Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) Past Papers – Free 2020–2025 Paper 1 & Paper 2 Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
- Ava Turner
- Feb 18
- 9 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
This page provides the latest Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) Paper 1 and Paper 2 Foundation and Higher past papers from 2020 to 2025, together with official mark schemes, so you can practise with real exam questions, improve your exam technique and understand exactly how marks are awarded. Regular practice with these papers is one of the most effective ways to build confidence, strengthen your knowledge of key topics and achieve top grades in your 2026 and 2027 GCSE Biology exams.
Before you jump into the papers, it's really worth taking a few minutes to read through the examiner guidance by clicking here or scrolling below. It covers the mistakes that come up year after year in Edexcel GCSE Biology — the recurring errors that cost students marks they could easily have kept. Most of the time it's not a lack of knowledge that holds students back, it's not knowing what the examiner is actually looking for.
2024 Edexcel GCSE Biology Past Papers (1BI0) – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
2024 Edexcel GCSE Biology | Downloads | |
June 2024 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Foundation (1BI0/1F) | ||
June 2024 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher (1BI0/1H) | ||
June 2024 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 2 Foundation (1BI0/2F) | ||
2023 Edexcel GCSE Biology Past Papers (1BI0) – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
2023 Edexcel GCSE Biology | Downloads | |
June 2023 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Foundation (1BI0/1F) | ||
June 2023 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher (1BI0/1H) | ||
June 2023 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 2 Foundation (1BI0/2F) | ||
June 2023 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 2 Higher (1BI0/2H) | ||
2022 Edexcel GCSE Biology Past Papers (1BI0) – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
2022 Edexcel GCSE Biology | Downloads | |
June 2022 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Foundation (1BI0/1F) | ||
June 2022 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher (1BI0/1H) | ||
June 2022 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 2 Foundation (1BI0/2F) | ||
June 2022 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 2 Higher (1BI0/2H) | ||
2021 Edexcel GCSE Biology Past Papers (1BI0) – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
2021 Edexcel GCSE Biology | Downloads | |
June 2021 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Foundation (1BI0/1F) | ||
June 2021 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher (1BI0/1H) | ||
June 2021 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 2 Foundation (1BI0/2F) | ||
June 2021 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 2 Higher (1BI0/2H) | ||
2020 Edexcel GCSE Biology Past Papers (1BI0) – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
2020 Edexcel GCSE Biology | Downloads | |
June 2020 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Foundation (1BI0/1F) | ||
June 2020 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 1 Higher (1BI0/1H) | ||
June 2020 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 2 Foundation (1BI0/2F) | ||
June 2020 Edexcel GCSE Biology Paper 2 Higher (1BI0/2H) | ||
What Edexcel Biology Examiners Wish Every Student Knew Before the Exam
Every year, examiners identify the same mistakes that prevent students from reaching the highest grades in Edexcel GCSE Biology. The following tips are from examiners themselves and show you exactly where students lose marks.
1. Confusing "Describe" and "Explain"
This is one of the most consistent mark-losers across the entire paper, and it comes down to one simple habit: not reading the command word carefully enough. Describing when you should be explaining, or over-explaining when a description is all that's needed, can cost you marks on questions you actually know the answer to.
If the question says "explain," you need to give a scientific reason — use the word "because" to force yourself into the right kind of answer. If it says "describe," keep it simple and just state what is happening or what you can see in the diagram or graph. No reasons needed.
2. Ignoring Specific Instructions for Lines and Boxes
This one is purely about reading carefully — and it's a frustrating way to lose marks. Drawing two lines when the question says "draw one straight line," or giving two examples when only one is asked for, can wipe out a mark entirely — especially if one of your answers is wrong.
Before you respond to any linking or multiple choice style question, read the instruction and note exactly what it's asking for. One line means one line. One example means one example. It sounds simple, but under exam pressure it's easy to rush past the detail.
3. Using Vague Language Like "Amount" or "It"
Words like "amount" or "it" are too imprecise to score marks in a science exam. Examiners need to know exactly what you're referring to, and a word that could mean anything effectively means nothing.
Replace "amount" with the specific quantity you mean — "mass," "volume," or "concentration." And never write "it" without asking yourself whether the reader could possibly misidentify what you're referring to. If there's any doubt, name the structure or substance directly. The same goes for vague phrases like "where you live" — be specific: "poor living conditions, such as damp housing." Precision is what separates a mark from no mark."
4. Ignoring the Diagram
When a question tells you to refer to a diagram, it means the diagram contains information you're supposed to use — and students who skip past it almost always leave marks on the table. Answering from memory alone when the visual clues are right there in front of you is a really common and avoidable mistake.
Before you write a single word, study the diagram carefully. Describe what you can actually see in the image and connect it directly to your biological knowledge. The question is pointing you towards it for a reason.
5. Not Showing Your Working in Calculations
It doesn't matter how confident you are in your answer — if you don't show your working and your final answer is wrong, you'll walk away with zero. But if your method is clear and only the last step goes wrong, you can still pick up marks along the way.
Always write out every step of your calculation, no matter how straightforward it feels. Error carried forward marks are real marks — but only if the examiner can see your reasoning.
