Unit AS 1
Molecules and Cells
- BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES
- ENZYMES
- VIRUSES AND CELL STRUCTURE
- CELL PHYSIOLOGY AND TRANSPORT
- CONTINUITY OF CELLS
- TISSUES AND ORGANS
1 hour 30 minutesstructured questions and an essay15% of the A level
CCEA A-Level Biology, memorised fast.
Long notes are boring. Brain-hack the whole 1010 specification with active recall and actually remember it.
- Spec 1010
- 24 topics
- 215 subtopics
CCEA A-Level Biology 1010
Biological Molecules
Topic overviewWater as a solventInorganic ions and their rolesMonosaccharides and the glycosidic bondDisaccharides and polysaccharidesLipids, triglycerides and phospholipidsAmino acids and protein structureProtein shape, conjugated proteins and prionsNucleic acids: nucleotides, DNA and RNADNA replication and the Meselson–Stahl experimentBiochemical tests and paper chromatography
Enzymes
Topic overviewEnzymes as globular proteins and the active siteSpecificity, cofactors and coenzymesActivation energy and models of enzyme actionThe effect of temperature and pHThe effect of substrate and enzyme concentrationCompetitive and non-competitive inhibitionEnzymes as biomarkers of disease and inhibitors as drugsImmobilised enzymes and biosensors
Viruses and Cell Structure
Topic overviewBacteriophage and HIV structureViral replication in host cellsProkaryotic and eukaryotic cells comparedMembrane structure: the fluid mosaic modelFunctions of membrane componentsMitochondria and chloroplastsRibosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and lysosomesThe nucleus, the cytoskeleton and plasmodesmataPlant, fungal and animal cellsMicroscopy, cell measurement and cell fractionation
Cell Physiology and Transport
Continuity of Cells
Topic overviewThe cell cycle: interphase and the gap phasesControl points in the cell cycle and cancerChromosome structure, haploidy and diploidyMitosis: the events of the four stagesCytokinesis and the significance of mitosisAnticancer drugs and the cell cycleMeiosis I and the first divisionMeiosis II and the significance of meiosisPreparing and examining slides of cell division
Tissues and Organs
Exchange Surfaces and Gas Exchange
Topic overviewSurface area, volume and the surface area to volume ratioFeatures of efficient exchange surfacesThe need for mass transport systemsFick's law and the rate of gas exchangeGas exchange in plants and the compensation pointGas exchange at the alveolusThe respiratory tree and the mechanism of ventilationThe effects of smoking on the breathing systemUsing a respirometer to measure gas exchange
Transport in Plants
Topic overviewEpidermis, endodermis and the tissues of the rootXylem vessels and their lignification patternsPhloem: sieve-tube elements and companion cellsWater and mineral ion uptake by root hairsThe apoplast and symplast pathwaysTranspiration and the factors affecting its rateCohesion-tension theory and the transpiration streamTranslocation of organic solutes in the phloemXerophytes and hydrophytes
The Circulatory System in Mammals
Topic overviewDouble circulation and the major blood vesselsThe structure and function of arteries, veins and capillariesAtherosclerosis, atheroma and the investigation of blood vesselsThe structure of the mammalian heartThe cardiac cycle and the operation of the valvesMyogenic stimulation and the electrocardiogramBlood cells and the stained blood filmPlasma, tissue fluid and blood clottingHaemoglobin and the oxygen dissociation curveThe Bohr effect, myoglobin and altitude
Adaptation and Biodiversity
Topic overviewAdaptation and the ways organisms meet environmental challengesEcological factors and the ecological nicheSampling procedures and sampling devicesEstimating abundance, density, frequency and percentage coverThe biochemical basis of life and the levels of biodiversityMeasuring species diversity with Simpson's indexHandling data: averages, spread and the t-testTaxonomy, nomenclature and the binomial systemThe concept of a speciesThe taxonomic hierarchy from genus to kingdomPhylogenetic taxonomy and molecular evidenceThe five kingdom system: prokaryotae, protoctista and fungiPlantae, animalia and alternative classification systems
Human Impact on Biodiversity
Topic overviewMonoculture, polyculture and intensive agricultureCrop rotation and hedgerow conservationPredator strips, pesticides and integrated pest managementOrganic pollution of waterways by slurry and silage effluentEutrophication and fertiliser run-offBiological oxygen demand and reducing aquatic pollutionConservation initiatives and habitat protectionGlobal warming, climate change and biodiversity
Homeostasis and Excretion
