GCSE Biology Topics by Exam Board: Full List
Written by: Naomi Holyoak
Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor
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If you’re currently studying for your GCSEs, then you will know that there is a lot to learn! I have worked as a GCSE biology teacher, and I know how overwhelming it can be for students when it comes to knowing what they need to revise, let alone getting started on the actual business of revising.
In this article, I am going to go through the topics covered by some of the main GCSE biology specifications and provide links to helpful revision materials. Use this article to check that you understand what you need to know and to decide where to focus your revision efforts.
Note that this article covers content required by students studying for extended/higher tier exams in separate sciences. If you are studying foundation tier and/or combined science, then you will need to check your specification carefully.
Specifications covered in this article include:
AQA GCSE Biology Topics
1. Cell biology
Cells are the basic units of living organisms. This topic covers cell structure, including the detailed structure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and a comparison of animal and plant cells. It looks at the structure of several different types of specialised cells and how they are adapted to their function. This topic also contains some practical elements, including microscope work, calculating magnification of cells, and growing bacteria in the lab.
Other aspects of cell biology covered in this topic include mitosis and the cell cycle, stem cells, and transport across cell membranes by diffusion, osmosis and active transport.
Topics include:
Cell structure
Cell division
Transport in cells
2. Organisation
This topic links cells to tissues, tissues to organs, and organs to organ systems, while using the digestive system, circulatory system, and plant structure as real-life examples.
It teaches the structure and function of the human digestive system, along with the role played by enzymes in digestion. Practical work here includes investigations of enzyme activity, as well as testing for the different nutrients in food.
The section on the circulatory system covers the heart and blood vessels, the composition of the blood, and the impact of various factors on the health of the human body.
Several examples of plant organisation are covered, including the tissues that make up leaf structure, and the roles of different cells and tissues in plant transport.
Topics include:
Principles of organisation
Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
Plant tissues, organs and systems
3. Infection and response
This topic covers infectious disease; the pathogens that cause disease, how they are spread and the mechanisms by which the human body deals with infection. It also looks at the technologies that have been developed using our understanding of infectious disease, including vaccination, medicines, such as antibiotics, and the production and uses of monoclonal antibodies.
There is a section on plant disease that covers the visible symptoms of disease, examples of plant pathogens and mechanisms by which plants defend themselves against damage.
Topics include:
Communicable diseases
Monoclonal antibodies
Plant disease
4. Bioenergetics
The majority of living organisms on earth depend on energy from the sun to survive; this energy enters food chains by the process of photosynthesis. The bioenergetics topic covers the photosynthesis reaction, factors that affect the rate at which this reaction can occur, and the ways in which plants can use the molecules that are produced after photosynthesis. It expects students to know how to practically investigate the rate of photosynthesis, and how to interpret graphs on limiting factors.
The glucose produced by photosynthesis can be used in respiration. This topic covers aerobic and anaerobic respiration, as well as linking respiration to the ways in which the body responds to exercise. It also teaches about some of the other important metabolic reactions of the body, such as the conversion of glucose into storage compounds, and the production of urea from protein.
Topics include:
Photosynthesis
Respiration
5. Homeostasis and response
The body needs to maintain a constant internal environment despite a constantly changing external environment; this is achieved by the interactions of the nervous and hormonal systems inside the body.
Here students learn about the function of the nervous system, including reflexes, the brain, the eye, and the role of the nervous system in temperature regulation. The topic also covers hormonal communication inside the body; this includes the role of hormones in glucose regulation, control of water balance and reproduction.
The final section allows students to study the mechanisms by which plants respond to their surroundings, including the role of plant hormones such as auxin.
Topics include:
Homeostasis
The human nervous system
Hormonal coordination in humans
Plant hormones
6. Inheritance, variation and evolution
Genetic information is passed from generation to generation in the form of DNA. This topic considers how this happens, looking at meiosis, and comparing sexual and asexual reproduction.
Students learn about DNA structure, including how genes are arranged on chromosomes, and how genes determine protein structure. The topic also teaches how the inheritance of traits is determined by dominant/recessive alleles, and how the sex chromosomes determine male/female sex.
