hours	78	Synoptic assessment across all topics, required practicals, analysis and evaluation of experimental data, interpretation of unfamiliar contexts, critical analysis of scientific information, extended synoptic essay (25 marks)	Structured questions, critical analysis, 25-mark essay

Source: AQA | Biology | A-level | A-level Biology (opens in a new tab)

OCR Biology A (H420) Exam Length and Structure

Paper	Duration	Marks	Content	Question Types
Paper 1 – Biological Processes	2 hours 15 mins	100	Cell structure and microscopy, biological molecules, enzymes, nucleic acids & cell division, cellular membranes & transport, exchange and transport in animals and plants, DNA and protein synthesis, cellular control, respiration, communication and homeostasis, excretion, plant and animal responses, genetics of populations and variation	Short and extended response
Paper 2 – Biological Diversity	2 hours 15 mins	100	Biodiversity, classification and conservation, evolution, communicable diseases, immune response and treatments, ecosystems, energy transfer, nutrient cycles, photosynthesis, population and sustainability, gene technologies and biotechnology	Short and extended response
Paper 3 – Unified Biology	1 hour 30 mins	70	Synoptic assessment drawing on all modules: practical skills, data analysis, experimental design, application of concepts across different areas of biology	Structured and extended response

Source: AS and A Level - Biology A - H020, H420 (opens in a new tab)

OCR Biology B (Advancing Biology) Exam Length and Structure

Paper	Duration	Marks	Content
Paper 1 – Fundamentals of Biology	1 hour 30 mins	70	Cell structure and organisation, biological molecules, enzymes, membranes and transport, cell division, genetic information & variation, biodiversity and classification, adaptation and evolution
Paper 2 – Scientific Literacy in Biology	2 hours	100	Critical analysis of unfamiliar scientific articles, interpreting and evaluating experimental data, assessing validity/reliability, designing investigations, applying knowledge from across the course
Paper 3 – Practical Skills in Biology	1 hour 30 mins	70	Practical techniques and data analysis, statistical tests, experimental design, evaluation of methodology, synoptic questions drawing on knowledge from all topics

Source: OCR A Level Biology B (Advancing Biology) H422 Specification (opens in a new tab)

Edexcel Biology A Exam Length and Structure

Paper	Duration	Marks	Content
Paper 1 – Lifestyle, Transport, Genes and Health	1 hour 45 mins	90	Cardiovascular disease, lifestyle factors, gas exchange, cell membranes, proteins & enzymes, genetic inheritance, cystic fibrosis
Paper 2 – Development, Plants and Environment	1 hour 45 mins	90	Plant cells & tissues, plant transport, biodiversity, classification, natural selection & evolution, ecology, photosynthesis, climate change impacts
Paper 3 – General and Practical Principles in Biology	2 hours 30 mins	120	Synoptic assessment across all topics, data analysis, experimental design, practical skills, essay-style extended responses

Source: A Level - Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) (opens in a new tab)

Edexcel Biology B Exam Length and Structure

Paper	Duration	Marks	Content
Paper 1 – Advanced Biochemistry, Microbiology and Genetics	1 hour 45 mins	90	Structure and function of biological molecules, enzymes and metabolic pathways, DNA replication and repair, gene expression and regulation, protein synthesis, mutations, microbial cell structure, viruses, genetic engineering and biotechnology
Paper 2 – Energy, Environment, Microbiology and Population	1 hour 45 mins	90	Photosynthesis and respiration, nutrient cycles, ecosystems and energy transfer, microbial ecology and applications (e.g. fermentation, biotechnology), population genetics, evolution, conservation biology, human impacts on the environment
Paper 3 – General and Practical Principles in Biology	2 hours 30 mins	120	Synoptic assessment across all topics, interpretation of experimental data, designing and evaluating investigations, statistical analysis, extended responses requiring links between areas of biology

Source: A Level - Biology B (opens in a new tab)

What About Practical Assessments?

Alongside your written exams, all A Level Biology students need to complete something called the Practical Endorsement.

Don’t worry – this isn’t another big exam you have to sit. In fact, it has no official time limit and doesn’t happen in an exam hall. Instead, your teachers assess you during lessons across at least 12 required practical activities.

The practical tasks might include things like investigating enzymes, looking at cells under a microscope, or testing the rate of photosynthesis.

The Practical Endorsement shows exam boards that you can actually do science, not just write about it. On your certificate, it appears as either “pass” or “not reported”. It doesn’t change your overall grade (so you could get an A in Biology without it),

But if you want to study a science-related subject at uni, then most will expect you to pass it. So while it might not feel as high-stakes as your written exams, the Practical Endorsement is still important. Plus, it’s a great way to strengthen your scientific skills.

How to Use This Information to Plan Revision

Knowing the length and structure of your Biology exams isn’t just for curiosity – it should shape your revision sessions. Here’s how to make the most of this information:

Match your revision to the papers. If Paper 1 is mostly Year 12 content, make sure you go back and refresh those earlier topics, not just the new Year 13 ones. Lots of students slip up by only focusing on recent lessons.
Practise under timed conditions. If your paper is two hours long, set a timer and do a past paper in one go. This builds stamina and helps you get used to pacing yourself.
Focus on the big marks. Extended response questions and synoptic essays are worth a lot. Practising these will help you develop strong, clear answers that can push your grade up.
Plan smarter, not harder. Use the exam structure to guide your revision timetable. For example, if one paper is heavier on data analysis, add extra practice sessions where you work through graphs and tables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Biology A Level exams the same length for all exam boards?

Not exactly. While most add up to about 6 hours in total, the way this time is divided is different. For example, OCR A has two long papers and one shorter one, while Edexcel has a very long synoptic paper at the end that brings everything together.

How many papers do I sit for Biology A Level?

You’ll sit three written exam papers no matter which exam board you’re on. Each has its own focus – usually Year 12 content, Year 13 content, and then a synoptic paper that mixes everything.

Final Thoughts

Knowing the length of your Biology A Level exams is a key part of revision planning. Once you understand the paper structure, you can plan your revision. This way, you can practise in realistic conditions and build confidence for the actual exam.

The key here is to check which exam board your school uses, and then create a revision timetable that works with the exam lengths and content. For example, If you’re sitting a two-hour exam, practise answering questions in two-hour blocks. If your exam has a big essay, write plenty of practice essays.

At Save My Exams, we have heaps of revision tools for A Level Biology, from past papers and mock exams to revision notes. You’ll find everything you need to help master your A Level Biology revision.

Here are some helpful links:

So, the better you can prepare with the timings in mind, the more relaxed you will feel on exam day. You can walk in knowing exactly what to expect, and you’ll be one step closer to nailing your Biology A Level.

Good luck!

Sources

AQA | Biology | A Level | A Level Biology (opens in a new tab)

OCR PDF (opens in a new tab)

OCR B PDF (opens in a new tab)

A Level - Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) (opens in a new tab)

A Level - Biology B (opens in a new tab)

AS and A Level - Biology B (Advancing Biology) - H022, H422 (opens in a new tab)

Edexcel AS and A level Biology B 2015 | Pearson qualifications (opens in a new tab)

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