Topic overviewPrinciples of homeostasis and negative feedbackExcretion, osmoregulation and nitrogenous wasteGross structure of the kidney and the urinary systemStructure of the nephron and its blood supplyEpithelia of the nephron and their adaptationsThe glomerular filterUltrafiltration and the forces that drive itSelective reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubuleThe loop of Henlé and the medullary salt gradientADH, osmoreceptors and the control of water balance
Immunity
Topic overviewNatural barriers to infectionAntigens, antibodies and the antigen–antibody reactionAntibody-mediated immunity and B-lymphocytesCell-mediated immunity and T-lymphocytesActive immunity, passive immunity and vaccinationTransplant rejection and immunosuppressionBlood group polymorphism and the rhesus factorTransfusion compatibility and its consequencesAntibiotic resistance and the search for new antimicrobialsELISA and the detection of disease biomarkers
Co-Ordination and Control
Topic overviewPhytochromes and the control of floweringPlant growth substances and stem elongationThe structure of a neuroneResting potential, threshold and the action potentialImpulse propagation and the speed of conductionSynapse structure and chemical transmissionExcitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentialsGross structure of the eye and accommodationThe retina, rods and conesSkeletal muscle and the sliding filament theory
Populations and Communities
Topic overviewPopulation growth curves, carrying capacity and environmental resistancer-selected and K-selected speciesInteractions between populationsBiological control of pest speciesPopulation dynamics and changes in population sizeEstimating population size in the field and the laboratoryCommunities and ecosystemsSuccession and climax communities
Ecological Energetics and Nutrient Cycling
Topic overviewFood chains, food webs and detritus food chainsTrophic levels, gross and net primary productionEcological pyramids and their usefulnessEnergy transfer efficiency between trophic levelsWhy energy is lost at each trophic levelImplications for agriculture and intensive farmingThe carbon cycleThe nitrogen cycle and the role of bacteria
Respiration
Topic overviewATP and the ATP/ADP cycleGlycolysisThe mitochondrion and the sites of aerobic respirationThe link reaction and the Krebs cycleThe electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylationATP yield from one molecule of glucoseAnaerobic respiration in animals, plants and fungiAerobic and anaerobic respiration compared, and oxygen debtRespiratory quotient and measuring respiration
Photosynthesis
Topic overviewChloroplast structure and the sites of photosynthesisPhotosynthetic pigments and paper chromatographyAbsorption spectra and action spectraPhotosystems, photoactivation and the Z-schemePhotolysis of water, reduced NADP and redox indicatorsCarbon dioxide fixation and rubiscoReduction of glycerate phosphate and regeneration of ribulose bisphosphateLimiting factors, the compensation point and measuring photosynthesis
DNA as the Genetic Code
Topic overviewGenes and the nature of the genetic codeExons, introns and RNA splicingComparing DNA and RNATranscription and RNA polymeraseTransfer RNA, ribosomes and the sites of translationTranslation and polypeptide synthesisOne gene, one polypeptide and the control of the phenotypeEpigenetics, methylation and histone modification
Gene Technology
Topic overviewThe polymerase chain reactionDNA probes and genetic markersMicroarrays, pharmacogenetics and personalised medicineGenetic fingerprinting and gel electrophoresisThe stages of gene transferGenetically modified microorganismsTransgenic animals and plantsGene therapyGenome sequencing and the Human Genome ProjectGene inactivation and knockout organismsSocial, ethical and ecological issues of gene technology
Genes and Patterns of Inheritance
Topic overviewGenotype, phenotype and the environmentChromosomes, genes and allelesMonohybrid inheritance and Mendel's first lawCodominance, multiple alleles and lethal allelesTest crossesDihybrid inheritance and Mendel's second lawAutosomes, sex chromosomes and sex determinationGene interaction and epistasisPolygenic inheritance and continuous variationThe chi-squared test
Population Genetics and Evolution
Evolutionary Trends in Plants
What CCEA A-Level Biology covers
CCEA A-Level Biology (601/8487/5, subject code 1010) is the Northern Ireland board's specification, first taught from September 2016. It is six units: three at AS and three at A2, with a written examination on the content of each of the four content units and a separate practical skills unit at each level combining a written paper with internally assessed practical work. Nothing in the content is optional — every student studies all of it — and the AS content is assumed at A2 rather than repeated. Each written content paper ends with an essay after six to eight structured questions at AS or six to nine at A2, so the subject rewards being able to write at length as well as to recall.