The genome of organisms interacts with the environment to cause variation in the fitness of individuals. Here students learn how natural selection can act on this variation to bring about evolutionary change, a process that can result in the emergence of new species by speciation. Students consider the evidence for evolutionary change, such as the fossil record, and the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The use of variation in classification is also covered here.
This topic also allows students to learn about some of the applications of our understanding of genetics and evolution, including the use of selective breeding, genetic engineering and cloning.
Topics include:
Reproduction
Variation and evolution
The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
Classification of living organisms
7. Ecology
This topic looks at the interactions between living organisms and their environment. It covers abiotic and biotic factors, and looks at how organisms may be adapted to deal with the factors present in their habitat. It considers how substances are cycled through ecosystems, including the study of feeding relationships, the carbon cycle, the water cycle and the role played by decomposers. The efficiency of energy and biomass transfer through ecosystems is also covered here.
The importance of biodiversity is considered, and the impact of human activities, such as deforestation and waste production, is studied. Students also cover the importance of sustainable food production.
Topics include:
Adaptations, interdependence and competition
Organisation of an ecosystem
Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems
Trophic levels in an ecosystem
Food production
What is covered in AQA GCSE Biology Papers 1 and 2?
Paper 1: 50% of GCSE | Paper 2: 50% of GCSE |
Topics 1-4
| Topics 5-7
|
Revision resources for AQA GCSE Biology
I am one member of a team of expert biology teachers here at Save My Exams, and we spend our time producing exam-specific revision notes, exam questions, videos and flashcards to aid students in their revision. You can access AQA GCSE biology resources, along with past papers and more, by following the links below:
Edexcel GCSE Biology Topics
1. Key concepts in biology
This topic covers cell structure, including the detailed structure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and a comparison of animal and plant cells. It looks at the structure of several different types of specialised cells and how they are adapted to their function. Students will learn about microscopy, including when to use different units of measurement, how to calculate magnification and the use of standard form.
The lock-and-key mechanism of enzyme function is covered, along with details of the different types of enzymes in digestion. Students should understand how to investigate the effect of environmental factors on enzyme activity, and how to test for the presence of different nutrients. They should also be able to explain any results, and calculate the rate of reaction from a graph.
This topic also covers transport of substances across cell membranes by diffusion, osmosis and active transport, and requires students to understand how to investigate osmosis using potato tissue.
Topics include:
Cell structure
Enzymes
Movement of substances into & out of cells
2. Cells and control
This topic covers more detail relating to cells, including cell division by mitosis, how mitosis enables growth, and the role of stem cells, along with the application of stem cells in medicine.
Students will also learn about the role of the nervous system in cell communication, including the function of the brain, reflex arcs and the function of the eye.
Topics include:
Cell division
Growth in organisms
Stem cells
Coordination & response
3. Genetics
Genetic information is passed from generation to generation in the form of DNA. This topic considers how this happens, looking at meiosis, and comparing sexual and asexual reproduction.
Students learn about DNA structure, including how genes are arranged on chromosomes, and how genes determine protein structure. The topic also teaches how the inheritance of traits is determined by dominant/recessive alleles, and how the sex chromosomes determine male/female sex.
Students will learn that variation is determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and that mutation is a significant source of genetic variation.
Topics include:
Reproduction
Inheritance
4. Natural selection and genetic modification
Here, students learn how natural selection acts on variation to bring about evolutionary change in a process first outlined by Charles Darwin. Students will consider the evidence for evolutionary change, such as the human fossil record, the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, and the structure of the pentadactyl limb. The use of genetic analysis in classification is covered here.
This topic also allows students to learn about some of the applications of our understanding of genetics, including the use of selective breeding, genetic engineering and cloning.
Topics included:
Natural selection & evolution
Genetic modification
5. Health, disease and the development of medicines
This topic covers communicable and non-communicable disease. It considers examples of animal and plant pathogens and how they are spread, as well as looking at plant disease symptoms and plant defence mechanisms.