6. Using Everyday Language Instead of Scientific Terms
Saying a muscle "expands" instead of "relaxes," or using "immune" when you mean "resistant" in the context of bacteria — these feel like minor slips, but they signal to an examiner that you don't quite have the precision they're looking for.
Learn the exact terms from the specification and use them consistently. Words like "denature," "active site," "contract," and "refract" exist for a reason — they mean something specific, and using them correctly is what earns marks.
7. Repeating What the Question Already Told You
This is a subtle one, but it costs marks more often than students realise. Weaker answers spend sentences restating information that was already given in the question stem, leaving no room for the new scientific knowledge the examiner is actually looking for.*
Every sentence in your answer should add something new. If you're writing something the question already told you, delete it and replace it with genuine biological reasoning or data interpretation.
8. Mixing Up "Measure" and "Control" in Practicals
A really common misconception is saying that a thermometer is used to control temperature. It isn't — a thermometer measures temperature. Controlling it is the job of a water bath or incubator, and confusing the two suggests a misunderstanding of experimental method.
Keep the distinction clear. Measure means you're recording a value. Control means you're actively maintaining it at a set level. A thermometer tells you what the temperature is — a water bath is what keeps it there.
9. Listing Numbers Instead of Describing the Trend
When a question asks you to describe a trend from a graph or table, simply reading out the numbers isn't enough. Writing "at 10°C it was 20, at 20°C it was 35, at 30°C it was 48" tells the examiner what the data says — but not what it means. That's the part that earns the mark.
Start by stating the overall pattern — "the rate increases as temperature rises" — and then back it up with specific figures from the graph or table. The trend comes first, the data comes second. One supports the other.
10. Forgetting Units or Significant Figures
This is one of those finishing-line mistakes that's genuinely painful to make — doing all the hard work of a calculation correctly, then dropping a mark because you forgot to convert mm to µm, or didn't round to the number of significant figures the question asked for.
Once you've got your answer, go back and re-read the final line of the question before you write anything down. Check whether it asks for a specific number of significant figures, a particular unit, or both. And if the unit isn't already printed on the answer line, make sure you add it yourself. It's a small habit that protects marks you've already earned."
Confusing Variation With Selection Pressures
These two concepts are closely linked in evolution, which is exactly why they get mixed up so often. But they're asking about different things, and blurring the distinction will cost you marks.
Keep them clearly separated in your mind. Variation comes from within — genetics, mutations, sexual reproduction. Selection pressures come from outside — disease, predators, climate change. One creates differences between organisms, the other determines which differences are advantageous.
12. Being Vague With Language
Last but not least, precision in language is essential for GCSE Biology. Writing "it" when you mean "the active site," or "resources" when you mean "glucose" or "nitrates," signals to an examiner that your understanding isn't quite as secure as it could be.
How to avoid it: Never write "it" without asking whether the examiner could misidentify what you're referring to. And replace broad terms like "resources" with exactly what you mean — "water," "nitrates," "glucose." The more specific you are, the more confident your answer sounds.
How many marks do I need for a Grade 9 in Edexcel GCSE Biology Higher Tier?
For Edexcel (Pearson) GCSE Biology Higher Tier (Papers 1H + 2H, max 200 marks), a Grade 9 has typically required around 162 to 167 marks out of 200 between 2022–2025, depending on the difficulty of the papers.
Here are the Grade 9 boundaries by year:
2022 (Jun): 165 / 200
2023 (Jun): 162 / 200
2024 (Jun): 166 / 200
2025 (Jun): 167 / 200
Safe target: aim for 165+ marks to be comfortably on track for a Grade 9.
Our Insider examiner tip: Most students of our student actually lose the final few Grade 9 marks on 6-mark practical-method questions and data interpretation (graphs, calculations, required practicals). The quickest way to push from Grade 8 to Grade 9 is to perfect method structure (variables + control + repeat + conclusion) and avoid dropping marks on command words like describe, explain, and evaluate.
What about Edexcel GCSE Biology Foundation Tier?
For Foundation Tier, the highest possible grade is Grade 5, so students cannot achieve Grades 6–9 on this tier.
In recent years, the Grade 5 boundary (max 200) has ranged from 115 to 130 marks:
2022 (Jun): 115 / 200
2023 (Jun): 119 / 200
2024 (Jun): 130 / 200
2025 (Jun): 130 / 200
Safe target: aim for 125–130+ marks to secure a strong Grade 5. Typical Grade 5 range (2022–2025): 115–130 / 200
Here's our insider examiner tip:Foundation students aiming for Grade 5 should prioritise core recall + simple application: get near-full marks on low-tariff questions (1–3 marks), then target the “step-up” marks on 4–6 mark questions by using keywords, giving a clear chain of reasoning, and referring to the data in the question.
Are there any changes to the 2026 Edexcel GCSE Biology exams that you need to be aware of when using past papers?
No significant changes. The core topics remain the same and the assessment structure is identical to previous years — two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2), each 1 hour 45 minutes, worth 100 marks and 50% of the total GCSE. Question types also remain the same: a mix of multiple-choice, short-answer, and 6-mark extended-response questions. Past papers are therefore a reliable reflection of what to expect in 2026.
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