CCEA GCE Biology, subject code 1010, qualification number 601/8487/5 at A level and 601/8486/3 at AS, first teaching September 2016. Read the CCEA specification ↗
How it is assessed
Unit AS 2
Organisms and Biodiversity
- EXCHANGE SURFACES AND GAS EXCHANGE
- TRANSPORT IN PLANTS
- THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM IN MAMMALS
- ADAPTATION AND BIODIVERSITY
- HUMAN IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY
1 hour 30 minutesstructured questions and an essay15% of the A level
Unit AS 3
Practical Skills in AS Biology
- BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES
- ENZYMES
- VIRUSES AND CELL STRUCTURE
- CELL PHYSIOLOGY AND TRANSPORT
- CONTINUITY OF CELLS
- TISSUES AND ORGANS
- EXCHANGE SURFACES AND GAS EXCHANGE
- TRANSPORT IN PLANTS
- THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM IN MAMMALS
- ADAPTATION AND BIODIVERSITY
- HUMAN IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY
1 hour, plus internally assessed practical workpractical skills10% of the A level
Unit A2 1
Physiology, Co-ordination and Control, and Ecosystems
- HOMEOSTASIS AND EXCRETION
- IMMUNITY
- CO-ORDINATION AND CONTROL
- POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES
- ECOLOGICAL ENERGETICS AND NUTRIENT CYCLING
2 hours 15 minutesstructured questions and an essay24% of the A level
Unit A2 2
Biochemistry, Genetics and Evolutionary Trends
- RESPIRATION
- PHOTOSYNTHESIS
- DNA AS THE GENETIC CODE
- GENE TECHNOLOGY
- GENES AND PATTERNS OF INHERITANCE
- POPULATION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION
- EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS IN PLANTS
- EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS IN ANIMALS
2 hours 15 minutesstructured questions and an essay24% of the A level
Unit A2 3
Practical Skills in Biology
- HOMEOSTASIS AND EXCRETION
- IMMUNITY
- CO-ORDINATION AND CONTROL
- POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES
- ECOLOGICAL ENERGETICS AND NUTRIENT CYCLING
- RESPIRATION
- PHOTOSYNTHESIS
- DNA AS THE GENETIC CODE
- GENE TECHNOLOGY
- GENES AND PATTERNS OF INHERITANCE
- POPULATION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION
- EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS IN PLANTS
- EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS IN ANIMALS
1 hour 15 minutes, plus internally assessed practical workpractical skills12% of the A level
The full specification
24 topics, 215 subtopics. Open any topic to see what is inside it.
01Biological Molecules10 subtopicsOpen topic
- Water as a solvent
- Inorganic ions and their roles
- Monosaccharides and the glycosidic bond
- Disaccharides and polysaccharides
- Lipids, triglycerides and phospholipids
- Amino acids and protein structure
- Protein shape, conjugated proteins and prions
- Nucleic acids: nucleotides, DNA and RNA
- DNA replication and the Meselson–Stahl experiment
- Biochemical tests and paper chromatography
02Enzymes8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Enzymes as globular proteins and the active site
- Specificity, cofactors and coenzymes
- Activation energy and models of enzyme action
- The effect of temperature and pH
- The effect of substrate and enzyme concentration
- Competitive and non-competitive inhibition
- Enzymes as biomarkers of disease and inhibitors as drugs
- Immobilised enzymes and biosensors
03Viruses and Cell Structure10 subtopicsOpen topic
- Bacteriophage and HIV structure
- Viral replication in host cells
- Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells compared
- Membrane structure: the fluid mosaic model
- Functions of membrane components
- Mitochondria and chloroplasts
- Ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and lysosomes
- The nucleus, the cytoskeleton and plasmodesmata
- Plant, fungal and animal cells
- Microscopy, cell measurement and cell fractionation
04Cell Physiology and Transport7 subtopicsOpen topic
05Continuity of Cells9 subtopicsOpen topic
- The cell cycle: interphase and the gap phases
- Control points in the cell cycle and cancer
- Chromosome structure, haploidy and diploidy
- Mitosis: the events of the four stages
- Cytokinesis and the significance of mitosis
- Anticancer drugs and the cell cycle
- Meiosis I and the first division
- Meiosis II and the significance of meiosis
- Preparing and examining slides of cell division
06Tissues and Organs7 subtopicsOpen topic
07Exchange Surfaces and Gas Exchange9 subtopicsOpen topic
- Surface area, volume and the surface area to volume ratio
- Features of efficient exchange surfaces
- The need for mass transport systems
- Fick's law and the rate of gas exchange
- Gas exchange in plants and the compensation point
- Gas exchange at the alveolus
- The respiratory tree and the mechanism of ventilation
- The effects of smoking on the breathing system
- Using a respirometer to measure gas exchange
08Transport in Plants9 subtopicsOpen topic
- Epidermis, endodermis and the tissues of the root
- Xylem vessels and their lignification patterns
- Phloem: sieve-tube elements and companion cells
- Water and mineral ion uptake by root hairs
- The apoplast and symplast pathways
- Transpiration and the factors affecting its rate
