How Many GCSE Biology Papers Are There?

If you're staring at your exam timetable, wondering exactly how many Biology exams you're going to sit, you're not alone. It's one of those questions that sounds simple but gets confusing fast—especially when you factor in exam boards, Combined versus Triple Science, and Foundation versus Higher tier. As a qualified Biology teacher with over eight years of classroom experience, I know that even high-achieving students often find this part of the GCSE structure unclear at first.

Here's the frustrating bit: you can't revise effectively if you don't know what you're revising for. Are you sitting two papers or six? What topics come up in each one? Without this basic information, it can be impossible to plan well.

This guide breaks down exactly how many GCSE Biology papers you'll sit, what's on each one, and how to prepare properly. At Save My Exams, we've helped thousands of students navigate their GCSEs with exam board-specific resources, so we know exactly what you need to succeed.

Quick answer: GCSE Biology exam paper overview

Everyone has two Biology exam papers. 

That’s the headline, no matter your exam board or whether you’re taking Triple Science or Combined Science. 

What does vary between exams is how those papers count towards your qualification and the depth and breadth of content covered. These factors are determined by:

• exam board — AQA, Edexcel or OCR

• science route — Triple Science (Separate Biology) or Combined Science

For all exam boards:

GCSE Biology exam structure by exam board

Now, let's break down what those papers actually look like, depending on which exam board you're with.

AQA GCSE Biology

AQA is one of the most popular exam boards in the UK, accounting for a significant proportion of GCSE science entries. 

• AQA GCSE Biology (8461): two papers, each worth 50% of the GCSE

  • Paper 1 Foundation or Higher — 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks: covers topics 1–4

  • Paper 2 Foundation or Higher — 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks: covers topics 5–7

• AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464): two papers, each worth 16.7% of GCSE

  • Paper 1 (Biology) Foundation or Higher — 1h 15m, 70 marks, covers topics 1–4

  • Paper 2 (Biology) Foundation or Higher — 1h 15m, 70 marks, covers topics 5–7

For detailed breakdowns of AQA Biology papers, check the AQA GCSE Biology specification (opens in a new tab) and AQA GCSE Combined Science specification (opens in a new tab).

Edexcel GCSE Biology

Edexcel (also known as Pearson Edexcel) is another popular exam board you might be following. 

• Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0): two papers, each worth 50% of GCSE

  • Paper 1 Foundation or Higher — 1h 45m, 100 marks, covers topics 1–5

  • Paper 2 Foundation or Higher — 1h 45m, 100 marks, covers topics 1 and 6–9

• Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0): two Biology papers, each worth 16.7% of GCSE

  • Biology Paper 1 Foundation or Higher — 1h 10m, 60 marks, covers topics 1–5

  • Biology Paper 2 Foundation or Higher — 1h 10m, 60 marks, covers topics 1 and 6–9

See Pearson Edexcel's GCSE Biology specification (opens in a new tab) and Combined Science specification (opens in a new tab) for full details.

OCR GCSE Biology

OCR offers two different Biology specifications: OCR Gateway Science A and OCR Twenty First Century Science B. Make sure you know which one your school follows.

OCR Gateway Science

• OCR Gateway Biology A (J247): two papers, each worth 50% of GCSE

  • Paper 1 Foundation or Paper 3 Higher — 1h 45m, 90 marks, covers topics B1–B3 and B7

  • Paper 2 Foundation or Paper 4 Higher — 1h 45m, 90 marks, covers topics B4–B6 and B7 (with assumed knowledge of B1–B3)

• OCR Gateway Science Combined Science A (J250): two Biology papers, each worth 16.7% of GCSE

  • Paper 1 (Biology) Foundation or Paper 7 (Biology) Higher — 1h 10m, 60 marks: covers topics B1–B3 and CS7

  • Paper 2 (Biology) Foundation or Paper 8 (Biology) Higher — 1h 10m, 60 marks: covers topics B4–B6 (with assumed knowledge of B1–B3 and CS7)

See the OCR Gateway Biology A specification (opens in a new tab) and the OCR Gateway Science Combined Science A specification (opens in a new tab) for more information.

