AQA AS-Level Past Papers
Browse past paper analysis, answer explanations, grade cut-off estimates, and Thinka-original sample papers by subject and year.
Biology 7401
Available years: 2024, 2023, 2022
A balanced but highly demanding AS Biology assessment with a major focus on protein synthesis, genetic diversity, and experimental evaluation, accompanied by rigorous mathematical calculations across both papers.
An analysis of the AQA AS Biology 2023 examination papers (7401/1 and 7401/2), highlighting key question breakdowns, mark allocations, student performance insights, practical math skills, and upcoming topic predictions.
A highly challenging and comprehensive AS-level exam series focusing heavily on mass transport, gas exchange, and mathematical interpretations, demanding rigorous analytical reasoning and precise practical skills.
Chemistry 7404
Available years: 2024, 2023, 2022
The AQA AS Chemistry 7404 June 2024 series presented a balanced assessment of physical, inorganic, and organic chemistry. While Paper 1 focused heavily on physical and inorganic concepts (particularly structure, bonding, and quantitative calculations), Paper 2 tested core organic mechanisms, analysis, and equilibria. The integration of practical skills and experimental inaccuracies, notably in enthalpy and kinetics questions, tested students' conceptual depth.
An intellectually demanding series where mathematical precision in stoichiometry and absolute accuracy in organic reaction mechanisms and curly arrows separated the top-tier candidates.
The AQA AS Chemistry 7404 June 2022 series represents a balanced assessment across Inorganic, Physical, and Organic disciplines. It is characterised by highly rigorous practical application tasks, heavy stoichiometry demands, and typical conceptual hurdles in kinetics and mechanism formatting.
Computer Science 7516
Available years: 2024, 2023, 2022
The 2024 AQA AS Computer Science papers present a robust challenge, combining intensive queue simulation and list manipulation on Paper 1 with high-mark Boolean algebra, assembly language programming, and an interdisciplinary social/hardware essay on Paper 2.
The 2023 AQA AS Computer Science (7516) cohort faced a balanced but demanding examination across Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 heavily tested practical programming skills through the assembly language simulation skeleton, featuring a highly challenging Section C modification task (deletion and insertion). Paper 2 delivered a fair but comprehensive assessment of theoretical concepts, requiring rigorous knowledge of binary representation, boolean algebra, networking security, and processor architecture, alongside a significant 9-mark essay exploring digital image capture and ethical issues surrounding AI software.
The AQA AS Computer Science (7516) June 2022 series represents a balanced assessment across practical coding and foundational theory. Paper 1 tests robust algorithmic tracing and modular program modifications, while Paper 2 covers data representation, boolean algebra, hardware, and an ethical-legal-cultural essay.
Economics 7135
Available years: 2024, 2023, 2022
The AQA AS Economics 7135 June 2024 series offered a balanced assessment of microeconomic market failure and macroeconomic policy. Students faced highly structured multi-step calculations and context-rich evaluations on tourism and levelling up.
A complete analysis of the AQA AS Economics June 2023 series (Paper 1 and Paper 2), focusing on the mechanics of market failure, government intervention, monetary policy, and inflation.
The June 2022 AQA AS Economics papers offered a balanced but rigorous assessment. Paper 1 focused heavily on market mechanisms and interventions through the lenses of the water utility sector and alcohol demerit pricing. Paper 2 emphasized aggregate demand/supply analysis, economic growth policies, and fiscal frameworks. Success required sharp mathematical precision on multi-step calculations, precise diagram labels, and highly structured essay evaluations.
Further Mathematics 7366
Available years: 2023, 2022
The AQA AS Further Mathematics 7366/1 Paper 1 (June 2023) is a balanced assessment of the core pure syllabus. It features accessible starting marks in multiple-choice formats alongside demanding algebraic proofs, matrix parameters, and polar transformations that test the limits of candidates' precision.
