Cambridge O Level
Cambridge O Level Biology 5090 past papers
Cambridge’s past papers page for Cambridge O Level Biology (5090) has the June 2024 series and the specimen papers, free, with mark schemes. The button below opens it on Cambridge’s website.
What is free: For each syllabus, Cambridge’s public site has one exam series: the June 2024 series, with one version of each paper, its mark scheme and an examiner report. It also has specimen papers for the current syllabus.
What is held back: Every other series and version, including March, November and earlier years, is on Cambridge’s School Support Hub, for teachers at Cambridge schools.
June 2024
One version of each question paper, with its mark scheme and an examiner report for the series. Free on Cambridge’s page for 5090.
Specimen papers
Sample papers and mark schemes for the current syllabus, written by Cambridge before the first exams. Free on Cambridge’s page for 5090.
Other series: teachers only
Every other series and version, including March, November and earlier years, is on Cambridge’s School Support Hub, for teachers at Cambridge schools.
What the Biology exam contains
Cambridge O Level Biology (5090), on the 2026 to 2028 syllabus, has three exams, with grades from A* to E. Paper 1 is 1 hour of multiple choice (30% of the marks). Paper 2 is a 1 hour 45 minute theory paper (50%). The last 20% is a practical paper: either the Practical Test in the lab (Paper 3, 1 hour 30 minutes) or the written Alternative to Practical (Paper 4, 1 hour). Topics run from cells, biological molecules and enzymes to nutrition, transport, respiration, disease and immunity, coordination, reproduction, inheritance, biotechnology and ecology.
Biology at other boards
- AQA GCSE Biology
- Edexcel GCSE Biology
- Edexcel International GCSE Biology
- OCR GCSE Biology A
- Singapore G3 (O Level) Pure Biology prelims
- Singapore G3 (O Level) Science Biology prelims