- Cohesion-tension theory and the transpiration stream
- Translocation of organic solutes in the phloem
- Xerophytes and hydrophytes
09The Circulatory System in Mammals10 subtopicsOpen topic
- Double circulation and the major blood vessels
- The structure and function of arteries, veins and capillaries
- Atherosclerosis, atheroma and the investigation of blood vessels
- The structure of the mammalian heart
- The cardiac cycle and the operation of the valves
- Myogenic stimulation and the electrocardiogram
- Blood cells and the stained blood film
- Plasma, tissue fluid and blood clotting
- Haemoglobin and the oxygen dissociation curve
- The Bohr effect, myoglobin and altitude
10Adaptation and Biodiversity13 subtopicsOpen topic
- Adaptation and the ways organisms meet environmental challenges
- Ecological factors and the ecological niche
- Sampling procedures and sampling devices
- Estimating abundance, density, frequency and percentage cover
- The biochemical basis of life and the levels of biodiversity
- Measuring species diversity with Simpson's index
- Handling data: averages, spread and the t-test
- Taxonomy, nomenclature and the binomial system
- The concept of a species
- The taxonomic hierarchy from genus to kingdom
- Phylogenetic taxonomy and molecular evidence
- The five kingdom system: prokaryotae, protoctista and fungi
- Plantae, animalia and alternative classification systems
11Human Impact on Biodiversity8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Monoculture, polyculture and intensive agriculture
- Crop rotation and hedgerow conservation
- Predator strips, pesticides and integrated pest management
- Organic pollution of waterways by slurry and silage effluent
- Eutrophication and fertiliser run-off
- Biological oxygen demand and reducing aquatic pollution
- Conservation initiatives and habitat protection
- Global warming, climate change and biodiversity
12Homeostasis and Excretion10 subtopicsOpen topic
- Principles of homeostasis and negative feedback
- Excretion, osmoregulation and nitrogenous waste
- Gross structure of the kidney and the urinary system
- Structure of the nephron and its blood supply
- Epithelia of the nephron and their adaptations
- The glomerular filter
- Ultrafiltration and the forces that drive it
- Selective reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubule
- The loop of Henlé and the medullary salt gradient
- ADH, osmoreceptors and the control of water balance
13Immunity10 subtopicsOpen topic
- Natural barriers to infection
- Antigens, antibodies and the antigen–antibody reaction
- Antibody-mediated immunity and B-lymphocytes
- Cell-mediated immunity and T-lymphocytes
- Active immunity, passive immunity and vaccination
- Transplant rejection and immunosuppression
- Blood group polymorphism and the rhesus factor
- Transfusion compatibility and its consequences
- Antibiotic resistance and the search for new antimicrobials
- ELISA and the detection of disease biomarkers
14Co-Ordination and Control10 subtopicsOpen topic
- Phytochromes and the control of flowering
- Plant growth substances and stem elongation
- The structure of a neurone
- Resting potential, threshold and the action potential
- Impulse propagation and the speed of conduction
- Synapse structure and chemical transmission
- Excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentials
- Gross structure of the eye and accommodation
- The retina, rods and cones
- Skeletal muscle and the sliding filament theory
15Populations and Communities8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Population growth curves, carrying capacity and environmental resistance
- r-selected and K-selected species
- Interactions between populations
- Biological control of pest species
- Population dynamics and changes in population size
- Estimating population size in the field and the laboratory
- Communities and ecosystems
- Succession and climax communities
16Ecological Energetics and Nutrient Cycling8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Food chains, food webs and detritus food chains
- Trophic levels, gross and net primary production
- Ecological pyramids and their usefulness
- Energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels
- Why energy is lost at each trophic level
- Implications for agriculture and intensive farming
- The carbon cycle
- The nitrogen cycle and the role of bacteria
17Respiration9 subtopicsOpen topic
- ATP and the ATP/ADP cycle
- Glycolysis
- The mitochondrion and the sites of aerobic respiration
- The link reaction and the Krebs cycle
- The electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation
- ATP yield from one molecule of glucose
- Anaerobic respiration in animals, plants and fungi
- Aerobic and anaerobic respiration compared, and oxygen debt
- Respiratory quotient and measuring respiration
18Photosynthesis8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Chloroplast structure and the sites of photosynthesis
- Photosynthetic pigments and paper chromatography
- Absorption spectra and action spectra
- Photosystems, photoactivation and the Z-scheme
- Photolysis of water, reduced NADP and redox indicators
- Carbon dioxide fixation and rubisco
