THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
The 2027 specification combines the organisation of life, life processes and interactions, with scientific investigation running through all three.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
First examined in 2027: use the specification introduced in September 2025. Older papers do not describe the complete assessment for this cohort.
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is Biology assessed?
- Written examination: 60%, at Higher or Ordinary Level.
- Biology in Practice Investigation: 40%, using a common brief.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
These are broad revision groups shared across Higher and Ordinary Level, not identical lists of learning outcomes. Use the level-specific outcomes in the linked syllabus and questions from your own level. The checklist records each level separately.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Cells & biological molecules
Cell organisation, organelles and biomolecules.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How can the structure of a cell help explain its job?
Draw a simple labelled model and add a function beside each relevant structure.
Inheritance & diversity
Genetic information, inheritance and evolutionary relationships.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What evidence would support a proposed inheritance pattern?
State what the model assumes before using it to predict an outcome.
Energy & enzymes
Respiration, photosynthesis and enzyme activity.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How would you investigate the effect of temperature on an enzyme?
Separate the variable you change from the measurement you record and the conditions you control.
Transport & regulation
Exchange, transport and homeostasis in organisms.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Why does a change in the environment require a coordinated response?
Explain the sequence from change to response, not just the names of organs.
Reproduction & continuity
Cell division, reproduction and transfer of genetic information.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How does a biological process preserve or change genetic information?
Use a before-and-after diagram to keep chromosome and cell changes clear.
Ecology & interactions
Ecosystems, relationships and cycling of matter.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What could explain a change in the distribution of an organism?
Consider sampling and environmental evidence before deciding there is a single cause.
Investigation & biological evidence
Questions, data, conclusions and limitations.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Do the results of an investigation support its original claim?
Distinguish an observation from an explanation; acknowledge results that do not fit.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- Explain one biological process aloud without notes.
- Pair that process with a graph or investigation task.
- Keep your investigation record current; retain raw observations, methods and revisions.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: Biology (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- Biology: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: Nature of Science, Organisation of Life, Structures and Processes of Life, Interactions of Life; assessment, printed page 42.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.