AQA GCSE Biology — Higher
Targets grades 4–9. Adds harder calculation, evaluation and extended-writing questions on the same eight topic areas.
Course overview
AQA GCSE Biology (8461) at Higher tier targets grades 4–9. Two papers, same structure as Foundation. Expect more 6-mark extended-response questions, complex genetic crosses, quantitative analysis (e.g. percentage change, magnification in standard form) and synoptic links across topics.
Paper-by-paper breakdown
Paper 1
- •Cell biology
- •Organisation
- •Infection and response
- •Bioenergetics
Paper 2
- •Homeostasis and response
- •Inheritance, variation and evolution
- •Ecology
Assessment objectives
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, techniques and procedures
Weighting: 40%
Apply knowledge and understanding to scientific contexts
Weighting: 40%
Analyse information and ideas to interpret, evaluate and develop arguments
Weighting: 20%
Tier differences
Higher includes Foundation content plus higher-only material flagged 'HT only' in the spec.
Grade boundaries
June 2024: grade 7 ≈ 130/200, grade 9 ≈ 175/200.
Revision resources for this course
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