How many marks and questions are in this predicted paper?

This paper has 100 marks across 10 questions and is designed for a 105-minute practice session.

What are the GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher predictions for 2026?

StudyVector's 2026 GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher predicted paper focuses on Cells and control, Genetics, Natural selection, Monoclonal antibodies, Drug testing, Homeostasis. This is an independent, Edexcel-style predicted-practice paper modelled on the published specification — it is not a leaked paper and is not official.

What is the GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher format (1BI0/1H)?

GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher (1BI0/1H) is 100 marks over 105 minutes. Models Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher: 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks.

Published 8 March 2026Updated 22 April 2026By Lizzie D., founderPrivacy Policy

Source note: use official specifications as the source of truth. StudyVector is an independent revision platform. AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR

Direct answer

This page hosts StudyVector’s independent 2026 GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher predicted-practice paper modelled on 1BI0/1H,100 marks over 105 minutes. Predicted focus topics: Cells and control, Genetics, Natural selection, Monoclonal antibodies, Drug testing. It is not an official paper, not a leaked paper and not a guarantee — students should still revise the full specification and verify against official past papers from Pearson Edexcel.

Qualification: GCSE Biology
Exam board model: Pearson Edexcel
Paper code: 1BI0/1H
Total marks: 100 marks
Time allowed: 105 minutes
Last reviewed: 16 May 2026

StudyVector is independent revision support, not affiliated with AQA, Edexcel, OCR, JCQ or any exam provider. Always verify topic coverage with your exam-board specification.

Predicted paper

Edexcel GCSE Biology 2026 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 1 Higher

Q: Is Edexcel GCSE Biology 2026 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 1 Higher an official exam paper?

No. It is an original StudyVector predicted-practice paper for revision. It is not official, leaked or guaranteed, and students should still revise the full specification.

Q: Which topics are likely to come up in GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher 2026?

Based on the Edexcel-style structure and recent paper patterns, StudyVector's prediction prioritises: Cells and control; Genetics; Natural selection; Monoclonal antibodies; Drug testing; Homeostasis. Students should still revise the full specification because exam boards rotate topics.

GCSE Biology · Edexcel-style · 105 minutes · 100 marks

Modelled component: 1BI0/1H · Tier: Higher · Calculator permitted

Models Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher: 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks.

Prediction type: predicted_paper · Evidence mode: historical · Full-length original practice paper modelled on Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology public paper structure. It is not official, leaked or guaranteed.

Evidence basis: official public assessment structure, full-paper mark total, board-specific paper code, GCSE Biology topic weighting, required-practical and data-response mix.

AI-generated practice paper. Not an official Edexcel-style paper, not leaked exam content, and not an exam-board endorsement.

Predicted difficulty score (practice signal)

0–100 model (higher = more demanding)

Candidate focus topics (not guarantees)

Cells and control
Genetics
Natural selection
Monoclonal antibodies
Drug testing
Homeostasis

Preview mode

0/10 questions attempted · score 0/100 (0%)

105:00Warm up with cards Play Daily

Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided. You must write down all the stages in your working.

Section A

Answer all questions. This paper is written in a Pearson Edexcel Paper 1 practice style.

Question A1 (10 marks)
(a) Explain the difference between magnification and resolution. (3) (b) Describe how to prepare a microscope slide of plant cells. (4) (c) A cell is 40 mm in an image and 0.08 mm in real life. Calculate magnification. (3)
(Total for Question A1 is 10 marks)
Question A2 (10 marks)
(a) Describe the stages of mitosis. (4) (b) Explain why mitosis is important for growth. (2) (c) Explain why stem cells are useful in medicine. (2) (d) Give one ethical concern about stem cell use. (2)
(Total for Question A2 is 10 marks)
Question A3 (10 marks)
A person is heterozygous for a dominant allele B. (a) Define heterozygous. (2) (b) Draw or describe a genetic cross between Bb and Bb. (4) (c) State the expected phenotype ratio if B is dominant. (2) (d) Explain why actual offspring numbers may differ from the expected ratio. (2)
(Total for Question A3 is 10 marks)
Question A4 (10 marks)
(a) Explain natural selection using antibiotic resistance as an example. (5) (b) Describe one difference between selective breeding and genetic modification. (3) (c) Give one risk of selective breeding. (2)
(Total for Question A4 is 10 marks)
Question A5 (10 marks)
(a) Describe how monoclonal antibodies are produced in outline. (4) (b) Give one medical use of monoclonal antibodies. (2) (c) Explain one advantage and one limitation of using monoclonal antibodies. (4)
(Total for Question A5 is 10 marks)

Section B

Answer all questions. Quantitative answers must show working.

