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Higher

Higher Human Biology

From session 2026/27, Higher Human Biology has one 100-mark paper lasting 2 hours 30 minutes. With the assignment scaled to 25, the course is out of 125. The 2027 exam is on Wednesday 12 May, 9am to 11:30am.

2027 examWednesday 12 May 2027
  • Question paper09:00 to 11:30
Question paper100 marks, 2 hours 30 minutesSection 1: 20 multiple-choice marks. Section 2: 80 marks of restricted and extended response.
Assignment25 marks, Up to 8 hours in total, with a 2-hour report stageMarked out of 20, then scaled to 25.

What grade is my mark?

out of 150
?

Type a total mark to see the grade it would have got.

How the A and C boundaries have moved

35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%202220232024202520262022: 78 of 1202023: 81 of 1202024: 102 of 1502025: 104 of 1502026: 105 of 1502022: 49 of 1202023: 53 of 1202024: 68 of 1502025: 71 of 1502026: 75 of 150AC

Boundaries as a share of the total marks. A lower line means the papers were judged harder that year. Qualifications Scotland publishes boundaries from 2022 in this format.

YearOut ofABCD
2026150105907560
2025150104877154
2024150102856851
202312081675339
202212078634934

The course in 2026/27

Higher Human Biology now has a single question paper. It replaces the two papers used up to 2026.

The paper is worth 100 marks and lasts 2 hours 30 minutes. Section 1 has 20 multiple-choice marks. Section 2 has 80 marks of short and extended answers, data handling and experimental questions.

The assignment is marked out of 20 and scaled to 25, down from 30. The course total is 125, so the exam is worth 80%.

In 2027 the exam is on Wednesday 12 May, from 9am to 11:30am. It is timetabled at the same time as Higher Biology.

Three units, 24 key areas

Human cells covers cell division, DNA replication, gene expression, mutations, genomics, metabolism, respiration and energy systems in muscle. Physiology and health covers reproduction, fertility and screening. It also covers the heart, blood vessels, cardiovascular disease and blood glucose. Neurobiology and immunology covers the nervous system, the cerebral cortex, memory, neurotransmitters, body defences, immunisation and clinical trials.

What the 2025 course report found

Most candidates handled DNA structure well. Many could predict a drug concentration in the blood, even though that question was set at grade A level.

Harder questions included:

  • naming the types of RNA found in the cytoplasm
  • working out how long it takes to make 128 copies of a DNA section
  • explaining why two PCR primers have different base sequences

On the primer question, a common mistake was describing DNA replication in general. Read what the question is actually asking.

The assignment

You investigate a topic, often through an experiment, then write a report under supervision. Most candidates in 2025 gave a clear aim and a correct table with means.

Conclusions were the weak point. A good conclusion answers the aim and is supported by all of your data.

How to use past papers

Older papers come in two parts. Sit them together in one 2 hour 30 minute block to practise the new length. Use the August 2026 specimen paper as a mock in the new format.

Compare every answer with the marking instructions. They show the key words markers credit, such as naming a specific type of RNA.

The report also asked candidates to avoid pencil. It makes answers harder for markers to read.

Revision checklist

Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.

  • Sit the August 2026 specimen paper as a timed mock
  • List the three types of RNA and where each is found
  • Practise doubling calculations for PCR cycles and DNA copies
  • Explain primer binding in PCR without drifting into DNA replication
  • Draw the stages of cellular respiration and the energy systems in muscle
  • Learn the hormonal control of the menstrual cycle with a labelled graph
  • Revise antenatal and postnatal screening tests and what each detects
  • Compare specific and non-specific immune defences in a table
  • Practise data questions on drug concentrations and clinical trial design
  • Write an assignment conclusion that answers your aim using all your data

Quick answers

Has Higher Human Biology changed for 2026/27?

Yes. The two papers are replaced by one 100-mark paper of 2 hours 30 minutes. The assignment is now scaled to 25 marks instead of 30.

Can I take Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology together?

In 2027 the two exams clash. Both are timetabled for 9am on Wednesday 12 May, so check with your school before choosing both.

How many marks is Higher Human Biology out of?

125: the 100-mark question paper plus the assignment scaled to 25.

What are the units in Higher Human Biology?

Human cells, Physiology and health, and Neurobiology and immunology. Each has eight key areas.