It also looks at human defences against disease, and the technologies that have been developed to prevent or treat infection, including vaccination, medicines, such as antibiotics, and the production and uses of monoclonal antibodies. Practical work included here involves the use of aseptic techniques to grow microorganisms in the lab.
Examples of non-communicable diseases covered include cardiovascular diseases, cancer, lung and liver disease and nutrient deficiencies. Students will learn how to calculate BMI, and how to evaluate treatment options for different conditions.
Topics include:
Disease
Defence against disease
Development of medicines
6. Plant structures and their functions
This topic covers the photosynthesis reaction and looks at factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis. It expects students to know how to practically investigate photosynthesis, and how to interpret graphs on limiting factors.
Students will learn about specialised plant structures such as root hair cells, xylem, phloem, and leaves. The process of transpiration is covered, along with adaptations to reduce water loss in some plant species.
The final section allows students to study the mechanisms by which plants respond to their surroundings, including the role of plant hormones such as auxin.
Topics include:
Photosynthesis
Plant structure
Transport in plants
Plant hormones
7. Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
This topic covers the role of hormones in homeostasis, including the role of thyroxine in control of metabolism, the roles of insulin and glucagon in glucose regulation, and that of ADH in osmoregulation. It also covers the mechanisms involved in thermoregulation, and the role played by adrenaline in the fight or flight response.
Students learn about the hormones involved in the control of reproduction, with details on the menstrual cycle, contraception and Assisted Reproductive Technology.
Topics include:
Animal hormones
Homeostasis
8. Exchange and transport in animals
All living organisms need a constant supply of certain substances, e.g. oxygen and nutrients. This topic covers the role of exchange surfaces in allowing multicellular organisms to gain substances from their environment at a high enough rate, as well as the features of the circulatory system that ensure a good supply of essential substances to the cells. The processes of aerobic and anaerobic respiration are also covered.
Topics include:
Transport in animals
Respiration
Gas exchange
Circulatory system
9. Ecosystems and material cycles
This topic looks at the interactions between living organisms and their environment. It covers the structure of ecosystems, the abiotic and biotic factors that affect living organisms in their habitats, and some examples of interactions between organisms. Students will learn how to practically investigate biodiversity using quadrats and transects.
The topic considers the transfer of substances through ecosystems, including the study of feeding relationships and the efficiency of energy and biomass transfer. Ecosystem cycles that are studied include the carbon cycle, water cycle and nitrogen cycle, and factors that affect decomposition are also covered.
The interaction between humans and the environment is considered, including food production, conservation and the impact of pollution.
Topics include:
The organism in the environment
Feeding relationships
Cycles within ecosystems
Human influences on the environment
Food production
What is covered in Edexcel GCSE Biology Papers 1 and 2?
Paper 1: 50% of GCSE | Paper 2: 50% of GCSE |
Topics 1-5
| Topic 1 and topics 6-9
|
Revision resources for Edexcel GCSE Biology
You can access Edexcel GCSE biology resources containing past papers and more by following the links below:
OCR Gateway GCSE Biology Topics
B1. Cell level systems
This topic covers cell structure, including the detailed structure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and a comparison of animal and plant cells. Students will learn about light and electron microscopy.
Students learn about processes that occur inside living cells, studying DNA structure and how genes code for proteins, as well as the lock-and-key mechanism of enzyme function and how to investigate the effect of environmental factors on enzyme activity. The processes of aerobic and anaerobic respiration are covered, as well as the roles of sugars, amino acids, fatty acids and glycerol inside cells.
The final section includes detail of the photosynthesis reaction and considers factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis. It expects students to know how to practically investigate the rate of photosynthesis, and how to interpret graphs on limiting factors.
Topics include:
Cell structures
What happens in cells
Respiration
Photosynthesis
B2. Scaling up
This topic covers transport of substances across cell membranes by diffusion, osmosis and active transport. It also contains more detail relating to cells, including cell division by mitosis and the role of stem cells.
Students learn about the role of exchange surfaces in allowing multicellular organisms to gain substances from their environment at a high enough rate, as well as the features of the circulatory system in animals, and xylem and phloem in plants.
