You are viewing a free preview of this lesson.
Subscribe to unlock all 4 lessons in this course and every other course on LearningBro.
Spec mapping: AQA 7402 — Exam Strategy and Required Practicals (transferable). This lesson provides a complete map of all eight content sections (3.1 Biological molecules through 3.8 Control of gene expression), the high-frequency synoptic links examined across Papers 1–3, and a calibrated revision strategy for the 12-week run-in to summer exams. Refer to the official AQA 7402 specification document for exact wording.
Strategic revision is the difference between knowing the content and performing well in the exam. This lesson provides a complete map of the AQA A-Level Biology specification, identifies high-frequency topics, highlights the cross-topic links that examiners test synoptically, and offers a practical revision strategy for exam season.
This lesson is the cross-cutting overlay for the AQA 7402 catalogue. It explicitly references all eight specification sections:
The revision-strategy framework introduced here is also relied on by the AQA A-Level Chemistry and Physics exam-prep courses (transferable scaffolding).
Key Principle: Revision should be active, not passive. Reading notes is the least effective revision method (~10% retention at 7 days). Active recall, spaced practice and past-paper application typically achieve >60% retention at the same horizon. Calibrate your hours by evidence, not feel.
The AQA A-Level Biology specification is organised into 8 major topics, each subdivided into sections. All specification references follow the format 3.X.Y.Z.
| Section | Title | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1.1 | Monomers and polymers | Condensation and hydrolysis reactions |
| 3.1.2 | Carbohydrates | Monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose) |
| 3.1.3 | Lipids | Triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol |
| 3.1.4 | Proteins | Amino acids, peptide bonds, levels of protein structure, fibrous vs globular |
| 3.1.5 | Nucleic acids | DNA, RNA, semi-conservative replication |
| 3.1.6 | ATP | Structure, role as universal energy currency |
| 3.1.7 | Water | Properties and biological importance |
| 3.1.8 | Inorganic ions | Roles of ions (e.g., iron in haemoglobin, phosphate in DNA/ATP) |
| 3.1.9 | Enzymes | Lock-and-key, induced fit, factors affecting rate, inhibition |
| Section | Title | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| 3.2.1 | Cell structure | Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, organelles, microscopy |
| 3.2.2 | All cells arise from other cells | Cell cycle, mitosis, binary fission, meiosis (overview), stem cells, cancer |
| 3.2.3 | Transport across cell membranes | Fluid-mosaic model, diffusion, osmosis, active transport, co-transport, bulk transport |
| 3.2.4 | Cell recognition and the immune system | Antigens, phagocytosis, T cells, B cells, antibodies, vaccination, HIV/AIDS, monoclonal antibodies |
| Section | Title | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| 3.3.1 | Surface area to volume ratio | Why SA:V decreases with size, consequences for exchange |
| 3.3.2 | Gas exchange | Lungs (alveoli), fish (gills, counter-current), insects (tracheal system), leaf (stomata, mesophyll) |
| 3.3.3 | Digestion and absorption | Enzymes of digestion, absorption in ileum, villi and microvilli |
| 3.3.4 | Mass transport | Circulatory system, cardiac cycle, haemoglobin, oxygen dissociation curves, Bohr effect, water transport in plants (transpiration, cohesion-tension, root pressure) |
| Section | Title | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| 3.4.1 | DNA, genes and chromosomes | Gene structure, introns/exons, genome, homologous chromosomes |
| 3.4.2 | DNA and protein synthesis | Transcription, translation, post-translational modification |
| 3.4.3 | Genetic diversity | Meiosis (crossing over, independent assortment), random fertilisation |
| 3.4.4 | Biodiversity | Species, habitat, genetic and species biodiversity, Simpson's diversity index |
| 3.4.5 | Taxonomy and phylogeny | Classification, binomial naming, three domains, molecular phylogenetics |
| Section | Title | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5.1 | Photosynthesis | Light-dependent reactions (photophosphorylation), Calvin cycle, limiting factors |
| 3.5.2 | Respiration | Glycolysis, link reaction, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, anaerobic respiration |
| 3.5.3 | Energy and ecosystems | Gross/net primary production, energy transfer efficiency, farming practices |
| 3.5.4 | Nutrient cycles | Carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle (nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, ammonification) |
| Section | Title | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6.1 | Stimuli, receptors and response | Taxes, kineses, tropisms, Pacinian corpuscle, retina (rods and cones) |
| 3.6.2 | Nervous coordination | Neurones, resting potential, action potential, synapses, summation |
