Biology · Higher
Higher Biology is built on three units: DNA and the genome, metabolism and survival, and sustainability and interdependence. The emphasis shifts to explaining mechanisms and interpreting experimental evidence.
What it offers you
Biology leads to medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, genetics, ecology and marine biology — and gives you a working understanding of life that stays with you.
What Higher actually asks of you
Paper 1 — multiple choice
Objective questions across all three units.
Paper 2 — extended answer
Structured questions with data handling, calculations and explanations of processes from gene expression to ecosystems.
Assignment — a practical investigation researched, carried out and evaluated.
Exact timings and mark allocations are printed on the front cover of each paper below.
Topics that come up
Papers & marking schemes
SQA publishes the most recent five years of papers. Older papers and specimen papers live on their site — open Biology Higher on sqa.org.uk.