Topics include:
Supplying the cell
The challenges of size
B3. Organism level systems
Here students learn about the function of the nervous system, including reflexes, the brain and the eye. Hormones are also studied, including thyroxine and adrenaline, as well as those involved in the control of reproduction, with details on the menstrual cycle, contraception and Assisted Reproductive Technology.
The mechanisms by which plants respond to their surroundings are covered, including the role of plant hormones such as auxin.
The final section here covers the importance of homeostasis, including thermoregulation, blood sugar regulation and the role of the kidneys.
Topics include:
Coordination and control: the nervous system
Coordination and control: the endocrine system
Maintaining internal environments
B4. Community level systems
This topic considers the cycling of substances through ecosystems, including via the carbon cycle and water cycle. Students learn about the role of microorganisms in decay, and study the factors that affect decomposition.
The remainder of this section covers the structure of ecosystems, the abiotic and biotic factors that affect living organisms in their habitats, and some examples of interactions between organisms. The study of feeding relationships includes the different trophic levels, pyramids of biomass and the efficiency of energy transfer.
Topics include:
Ecosystems
B5. Genes, inheritance and selection
This topic teaches how the inheritance of traits is determined by dominant/recessive alleles, and describes how the genome interacts with environmental factors to determine phenotype. Students learn about the impact of mutations on proteins, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction. Students also learn how to determine the outcome of different types of genetic cross, including in single gene inheritance and the determination of male/female sex.
Students consider how natural selection can act on variation to bring about evolutionary change in the process initially proposed by Charles Darwin. The evidence for evolutionary change is discussed, and the use of molecular evidence in classification is also covered.
Topics include:
Inheritance
Natural selection and evolution
B6. Global challenges
The interaction between humans and the environment is studied, including the importance of biodiversity, food production and conservation. The potential role of genetic engineering processes in agriculture is considered. Practical work includes the use of sampling techniques to determine the distribution and abundance of organisms in a habitat.
The topic also covers infectious disease; the pathogens that cause disease, how they are spread and the mechanisms by which the human body deals with infection. It looks at the technologies that have been developed using our understanding of infectious disease, including vaccination, medicines, such as antibiotics, and the production and uses of monoclonal antibodies. Practical work included here involves the use of aseptic techniques to grow microorganisms in the lab.
There is a section on plant disease that covers the detection of disease and mechanisms by which plants defend themselves against damage.
Examples of non-communicable diseases covered include cardiovascular diseases, cancer, some lung and liver diseases and diseases influenced by nutrition. Students also consider the influence of lifestyle factors on disease, and evaluate treatment options for different conditions, including stem cell therapy and gene therapy.
Topics include:
Monitoring and maintaining the environment
Feeding the human race
Monitoring and maintaining health
What is covered in OCR Gateway GCSE Biology Papers 1 and 2?
Paper 1: 50% of GCSE | Paper 2: 50% of GCSE |
Topics B1–B3 and B7:
| Topics B4–B6 and B7:
Knowledge of B1–B3 is assumed |
Revision resources for OCR Gateway GCSE Biology
You can access OCR Gateway GCSE biology resources containing past papers and more by following the links below:
WJEC GCSE Biology Topics
1.1 Cells and movement across cell membranes
This topic covers cell structure, including a comparison of animal and plant cells and how specialised cells are adapted to their function. The role of specialised cells in forming tissues, organs and organ systems is covered, and students learn about diffusion, osmosis and active transport between cells. This topic also contains practical work with light microscopes.
The lock-and-key mechanism of enzyme function is studied, along with the link between amino acid sequence and protein structure. Students should understand how to investigate the effect of environmental factors on enzyme activity.
1.2 Respiration and the respiratory system in humans
This topic covers the processes of aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and their role in ATP production.
Students learn about the gas exchange system, including its overall structure, its role in ventilation, how its structure aids gas exchange, and how it is affected by smoking.
