Knowing exactly what's on each paper is half the battle. Here's your complete guide to the topics covered in Biology, Chemistry and Physics Papers 1 and 2 for AQA, OCR Gateway, and Pearson Edexcel.

🧬 Biology

AQA Biology

Paper 1 (Topics 1–4)

• Cell Biology
• Organisation
• Infection & Response
• Bioenergetics

Paper 2 (Topics 5–7)

• Homeostasis & Response
• Inheritance, Variation & Evolution
• Ecology

OCR Gateway Biology

Paper 1 (B1–B3)

• B1: You and Your Genes
• B2: Keeping Healthy
• B3: Living Together – Food and Ecosystems

Paper 2 (B4–B6)

• B4: Using Food and Making New Foods
• B5: The Human Body – Stay in Control
• B6: Life on Earth – Past, Present and Future

Pearson Edexcel Biology

Paper 1 (Topics 1–5)

• Key Concepts in Biology
• Cells and Control
• Genetics
• Natural Selection and Genetic Modification
• Health, Disease and the Development of Medicines

Paper 2 (Topics 6–9)

• Plant Structures and Their Functions
• Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis
• Exchange and Transport in Animals
• Ecosystems and Material Cycles

⚗️ Chemistry

AQA Chemistry

Paper 1 (Topics 1–5)

• Atomic Structure & the Periodic Table
• Bonding, Structure & Properties of Matter
• Quantitative Chemistry
• Chemical Changes
• Energy Changes

Paper 2 (Topics 6–10)

• The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change
• Organic Chemistry
• Chemical Analysis
• Chemistry of the Atmosphere
• Using Resources

OCR Gateway Chemistry

Paper 1 (C1–C3)

• C1: The Periodic Table
• C2: Bonding, Structure and Properties
• C3: Chemical Quantities

Paper 2 (C4–C6)

• C4: Chemical Changes
• C5: Monitoring and Controlling Chemical Reactions
• C6: Global Challenges

Pearson Edexcel Chemistry

Paper 1 (Topics 1–5)

• Key Concepts in Chemistry
• States of Matter and Mixtures
• Chemical Changes
• Extracting Metals and Equilibria
• Separate Chemistry 1 (Higher only)

Paper 2 (Topics 6–9)

• Groups in the Periodic Table
• Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes
• Fuels and Earth Science
• Separate Chemistry 2 (Higher only)

⚡ Physics

AQA Physics

Paper 1 (Topics 1–4)

• Energy
• Electricity
• Particle Model of Matter
• Atomic Structure

Paper 2 (Topics 5–8)

• Forces
• Waves
• Magnetism & Electromagnetism
• Space Physics (Higher only)

Revising AQA Physics? Our AQA GCSE Physics revision resources include retrieval question sheets for every topic, from Energy (P1) to Space Physics (P8).

OCR Gateway Physics

Paper 1 (P1–P3)

• P1: Matter
• P2: Forces
• P3: Electricity

Paper 2 (P4–P6)

• P4: Magnetism and Magnetic Effects
• P5: Waves in Matter
• P6: Radioactivity

Studying OCR Gateway Physics? Browse our OCR GCSE Physics revision resources for topic-matched retrieval and calculation practice.

Pearson Edexcel Physics

Paper 1 (Topics 1–5)

• Key Concepts of Physics
• Motion and Forces
• Conservation of Energy
• Waves
• Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Paper 2 (Topics 6–9)

• Radioactivity
• Astronomy
• Energy – Forces Doing Work
• Forces and Their Effects

On Edexcel? The Complete Edexcel GCSE Physics Bundle covers all 15 topics in one download, or explore our full Edexcel GCSE Physics revision resources.

📝 Quick Tips for Revision

• Focus Paper 1 first — it's often sat earlier in the exam window
• Use past papers to identify which topics carry the most marks
• Don't neglect required practicals — they appear in both papers
• Higher tier students should pay extra attention to topics marked Higher only