8461 · AQA GCSE
8461/21
Foundation Tier
Biology · June 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
2.2 / 5
200
210 min
Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
200
Duration
210 min
Session difficulty
2.2 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The June 2024 series for the Foundation Tier (8461/1F & 2F) sits comfortably at a 2.2 out of 5 on our difficulty index.
It represents a highly accessible pair of papers featuring clear, unambiguous questions, direct multiple-choice or matching options, and well-structured mathematical tasks.
However, students hoping for an easy pass were tested on depth during the level-of-response 6-mark questions on Cystic Fibrosis (Paper 1) and the Light Tropism investigation (Paper 2).
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Knowledge Retrieval
Weight: 4100%Application of
Weight: 250%Evaluation & Analysis
Weight: 125%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level 9
Approx. 71% of maximum mark
Level 8
Approx. 63% of maximum mark
Level 7
Approx. 56% of maximum mark
Level 6
Approx. 45% of maximum mark
Level 5
Approx. 35% of maximum mark
Level 4
Approx. 24% of maximum mark
Level 3
Approx. 19% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
Match the expected response style for “Give” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Name” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Complete” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.1
Min per mark: 1.1
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
42 marks this session
Organisation of an ecosystem
21 marks this session
Plant hormones
19 marks this session
Communicable diseases
18 marks this session
The human nervous system
17 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
Communicable diseases
Hormonal coordination in humans
Organisation of an ecosystem
Plant hormones
Cell structure
Transport in cells
The human nervous system
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1F:
Paper 2F:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
42 marks this session
Practise in RevuiOrganisation of an ecosystem
21 marks this session
Practise in RevuiPlant hormones
19 marks this session
Practise in RevuiCommunicable diseases
18 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe human nervous system
17 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The June 2024 series for the Foundation Tier (8461/1F & 2F) sits comfortably at a 2.2 out of 5 on our difficulty index.
- 2Message
It represents a highly accessible pair of papers featuring clear, unambiguous questions, direct multiple-choice or matching options, and well-structured mathematical tasks.
- 3Message
However, students hoping for an easy pass were tested on depth during the level-of-response 6-mark questions on Cystic Fibrosis (Paper 1) and the Light Tropism investigation (Paper 2).
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Biology
The June 2024 series for the Foundation Tier (8461/1F & 2F) sits comfortably at a 2.2 out of 5 on our difficulty index. It represents a highly accessible pair of papers featuring clear, unambiguous questions, direct multiple-choice or matching options, and well-structured mathema
The June 2024 series for the Foundation Tier (8461/1F & 2F) sits comfortably at a 2.2 out of 5 on our difficulty index.
It represents a highly accessible pair of papers featuring clear, unambiguous questions, direct multiple-choice or matching options, and well-structured mathematical tasks.
However, students hoping for an easy pass were tested on depth during the level-of-response 6-mark questions on Cystic Fibrosis (Paper 1) and the Light Tropism investigation (Paper 2).
- Total marks
- 200
- Duration
- 210 min
- Session difficulty
- 2.2 / 5
Session analysis
The June 2024 series for the Foundation Tier (8461/1F & 2F) sits comfortably at a 2.2 out of 5 on our difficulty index. It represents a highly accessible pair of papers featuring clear, unambiguous questions, direct multiple-choice or matching options, and well-structured mathematical tasks. However, students hoping for an easy pass were tested on depth during the level-of-response 6-mark questions on Cystic Fibrosis (Paper 1) and the Light Tropism investigation (Paper 2).
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1F:
Paper 2F:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
83% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Short Answer / Naming / Matching
72·48·36%
Structured Calculations & Graphing
47·18·24%
Multiple Choice / Tick Box
45·35·23%
Level-of-Response Extended Writing
36·6·18%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1F (Questions
0.95 m/minPaper 2F (Questions
0.95 m/minTotal marks
200
Total time
210 min
Avg pace
0.95
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Photosynthesis
95%95%
Stem cells
85%85%
Adaptations, interdependence and competition
80%80%
Executive Difficulty Verdict
The June 2024 series for the Foundation Tier (8461/1F & 2F) sits comfortably at a 2.2 out of 5 on our difficulty index. It represents a highly accessible pair of papers featuring clear, unambiguous questions, direct multiple-choice or matching options, and well-structured mathematical tasks. However, students hoping for an easy pass were tested on depth during the level-of-response 6-mark questions on Cystic Fibrosis (Paper 1) and the Light Tropism investigation (Paper 2).
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 45min
- Total marks
- 100
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- Multiple Choice / Tick Box, Short Answer / Naming / Matching, Structured Calculations & Graphing, Level-of-Response Extended Writing
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.