This guide provides a comprehensive analysis of the AQA AS Level Biology (7401) assessment structure, highlights high-frequency mistakes from examiner reports, and offers expert strategic advice to maximize marks.
読了時間 3 分更新日: 2026年6月21日
試験の概要
試験数
2
満点
150
制限時間
3時間
出題形式
3
試験
時間
配点
問題数
配点比率
出題形式
Paper 1
1時間 30分
75
9
50%
Short Structured Questions
Paper 2
1時間 30分
75
9
50%
Short Structured Questions & Extended Writing
評価段階
ABCDEU
電卓の規定
A scientific or graphical calculator that meets JCQ regulations may be used (some GCSE Mathematics and Science papers are non-calculator). Graphical calculators must be set to exam mode; you must clear any stored programs, notes or data before the exam, and the calculator must not be able to retrieve stored text or formulae.
AO1: AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures (35%)
AO2: AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures (40%)
AO3: AO3: Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific information, ideas and evidence (25%)
過去問と採点基準にもとづいて作成（2022–2024）。
電卓プログラム
Graph: zeros, intersections & turning points
Graphical calculator / GDC (exam mode)
目的: Plot a function to read its roots (zeros), points of intersection, and maxima/minima.
使う場面: Checking solutions, sketching, or solving where an analytic method is hard.
手順
Graph the function(s) and use the built-in zero, intersect and maximum/minimum tools.
試験での注意: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
Numerical equation solver
Graphical calculator / GDC (exam mode)
目的: Solve an equation or find a variable numerically when an algebraic route is long or implicit.
使う場面: Iterative or implicit equations, or to confirm an algebraic solution.
手順
Use the equation/zero solver, entering the equation and a sensible starting estimate.
試験での注意: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
Numerical integration & differentiation
Graphical calculator / GDC (exam mode)
目的: Evaluate a definite integral \(\int_a^b f(x)\,dx\) or a gradient \(f'(x)\) at a point.
使う場面: Checking calculus answers, or where only a numerical value is needed.
手順
Use the GDC's numeric integral / derivative function with the limits or the point.
試験での注意: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
Statistics & probability distributions
Graphical calculator / GDC (exam mode)
目的: 1-var/2-var statistics, linear regression, and cumulative binomial / normal / Poisson probabilities without tables.
使う場面: Statistics questions and hypothesis tests.
手順
Enter data in the statistics editor, or use the distribution menu (binomial cdf, normal cdf, …).
試験での注意: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
よくあるミス
1high影響する配点: 2Cell structure
Failing to convert standard units (such as mm or cm) into micrometers before performing cell magnification calculations.
回避方法: Always multiply measurements in millimetres (mm) by 1,000 to convert to micrometers (\(\mu m\)) prior to dividing by magnification or calculating the actual size.
2medium影響する配点: 2Transport across cell membranes
Omitting the active transport of sodium ions out of the cell when explaining co-transport mechanisms.
回避方法: Explicitly state that sodium ions must be actively pumped out of the epithelial cell into the blood to maintain the sodium concentration gradient required for co-transport.
3high影響する配点: 2Investigating diversity
Claiming there is a statistically significant difference between mean values when standard deviation (SD) bars overlap.
回避方法: If standard deviation (or standard error) bars overlap, explicitly state that the difference between the means is not statistically significant and could be due to chance.
4medium影響する配点: 1DNA and protein synthesis
Confusing the direction of degenerate coding by stating that 'one amino acid codes for multiple codons'.
回避方法: State the reverse: the genetic code is degenerate because more than one codon can code for a single, specific amino acid.
5medium影響する配点: 2DNA, genes and chromosomes
Incorrectly stating that DNA polymerase forms hydrogen bonds during replication.
回避方法: State that DNA polymerase catalyses condensation reactions to form covalent phosphodiester bonds between adjacent nucleotides. Hydrogen bonds form spontaneously between complementary bases.
6low影響する配点: 3Investigating diversity
Drawing individual cells or cell walls on biological tissue drawings when instructions explicitly state 'Do not draw individual cells'.
回避方法: Only draw the clear outlines of tissue layers or boundaries. Do not sketch, shade, or add cellular details unless explicitly instructed.
7medium影響する配点: 2Investigating diversity
Leaving out unit conversions for area calculations (such as converting \(mm^2\) to \(\mu m^2\)).
回避方法: Remember that area conversions require adjusting for squared dimensions. To convert \(mm^2\) to \(\mu m^2\), multiply by \(1,000,000\) (or \(10^6\)).
8medium影響する配点: 2Cell recognition and the immune system
Losing precision marks in ELISA test questions by not explaining the consequence of unwashed enzyme-linked antibodies.
回避方法: State that failure to wash the wells thoroughly allows unbound enzyme-linked secondary antibodies to remain, which will react with the substrate and cause a false positive result.