The June 2022 AQA AS Further Mathematics Paper 1 is a balanced assessment featuring accessible starting marks followed by rigorous multi-step algebraic problems. High-tariff topics include rational functions, graph sketching, and complex loci, demanding strong algebraic fluency and logical proof techniques.
Geography 7036
Available years: 2024, 2023, 2022
The 2024 AQA AS Geography series presents a balanced assessment of physical processes, human-place dynamics, and rigorous fieldwork skills. It demands high levels of synoptic evaluation in the 20-mark essays alongside precise mathematical calculations in the statistical analysis sections.
The 2023 AQA AS Geography examination suite offered a rigorous testing of both qualitative evaluation and technical data analysis. Key challenges centered on interpreting logarithmic emissions graphs, applying Changing Places concepts to tectonic hazards, and executing fieldwork statistical calculations.
A highly balanced AQA AS Geography paper that tests students' core physical and human concepts alongside practical fieldwork design. The paper is notable for its innovative integration of Changing Places concepts directly into the Hazard and Urban options.
History 7041
Available years: 2024, 2023, 2022
The Summer 2024 AQA AS History papers for Component 1A (The Age of the Crusades) and Component 2A (The Reign of Henry II) provided a balanced but challenging test. High-achieving students stood out through their highly contextualized evaluation of source interpretations and their ability to move beyond narrative summaries in essays.
A comprehensive analysis of the AQA AS History 2023 papers for Component 1A (The Age of the Crusades, c1071-1149) and Component 2A (The Reign of Henry II, 1154-1189), evaluating historical interpretations, primary source values, and key thematic essays.
An analysis of the June 2022 AQA AS History exams for Component 1A (The Age of the Crusades, c1071-1149) and Component 2A (Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154-1189), focusing on extract and source evaluation skills, as well as analytical essay development.
Mathematics 7356
Available years: 2023, 2022
Slightly more demanding than 2022: stronger emphasis on differentiation (including first principles and graph transformations), calculus optimisation on Paper 2, and a heavier kinematics-by-calculus strand in Mechanics. Statistics again closes on sampling, the binomial and a hypothesis test.
A balanced AS paper: routine Pure skills (calculus, logs, coordinate geometry) dominate Section A, with Mechanics on Paper 1 and Statistics on Paper 2. Most marks are accessible; the discrimination comes from multi-step 'fully justify' and 'show that' questions.
Physics 7407
Available years: 2024, 2023, 2022
The 2024 AQA AS Physics papers presented a rigorous test of fundamental principles, combining dense mechanical analysis, core practical and graphical evaluation, and detailed explanations of wave and quantum phenomena.
A highly analytical and mathematically rigorous exam series. The assessment coupled traditional topics like particle decay chains and DC networks with complex real-world mechanics (the Mars helicopter) and extensive graphical uncertainty propagation.
The AQA AS Physics June 2022 examination series (Papers 1 and 2) features a comprehensive coverage of the 7407 specification. Paper 1 assesses structured physics principles with major focus points on current electricity, mechanics, and photoelectric calculations. Paper 2 comprises a dedicated experimental analysis section evaluating free-fall determination and resistivity measurements, followed by structured questions and a 30-mark multiple-choice section covering all core chapters.
Psychology (New) 7181
Available years: 2024, 2023, 2022
The AQA AS Psychology 2024 series (Papers 1 and 2) offered a balanced, highly accessible set of papers. It heavily focused on standard, well-rehearsed core theories such as Asch's conformity variables, learning theory of attachment, and behavioural treatments of phobias, while integrating clear and straightforward practical research design elements.
The 2023 AQA AS Psychology papers present a balanced assessment of foundational concepts. Paper 1 tests core introductory topics with highly contextualised scenarios, while Paper 2 shifts focus to psychological contexts and heavily weights practical Research Methods, including calculations like the Sign Test.
A highly balanced and typical AS Psychology series featuring classic essay questions on the Multi-Store Model of memory and definitions of abnormality, combined with highly contextualised AO2 scenario questions and fundamental Research Methods exercises.