- Reduction of glycerate phosphate and regeneration of ribulose bisphosphate
- Limiting factors, the compensation point and measuring photosynthesis
19DNA as the Genetic Code8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Genes and the nature of the genetic code
- Exons, introns and RNA splicing
- Comparing DNA and RNA
- Transcription and RNA polymerase
- Transfer RNA, ribosomes and the sites of translation
- Translation and polypeptide synthesis
- One gene, one polypeptide and the control of the phenotype
- Epigenetics, methylation and histone modification
20Gene Technology11 subtopicsOpen topic
- The polymerase chain reaction
- DNA probes and genetic markers
- Microarrays, pharmacogenetics and personalised medicine
- Genetic fingerprinting and gel electrophoresis
- The stages of gene transfer
- Genetically modified microorganisms
- Transgenic animals and plants
- Gene therapy
- Genome sequencing and the Human Genome Project
- Gene inactivation and knockout organisms
- Social, ethical and ecological issues of gene technology
21Genes and Patterns of Inheritance10 subtopicsOpen topic
- Genotype, phenotype and the environment
- Chromosomes, genes and alleles
- Monohybrid inheritance and Mendel's first law
- Codominance, multiple alleles and lethal alleles
- Test crosses
- Dihybrid inheritance and Mendel's second law
- Autosomes, sex chromosomes and sex determination
- Gene interaction and epistasis
- Polygenic inheritance and continuous variation
- The chi-squared test
22Population Genetics and Evolution8 subtopicsOpen topic
23Evolutionary Trends in Plants7 subtopicsOpen topic
How you work through it
Pick the mode that fits the time you have.
Try three questions
No account needed. Answer from memory first.
Your recallNot started
Key term
How was the DNA separated in the Meselson and Stahl experiment, and what did each generation's result rule out?
Key term
How does a fibrous protein differ from a globular one, and what does each kind do?
Key term
Why is a water molecule described as polar?
Spaced Repetition Schedule
How reviews are timed
Levo will automatically distribute all of your progress into a spaced repetition calendar. Once you’ve answered, it’s scheduled for you on the next day in the spaced repetition schedule. Over time, the gaps between your recall get bigger, from a day to three years, reinforcing memorisation over a long period of time.
Interval sequence
- 1 day
- 3 days
- 7 days
- 14 days
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 4 months
- 8 months
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material
Biology revision questions
Common questions about revising CCEA A-Level Biology. Tap any to open it.
How do you memorise CCEA A-Level Biology?
By testing yourself, not rereading. Active recall, pulling each answer from memory then checking it, builds far stronger memory than highlighting notes. Levo runs the method for you across all 24 Biology topics and brings each one back on a spaced schedule so it stays memorised.
What is the fastest way to revise Biology for CCEA?
Skip the long notes and go straight to retrieval. Levo turns the 1010 specification into short questions you drill with rapid recall, cram whole papers in one sitting, and a readiness score tells you exactly what is left to learn.
What topics are on CCEA A-Level Biology (1010)?
There are 24 topics, split across 215 subtopics, from Biological Molecules, Enzymes, Viruses and Cell Structure and more. Every topic is listed above, and each one opens to the subtopics inside it.
What do you get inside Levo for Biology?
Six ways to work the same material. The 3-step method for learning a set, Cram for sorting a whole paper into what you know and what you do not, Blank Blitz for making key facts automatic, Build It for assembling full-mark answers, Test It for catching misconceptions, and Brain Breaks between sessions. A readiness score tracks how much of the subject you have memorised.
Is active recall better than rereading your notes for Biology?
Consistently, yes. Rereading feels productive but fades quickly. Retrieving an answer from memory, the way Levo tests you, is what actually forms durable memory, and it shows you honestly what you do and do not know.
Does Levo cover the whole CCEA Biology specification?
Every topic on the 1010 specification is covered, written from the published subject content. The full list is above, and each topic opens to its subtopics so you can see exactly what is there before you subscribe.
How can you encourage your teenager to revise?
Make it short, structured and low-pressure. Levo gives a clear daily plan, quick sessions rather than marathon ones, streaks that reward showing up, and an honest readiness score, so revision feels like progress instead of a chore. Parents can add an account and follow along.
Can you revise Biology the night before an exam?
Yes. Cram mode is built for exactly that: fly through a whole paper, sort every topic into red, amber and green, then drill just the reds and ambers you do not know yet. It is the honest version of a last-minute session.
Every question in Biology, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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