1.3 Digestion and the digestive system in humans
Here, students consider the role of the digestive system in breaking down large molecules for absorption. The structure of the digestive system is studied, along with digestive enzymes, the roles of the major organs and the fate of the digested products. The importance of a balanced diet is considered.
Practical work here involves testing food substances for the presence of specific nutrients, and to determine energy content.
1.4 Circulatory system in humans
This topic covers the composition of the blood and the structure and function of the heart and blood vessels. Students also learn about cardiovascular disease and evaluate treatment options.
1.5 Plants and photosynthesis
Here, students cover the photosynthesis reaction and its products, and look at factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis. The topic expects students to know how to practically investigate photosynthesis, and how to interpret graphs on limiting factors.
Students learn about specialised plant structures such as root hair cells, xylem, phloem, and leaves. The process of transpiration is covered, along with the impact of mineral deficiencies on plant growth.
1.6 Ecosystems, nutrient cycles and human impact on the environment
This topic considers the transfer of energy through ecosystems, including pyramids of numbers and biomass, and the efficiency of energy transfer. Ecosystem cycles that are studied include the carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle, and the role of microorganisms in decomposition is also covered.
The interaction between humans and the environment is considered, including the impact of intensive farming and pollution.
2.1 Classification and biodiversity
This topic considers the variation between living organisms and how it can be used in classification. It looks at how organisms may be adapted to deal with the factors present in their habitat, and discusses the impact of competition on organisms.
Students learn about the importance of conserving biodiversity and how to monitor organisms using quadrat sampling and the capture/recapture technique. The use of biological control agents is evaluated, and the impact of alien species is also covered.
2.2 Cell division and stem cells
Here, students learn about cell division by mitosis and meiosis and consider how uncontrolled mitosis can lead to cancer. Students learn about the sources of different types of stem cells and their potential roles in tissue repair.
2.3 DNA and inheritance
Students learn about DNA structure, including how genes are arranged on chromosomes, and how genes determine protein structure. The topic also teaches how the inheritance of traits is determined by dominant/recessive alleles, and how the sex chromosomes determine male/female sex. This topic also allows students to learn about some of the applications of our understanding of DNA, including DNA profiling and genetic engineering.
2.4 Variation and evolution
Here, students learn about variation between living organisms, and consider the role of sexual reproduction in generating this variation. The role of mutations in generating new DNA sequences is also covered, as well as the potential impacts of mutations on phenotype.
Natural selection acts on variation to bring about evolutionary change in a process first outlined by Charles Darwin. Students consider the evidence for evolutionary change, such as the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, and pesticide resistance in other organisms. The potential medical applications of information about the human genome are considered.
2.5 Response and regulation
Here students learn about the nervous system, including the role of the sense organs, the structure of the central nervous system, reflex arcs, synapses and the eye. The topic also covers the role of hormonal communication in the control of blood glucose, and looks at the mechanisms involved in regulating body temperature. Students should understand how these are examples of negative feedback systems.
The final section here allows students to study the mechanisms by which plants respond to their surroundings, including the role of auxin.
2.6 Kidneys and homeostasis
This topic covers the structure and function of the kidneys, including their role in filtering the blood and regulating blood water content. Students also learn about and evaluate the treatment options for kidney failure.
2.7 Micro-organisms and their applications
Practical work in this topic involves the use of aseptic techniques to culture microorganisms in the lab. Students look at the effect of temperature on the growth of bacteria, and learn about the use of industrial fermenters for producing penicillin.
2.8 Disease, defence and treatment
This topic covers infectious disease; the pathogens that cause disease, examples of diseases and how they are spread, and the mechanisms by which the human body deals with infection. It looks at the technologies that have been developed using our understanding of infectious disease, including vaccination, medicines, such as antibiotics, and the production and uses of monoclonal antibodies.
What is covered in WJEC GCSE Biology Papers 1 and 2?
Unit 1: 45% of GCSE | Unit 2: 45% of GCSE |
Cells, organ systems and ecosystems
| Variation, homeostasis and micro-organisms
|
Revision resources for WJEC GCSE Biology
You can access WJEC GCSE biology resources containing past papers and more by following the links below:
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