OCR Twenty-First Century Science

• OCR 21st Century Science Biology B (J257): two papers per tier, each worth 50% of GCSE

  • Paper 1 Foundation or Paper 3 Higher — 1h 45m, 90 marks, covers B1–B8

  • Paper 2 Foundation or Paper 4 Higher — 1h 45m, 90 marks, covers B1–B8

• OCR 21st Century Science Combined Science B (J260): two Biology papers per tier

  • Paper 1 Foundation or Paper 5 Higher — 1h 45m, 95 marks: covers B1–B6, BCP7, BCP8

  • Paper 4 Foundation or Paper 8 Higher —  1h 45m, 75 marks: covers all content across the sciences

Full details are available in the OCR Twenty-First Century Science Biology B Specification (opens in a new tab) and the OCR Combined Science B Specification (opens in a new tab).

What's the difference between Combined and Triple Science?

Combined and Triple science routes differ as follows:

• Triple Science (Separate Sciences): you study Biology, Chemistry and Physics as three separate subjects and receive three separate GCSE grades; this route suits students looking to study science at A Level or considering science-related careers

• Combined Science (Double Award): you study the three sciences together as one course and receive one double grade (worth two GCSEs); this is a good option if you want a strong foundation in science without looking to specialise in science in the future

As a teacher, I’ve seen capable students succeed in both routes—it’s more about your future goals than it is about ability alone. Some schools offer only Combined Science due to timetable constraints, but where a choice is available, most will work with you—considering your progress, interests and future plans—to decide which route is right for you.

Not sure which route you’re on? Ask a science teacher as soon as possible so that you know which set of papers to prepare for.

Frequently asked questions

Are GCSE Biology papers the same for Foundation and Higher tier?

No, they're not. Both Foundation and Higher tier students sit the same number of papers (2), but the questions are different.

• Foundation tier papers will allow students to access grades 1–5 and include more straightforward, structured questions.

• Higher tier papers allow access to grades 4–9 and include more challenging questions that require a deeper understanding and application of knowledge.

Some questions appear in both tiers, but the Higher tier papers include harder content that Foundation students won't see. Your teacher will recommend which tier suits you best, usually based on your mock exam performance.

How long is each GCSE Biology paper?

This depends on whether you're doing Triple or Combined Science:

• For Triple Science (Separate Biology), each paper lasts 1 hour 45 minutes (for AQA, Edexcel, and OCR

• For Combined Science, each Biology paper lasts between 1 hour 10 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes, depending on your exam board

Check your exam board's specification to confirm exact timings.

Do Combined Science students sit fewer exams?

No. Combined Science students sit the same number of science exams as Triple Science students: 6 exams in total (2 Biology, 2 Chemistry, 2 Physics).

The difference is that Combined Science students receive one double award GCSE covering all three sciences, while Triple Science students receive three separate GCSEs. The exams are also shorter and less detailed for Combined Science.

Final thoughts

Knowing exactly how many Biology papers you're sitting—and what's on each one—is the first step to smashing your GCSEs. Whether you're doing Combined or Triple Science, AQA, Edexcel, or OCR, understanding your exam structure means you can plan your revision properly and avoid any nasty surprises on exam day.

Make sure that you know your exam board, your tier (Foundation or Higher), and your science route as early as possible, and if you're unsure, ask your teacher. The sooner you know, the better you can prepare.

At Save My Exams, we've got revision resources tailored to every exam board, every paper and every topic. Our notes, questions and model answers are designed specifically for AQA, Edexcel, and OCR, so you're revising exactly what you need to know—nothing more, nothing less.

Ready to start revising? Head over to Save My Exams and find the resources that match your exam board and specification.