Higher Human Biology exam date 2027

In 2027 Higher Human Biology is sat on Wednesday 12 May, from 09:00 to 11:30: one question paper with Section 1 (multiple choice) and Section 2 (written).

Weeks before your first paper

Hours a week for biology

Topic 1: Cells, DNA and gene expression

Topic 2: Mutations, genomics and metabolic pathways

Topic 3: Cellular respiration and energy in muscle

Topic 4: Reproduction, fertility and screening

Topic 5: Blood vessels and the heart

Topic 6: Cardiovascular disease, blood glucose and obesity

Topic 7: The nervous system, memory and synapses

Topic 8: Defence against disease, immunisation and clinical trials

26 weeks, 104 hours in all

Start with Topic 1

Cells, DNA and gene expression: 14.4 of your hours. It is 3 of the 20 questions on each timed paper, 15%.

Hours per topic
Topic	Your hours	Share of the checks
Topic 1: Cells, DNA and gene expression	14.4	15%
Topic 4: Reproduction, fertility and screening	14.4	15%
Topic 7: The nervous system, memory and synapses	14.4	15%
Topic 8: Defence against disease, immunisation and clinical trials	14.4	15%
Topic 2: Mutations, genomics and metabolic pathways	9.6	10%
Topic 3: Cellular respiration and energy in muscle	9.6	10%
Topic 5: Blood vessels and the heart	9.6	10%
Topic 6: Cardiovascular disease, blood glucose and obesity	9.6	10%

Week by week

Week 1Section 1: Cells, DNA and gene expression
Week 2Section 1: Cells, DNA and gene expression
Week 3Section 1: Cells, DNA and gene expression
Week 4Section 1: Cells, DNA and gene expression, Section 4: Reproduction, fertility and screening
Week 5Section 4: Reproduction, fertility and screening
Week 6Section 4: Reproduction, fertility and screening
Week 7Section 4: Reproduction, fertility and screening
Week 8Section 4: Reproduction, fertility and screening, Section 7: The nervous system, memory and synapses
Week 9Section 7: The nervous system, memory and synapses
Week 10Section 7: The nervous system, memory and synapses
Week 11Section 7: The nervous system, memory and synapses, Section 8: Defence against disease, immunisation and clinical trials
Week 12Section 8: Defence against disease, immunisation and clinical trials
Week 13Section 8: Defence against disease, immunisation and clinical trials
Week 14Section 8: Defence against disease, immunisation and clinical trials
Week 15Section 8: Defence against disease, immunisation and clinical trials, Section 2: Mutations, genomics and metabolic pathways
Week 16Section 2: Mutations, genomics and metabolic pathways
Week 17Section 2: Mutations, genomics and metabolic pathways, Section 3: Cellular respiration and energy in muscle
Week 18Section 3: Cellular respiration and energy in muscle
Week 19Section 3: Cellular respiration and energy in muscle
Week 20Section 3: Cellular respiration and energy in muscle, Section 5: Blood vessels and the heart
Week 21Section 5: Blood vessels and the heart
Week 22Section 5: Blood vessels and the heart, Section 6: Cardiovascular disease, blood glucose and obesity
Week 23Section 6: Cardiovascular disease, blood glucose and obesity
Week 24Section 6: Cardiovascular disease, blood glucose and obesity
Week 25A timed paper and two Section 2 style questions, then review every lost mark
Week 26A timed paper and two Section 2 style questions, then review every lost mark

Check your topics with the free test

Question paper	2 hours 30 minutes, 100 marks
Section 1	20 marks of multiple choice
Section 2	80 marks of written answers
Exam day 2027	Wednesday 12 May, 09:00 to 11:30

Using the weeks before the exam

Take the free check first: it shows which of the eight sections costs you most marks. Then work section by section with its lessons and practice, and sit a timed Section 1 paper every week or two.

Try 2 questions

Question 1Section 1 style

Percentage of IVF treatments resulting in a live birth. Under 35: 32. 35 to 37: 25. 38 to 39: 19. 40 to 42: 11. 43 and over: 4.
Age of woman (years)	Treatments resulting in a live birth (%)
Under 35	32
35 to 37	25
38 to 39	19
40 to 42	11
43 and over	4

A clinic recorded the percentage of IVF treatments that resulted in a live birth for women of different ages. Under 35: 32%. 35 to 37: 25%. 38 to 39: 19%. 40 to 42: 11%. 43 and over: 4%. What is the percentage decrease in the success rate between women under 35 and women aged 40 to 42?

Question 2Section 1 style

Mean recovery time: drug group 6.2 days, error bar from 5.8 to 6.6 days; placebo group 6.6 days, error bar from 6.1 to 7.1 days.
Group	Mean recovery time (days)	Error bar, lowest (days)	Error bar, highest (days)
Drug	6.2	5.8	6.6
Placebo	6.6	6.1	7.1

In a trial of a drug for a chest infection, the mean recovery time was 6.2 days in the drug group and 6.6 days in the placebo group. The table gives the range covered by each group's error bar: drug group 5.8 to 6.6 days, placebo group 6.1 to 7.1 days. Which conclusion is valid?

Next step

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Questions people ask

When is the Higher Human Biology exam in 2027?

Wednesday 12 May 2027, from 09:00 to 11:30.

How many papers are there?

One, in two sections, for 2 hours 30 minutes in all.