CCEA GCSE Biology (7) Past Papers 2026

Cells, Living Processes and Biodiversity — Foundation and Higher Tier

Duration: 1h 15m

Body Systems, Genetics, Microorganisms and Health — Foundation and Higher Tier

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Practical Skills — Booklet A (30 marks) + Booklet B (70 marks)

Duration: Booklet A: 2h supervised; Booklet B: 1h

Nitrogen cycle — process names, spelling, and sequence

In 2023 examiners noted candidates 'mixed up the names and functions of the processes' and wrote 'composite terms which are a combination of two processes'. Referring to nitrates as 'nitrogen compounds' (copied from the diagram) was common. Candidates were advised to learn how to spell process names.

Unit 1

Food tests — reagents, colour changes, and procedural precision

Across all three years, examiners flagged wrong reagent choices, imprecise colour descriptions, and failure to follow specification wording. In 2025: 'Few candidates obtained all six marks. Precision is key when describing food tests.' In 2024: wrong reagent chosen for the protein test. In 2023: colour change 'sometimes inaccurate or mixed up with other food test results'.

Unit 2, Unit 3

Osmosis — specifying water movement and direction clearly

In 2025 examiners noted 'ambiguous reference to concentrations' and that candidates needed to be clear 'whether they are referring to the concentration of the solution or the concentration of water molecules'. In 2024: loss of a mark for 'not mentioning the selectively permeable membrane'. Vague use of 'concentration' without specifying water was penalised across all years.

Unit 2, Unit 3

Menstrual cycle — ovulation, hormone roles, and use of graph evidence

In 2024 'Candidates' knowledge of the menstrual cycle was lacking in many cases with most attaining only two or three marks out of eight available.' In 2025 the question 'highlighted some basic misunderstanding of the events of menstruation and ovulation' and many candidates 'disregarded the instruction to refer to the graph and instead completed this question as though it was a recall question'.

Unit 2

Selective breeding — steps and multi-generation selection

In 2024: 'The steps involved in selective breeding are not well known. Consequently, answers to this question were very disappointing.' Only a very small minority achieved all three marks. Candidates failed to describe breeding over many generations to obtain a pure-breeding population.

Unit 2

Eutrophication — correct sequence including aerobic decomposers

In 2024 examiners noted that descriptions 'often incorrectly included how the algae use up the oxygen with no reference to the respiration of aerobic decomposers'. The correct sequence — excess nitrates → algal bloom → algae die → aerobic decomposers respire → oxygen depleted — was needed for full marks.

Unit 1

Practical skills — use of microscope, aseptic technique, and practical procedures

Across 2023, 2024 and 2025, examiners repeatedly flagged candidates lacking hands-on experience. In 2025: 'the responses of many candidates reflected a lack of real-time, hands-on, practical work'. Microscope use, aseptic technique sequence, and potometer/quadrat/transect procedures were consistently poorly answered.

Unit 3

Blood vessel and heart structure — misidentification of named vessels

In 2023 'renal artery and hepatic vein were often and surprisingly mis-identified'. In 2025: 'Blood vessels of the heart were often confused. While many candidates could identify the valves, few were able to describe their role in preventing the backflow of blood into the atrium.' This pattern recurred in both Foundation and Higher tiers in 2024 and 2025.

Unit 2