| 3.6.3 | Skeletal muscles | Sliding filament theory, neuromuscular junction, slow/fast twitch fibres |
| 3.6.4 | Homeostasis | Negative feedback, blood glucose regulation (insulin, glucagon), thermoregulation, kidney function (ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption, osmoregulation, ADH) |
| Section | Title | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| 3.7.1 | Inheritance | Monohybrid, dihybrid, codominance, multiple alleles, sex-linkage, autosomal linkage, epistasis, chi-squared test |
| 3.7.2 | Populations | Population size estimation (mark-release-recapture), population growth, Hardy-Weinberg |
| 3.7.3 | Evolution | Variation, natural selection (directional, stabilising, disruptive), speciation, genetic drift |
| 3.7.4 | Populations in ecosystems | Succession, conservation, managing ecosystems |
| Section | Title | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| 3.8.1 | Alteration of the sequence of bases in DNA | Types of gene mutation (substitution, deletion, insertion), mutagenic agents |
| 3.8.2 | Gene expression | Totipotency, stem cells, regulation of transcription and translation, epigenetics (methylation, acetylation) |
| 3.8.3 | Using genome projects | Human Genome Project, comparison of genomes, proteomics |
| 3.8.4 | Gene technologies | Recombinant DNA, restriction enzymes, ligase, vectors, PCR, electrophoresis, genetic fingerprinting, gene therapy, GMOs |
| Paper | Topics Covered | Required Practicals Assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 | RP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Paper 2 | 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8 | RP 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
| Paper 3 | ALL topics (3.1–3.8) | ALL required practicals (1–12) |
Key Point: Paper 3 can ask about anything. Your revision for Paper 3 should focus on making connections between topics and practising essay writing, not just learning content.
Analysis of past AQA A-Level Biology papers reveals that certain topics appear more frequently than others. While you must revise everything, these high-frequency areas deserve extra attention.
| Topic | Why It Appears Frequently | Exam Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Enzymes | Fundamental to all of biology; highly examinable | Factors affecting rate, inhibition, practical skills |
| Cell membranes and transport | Relevant to almost every physiological process | Osmosis, active transport, co-transport, membrane permeability practical |
| DNA and protein synthesis | Core molecular biology; links to genetics, evolution, gene expression | Transcription, translation, mutations, gene expression regulation |
| Photosynthesis and respiration | Central metabolic pathways; test understanding of biochemistry | Light-dependent reactions, Calvin cycle, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, limiting factors |
| The immune system | Rich in AO2/AO3 questions about vaccination and disease | Specific and non-specific immunity, T and B lymphocytes, antibody structure |
| Inheritance and genetics | Mathematical questions and application to pedigrees | Monohybrid, dihybrid, epistasis, chi-squared |
| Homeostasis | Complex feedback systems with multiple organ systems | Blood glucose regulation, kidney function, nerve impulses |
| Evolution and natural selection | Fundamental unifying concept | Hardy-Weinberg, selection types, speciation, antibiotic resistance |
| Ecology | Rich in practical and data analysis questions | Sampling techniques, Simpson's diversity index, succession, nutrient cycling |
| Gene expression and technology | Modern and rapidly advancing area | Epigenetics, PCR, electrophoresis, genetic engineering, gene therapy |
| Topic | Calculation Type |
|---|---|
| Magnification | Magnification = image size ÷ actual size |
| Percentage change | (Final − initial) ÷ initial × 100 |
| Mitotic index | Cells in mitosis ÷ total cells |
| Cardiac output | CO = stroke volume × heart rate |
| Water potential | Ψ = Ψs + Ψp |
| Hardy-Weinberg | p² + 2pq + q² = 1 |
| Chi-squared | χ² = Σ [(O − E)² ÷ E] |
| Simpson's diversity index | D = 1 − Σ(n/N)² |
| Net primary productivity | NPP = GPP − R |
| Rf value | Rf = distance moved by spot ÷ distance moved by solvent front |
Synoptic questions are the hallmark of Paper 3, but they also appear in Papers 1 and 2. These are the most commonly tested cross-topic links.
This is the single most important conceptual thread in A-Level Biology:
ATP connects virtually every topic:
The Paper 3 essay titles from recent years illustrate the synoptic breadth expected. Here are examples with brief content outlines:
Use this checklist to track your revision progress across all specification areas. For each item, rate your confidence: Red (need to learn), Amber (partially understood), Green (confident).
Subscribe to continue reading
Get full access to this lesson and all 4 lessons in this course.