Each AQA science GCSE has two papers and the topics are split cleanly between them, so knowing which topics are on which paper saves weeks. Here is the split for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, the confirmed 2027 dates, and how to use the gap between the two papers.
Which topics are on AQA biology paper 1 and paper 2?
AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1 covers topics 1 to 4: Cell biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics. AQA Biology Paper 2 covers topics 5 to 7: Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology, as set out in the AQA Biology specification at a glance.
Combined Science: Trilogy uses the same split, with Biology Paper 1 on topics 1 to 4 and Biology Paper 2 on topics 5 to 7 (Trilogy specification at a glance). So biology paper 2 revision means the nervous and hormonal systems, inheritance and evolution, and ecology, plus the required practicals that belong to those topics. The practical list is in AQA required practicals.
Which topics are on AQA chemistry paper 1 and paper 2?
AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 covers topics 1 to 5: Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; and Energy changes. Chemistry Paper 2 covers topics 6 to 10: The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; and Using resources, as set out in the AQA Chemistry specification at a glance.
One line in the chemistry specification is easy to miss. AQA says that “Questions in Paper 2 may draw on fundamental concepts and principles from sections 4.1 to 4.3”, which are atomic structure, bonding and quantitative chemistry. So a chemistry GCSE Paper 2 can still ask for a mole calculation or a bonding explanation, and those three topics stay on the revision list until the second paper is sat.
Which topics are on AQA physics paper 1 and paper 2?
AQA GCSE Physics Paper 1 covers topics 1 to 4: Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure. Physics Paper 2 covers topics 5 to 8: Forces; Waves; Magnetism and electromagnetism; and Space physics, as set out in the AQA Physics specification at a glance.
Space physics is separate Physics only. Trilogy Physics Paper 2 covers Forces, Waves, and Magnetism and electromagnetism, with no space topic. AQA also says Physics Paper 2 questions may draw on an understanding of energy changes and transfers from Paper 1, so energy stores, work done and conservation of energy stay in play for the second paper.
| Subject | Paper 1 topics | Paper 2 topics | Paper 1 content AQA says may appear in Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | Cell biology; Organisation; Infection and response; Bioenergetics | Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; Ecology | None stated |
| Chemistry | Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure and properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; Energy changes | Rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; Using resources | Atomic structure, bonding and quantitative chemistry (sections 4.1 to 4.3) |
| Physics | Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; Atomic structure | Forces; Waves; Magnetism and electromagnetism; Space physics (separate Physics only) | Energy changes and transfers |
How long is each AQA science paper and how many marks is it worth?
Each AQA separate science paper is a written exam of 1 hour 45 minutes, worth 100 marks and 50% of the GCSE, sat at either Foundation or Higher tier, according to the Biology specification at a glance and its Chemistry and Physics equivalents. Each Combined Science: Trilogy paper is a written exam of 1 hour 15 minutes, worth 70 marks and 16.7% of the double GCSE, from the Trilogy specification at a glance.
Question types are the same on every paper: multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response. Both routes work out at roughly a minute a mark, with a few minutes spare for checking. Foundation tier can award grades 5 to 1 (5-5 to 1-1 in combined science) and Higher tier grades 9 to 4 (9-9 to 4-4), with a safety-net grade 3 for students who just miss a 4, according to Ofqual’s student guide, and the school decides which tier to enter.
When are the AQA science papers in 2027 and how long is the gap between them?
AQA’s confirmed timetable for 2027 puts Biology Paper 1 on Tuesday 11 May and Paper 2 on Thursday 10 June, Chemistry Paper 1 on Monday 17 May and Paper 2 on Tuesday 15 June, and Physics Paper 1 on Tuesday 25 May and Paper 2 on Friday 18 June, all in the morning session, with Combined Science: Trilogy on the same six dates (AQA May/June 2027 GCSE timetable). That gives a gap of 30 days for biology, 29 for chemistry and 24 for physics, and students must stay available until the JCQ contingency day on 23 June 2027.
Physics Paper 2 on 18 June is the last science paper and, for most students, one of the last GCSE papers of all, which makes it easy to under-revise. Put it on the plan early. The full exam window is in when to start GCSE revision.
What changes between paper 1 and paper 2 revision?
Paper 2 revision differs from Paper 1 revision in two ways: the content is newer and it is less practised. In many schools the Paper 2 topics are taught later, often in Year 11, though teaching order varies by school. Where that happens, by May they have had fewer lessons, fewer homeworks and fewer mock questions than the Paper 1 topics, which can make Paper 2 feel harder even though both papers carry the same marks.
Biology paper 2 topics also lean on longer explanations: how the body responds to a stimulus, how a characteristic is inherited, why a population changed. Short definitions are not enough, so practise six-mark answers against the mark scheme. For chemistry GCSE paper 2, the carry-over means mole calculations stay in, and rates graphs and organic naming need repetition. For physics, Paper 2 is heavy on forces calculations, so rearranging equations from memory is the daily drill.
Biology paper 1 AQA revision and physics paper 1 AQA revision have one advantage: the content has been around longer. The risk is false confidence. A topic learnt in Year 10 and not tested since October has faded, so Paper 1 topics need a self-test pass in April even if they feel familiar.
How should a student use the gap between paper 1 and paper 2?
A student should use the gap between Paper 1 and Paper 2 by switching entirely to Paper 2 topics the day after Paper 1, except for the chemistry and physics carry-over content named above. The gap is about four weeks for biology and chemistry and three and a half for physics, but it overlaps with maths, English and every other subject, so the realistic time for each science is one or two 50-minute sessions a week.
The day after Paper 1, allow a 20-minute debrief: which topics came up, which questions felt hard, written down and then closed. Comparing answers online for an evening changes nothing and costs sleep. In the first week after Paper 1, work the red Paper 2 topics with flashcards and one past-paper section. In weeks two and three, sit one full Paper 2 past paper under timed conditions and mark it the same day. In the final three days, run through the Paper 2 practical cards, the equations for physics, and two six-mark answers per subject.
Everything slides in exam season unless it is written down, so put the sessions into the revision timetable tool with the 2027 dates and let it hold the shape. Methods for each science are in how to revise GCSE biology, chemistry, physics and the overview in how to revise for GCSE science.
What can a parent do this week?
A parent can do one useful job this week: have your child colour-code their topic list by paper, using the table above, and pin it up. Then ask the science teacher a single question: which paper and which topics does the next mock cover? Write the answer on the list. If the mock covers Paper 1 only, the Paper 2 topics can wait; if it is a full paper, the plan in how to prepare for Year 11 mocks applies. More guides are on the revision hub.
If you want a qualified science teacher to run this with your child, book a free call.
