CIE A Level Biology 9700 Papers 1 and 2: which topics have the most questions
By the Examaced team. , 6 min read
Paper 1 of CIE A Level Biology 9700 is all multiple choice, and Paper 2 asks structured questions on the same eleven AS topics. The Examaced question bank holds 1,400 Paper 1 and 210 Paper 2 questions from 2022–2026. Putting the two side by side shows which topics carry each paper, and they aren't the same.
Paper 1 and Paper 2 questions by topic
Ranked by Paper 1, with Paper 2 alongside. The bar shows Paper 1.
| Topic | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cell structure | 202 | 68 |
| Biological molecules | 200 | 46 |
| Transport in mammals | 163 | 52 |
| Nucleic acids and protein synthesis | 156 | 48 |
| Cell membranes and transport | 125 | 33 |
| The mitotic cell cycle | 118 | 36 |
| Transport in plants | 110 | 34 |
| Immunity | 110 | 49 |
| Infectious diseases | 102 | 69 |
| Enzymes | 85 | 38 |
| Gas exchange | 84 | 36 |
Counts are the question bank's topic tags. A question can sit under more than one topic, so treat them as a guide to weight, not exact shares of the paper.
What the numbers say
Two topics carry Paper 1
Cell structure (202) and Biological molecules (200) are well ahead of everything else. Cell structure covers organelles, microscopy and magnification; biological molecules covers carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and their tests. Both are early in the course, which makes them easy to under-revise later on.
Paper 2 has a different leader
In Paper 2, Infectious diseases leads with 69 questions, just ahead of Cell structure (68). Infectious diseases has only 102 Paper 1 questions, one of the smaller Paper 1 topics, but it's the biggest topic in the written paper. If you only practice multiple choice, you'll under-prepare for it.
Transport is the steady middle
Transport in mammals has 163 Paper 1 questions and 52 in Paper 2, high in both. The heart, blood vessels and blood are worth knowing thoroughly for both papers.
Enzymes and gas exchange are compact
Gas exchange (84) and Enzymes (85) have the fewest Paper 1 questions. Both can be finished in one or two sessions, which makes them a good place to build a habit of marking yourself strictly.
How to plan AS Biology practice
- Paper 1 first for the big two. Work through Cell structure and Biological molecules topic by topic. Multiple choice is fast, so you'll see a lot of variations quickly.
- Paper 2 for the written-paper leaders. Practice Infectious diseases and Immunity as structured questions, where the wording of your answer matters.
- Read the scheme for key terms. Biology marks often depend on one word. Compare your answer line by line with the scheme; our guide to mark scheme codes explains B marks and "any two" guidance.
- Go back to your mistakes before moving on to full papers.
Practicing Biology in Examaced
In Examaced, choose Biology 9700, then a paper and a topic. Paper 1 questions give you immediate feedback when you choose A, B, C or D. Written questions in Papers 2 and 4 open with the mark scheme beside your working; enter and save your marks, and they appear in Review with your error log.
Start with cell structure, or see every 9700 paper and topic.