Question B1 (10 marks)
A drug is tested before it is licensed. (a) Explain why preclinical testing is done. (3) (b) Describe the purpose of clinical trials. (4) (c) Explain why double-blind trials improve reliability. (3)
(Total for Question B1 is 10 marks)
Question B2 (10 marks)
(a) Describe how the nervous system responds to touching a hot object. (5) (b) Explain the role of synapses. (3) (c) Give one reason reflex actions are useful. (2)
(Total for Question B2 is 10 marks)
Question B3 (10 marks)
(a) Explain how insulin controls blood glucose concentration. (4) (b) Compare Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. (4) (c) Give one treatment or management strategy for Type 2 diabetes. (2)
(Total for Question B3 is 10 marks)
Question B4 (10 marks)
(a) Describe how enzymes are involved in digestion. (4) (b) Explain why bile helps lipid digestion. (3) (c) Describe how villi are adapted for absorption. (3)
(Total for Question B4 is 10 marks)
Question B5 (10 marks)
(a) Describe how to investigate the effect of light intensity on photosynthesis. (5) (b) Explain why distance from the lamp affects light intensity. (2) (c) Give two control variables. (2) (d) Name one product of photosynthesis. (1)
(Total for Question B5 is 10 marks)

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Turn this paper into targeted practice. Start with the topics where you lost marks, then come back and resit the same style of question.

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Direct answer

Qualification

GCSE Biology

Exam board model

Pearson Edexcel

Paper code

1BI0/1H

Total marks

100 marks

Time allowed

105 minutes

Last reviewed

16 May 2026

StudyVector is independent revision support, not affiliated with AQA, Edexcel, OCR, JCQ or any exam provider. Always verify topic coverage with your exam-board specification.

Edexcel GCSE Biology 2026 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 1 Higher

GCSE Biology · Edexcel-style · 105 minutes · 100 marks

Modelled component: 1BI0/1H · Tier: Higher · Calculator permitted

Models Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher: 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks.

Evidence basis: official public assessment structure, full-paper mark total, board-specific paper code, GCSE Biology topic weighting, required-practical and data-response mix.

Section A

Answer all questions. This paper is written in a Pearson Edexcel Paper 1 practice style.

Question A1 (10 marks)

(a) Explain the difference between magnification and resolution. (3) (b) Describe how to prepare a microscope slide of plant cells. (4) (c) A cell is 40 mm in an image and 0.08 mm in real life. Calculate magnification. (3)

(Total for Question A1 is 10 marks)

Question A2 (10 marks)

(a) Describe the stages of mitosis. (4) (b) Explain why mitosis is important for growth. (2) (c) Explain why stem cells are useful in medicine. (2) (d) Give one ethical concern about stem cell use. (2)

(Total for Question A2 is 10 marks)

Question A3 (10 marks)

A person is heterozygous for a dominant allele B. (a) Define heterozygous. (2) (b) Draw or describe a genetic cross between Bb and Bb. (4) (c) State the expected phenotype ratio if B is dominant. (2) (d) Explain why actual offspring numbers may differ from the expected ratio. (2)

(Total for Question A3 is 10 marks)

Question A4 (10 marks)

(a) Explain natural selection using antibiotic resistance as an example. (5) (b) Describe one difference between selective breeding and genetic modification. (3) (c) Give one risk of selective breeding. (2)

(Total for Question A4 is 10 marks)

Question A5 (10 marks)

(a) Describe how monoclonal antibodies are produced in outline. (4) (b) Give one medical use of monoclonal antibodies. (2) (c) Explain one advantage and one limitation of using monoclonal antibodies. (4)

(Total for Question A5 is 10 marks)

Section B

Answer all questions. Quantitative answers must show working.

Question B1 (10 marks)

A drug is tested before it is licensed. (a) Explain why preclinical testing is done. (3) (b) Describe the purpose of clinical trials. (4) (c) Explain why double-blind trials improve reliability. (3)

(Total for Question B1 is 10 marks)

Question B2 (10 marks)

(a) Describe how the nervous system responds to touching a hot object. (5) (b) Explain the role of synapses. (3) (c) Give one reason reflex actions are useful. (2)

(Total for Question B2 is 10 marks)

Question B3 (10 marks)

(a) Explain how insulin controls blood glucose concentration. (4) (b) Compare Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. (4) (c) Give one treatment or management strategy for Type 2 diabetes. (2)

(Total for Question B3 is 10 marks)

Question B4 (10 marks)

(a) Describe how enzymes are involved in digestion. (4) (b) Explain why bile helps lipid digestion. (3) (c) Describe how villi are adapted for absorption. (3)

(Total for Question B4 is 10 marks)

Question B5 (10 marks)

(a) Describe how to investigate the effect of light intensity on photosynthesis. (5) (b) Explain why distance from the lamp affects light intensity. (2) (c) Give two control variables. (2) (d) Name one product of photosynthesis. (1)

(Total for Question B5 is 10 marks)