CCEA past papers and mark schemes for GCSE Single Award Science

CCEA GCSE Single Award Science past papers and mark schemes

Here you can find CCEA past papers for GCSE Single Award Science. Use the links below to download question papers and mark schemes (which contain the answers).

If you’re unsure whether you need Foundation Tier or Higher Tier papers, consult your teacher.

Unit 1

Biology

Foundation Tier

November 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Higher Tier

November 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Unit 2

Chemistry

Foundation Tier

November 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Higher Tier

November 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Unit 3

Physics

Foundation Tier

November 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Higher Tier

November 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme

November 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme
March 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Unit 4

Practical Skills (Booklet A)

Foundation Tier

Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Higher Tier

Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Unit 4

Practical Skills (Booklet B)

Foundation Tier

Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Higher Tier

Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

More CCEA past papers and mark schemes

You can find more Single Award Science past papers and mark schemes on the CCEA website.

Past papers and mark schemes going back as far as 2018 are available there, along with many Irish Medium and modified versions of the papers.

Five top tips for your Single Award Science revision

A girl studying at a desk in her room at home.

1. Develop mind maps and summary sheets
Condense each topic into a single-page diagram (mind map) or bullet list (summary sheet) highlighting key terms, laws, formulas and relationships. These visuals help you see how ideas connect and speed up last-minute revision.

Developing mind maps and summary sheets is a great way to organise your revision and make big topics feel more manageable. These visuals help you spot links between ideas, make information easier to recall, and are perfect for quick revision the night before an exam. The act of creating them also strengthens your understanding because you’re choosing the most important information rather than trying to memorise everything.

2. Practice makes perfect – make use of past papers and mark schemes
When you practise using past papers, try to work in a quiet space and time yourself so it feels like the real exam. This helps you get used to the pressure and pace you’ll need on the day. After completing a paper, always mark your answers using the official mark scheme – this shows you exactly what examiners look for and helps you spot common mistakes.

Revision shouldn’t just be reading notes; developing good exam technique is just as important, and doing lots of past papers is the best way to build it. Each time you mark your work, keep a list of any repeating errors – for example, missing units, skipping steps in calculations, or misunderstanding command words. These are the areas you should focus on next, so you steadily improve with every paper you complete.

3. Practice calculations – show all working clearly
Practising calculations regularly is one of the best ways to boost your confidence in science, but it’s just as important to show every step of your working clearly. This helps you stay organised, avoid mistakes, and earn method marks even if your final answer isn’t perfect. Start by writing down the formula you need, then substitute the values, include the units at each stage, and show how you rearranged the equation if needed.

For example, if you’re calculating speed, write \(speed = distance \div time\), then plug in the numbers before giving your final answer with correct units. Setting your work out neatly also makes it much easier to spot where you went wrong when checking back later. The clearer your method, the more marks you can pick up – even when the question is tricky. It is important to also pay attention to the number of decimal places asked for the answer.

4. Focus on definitions and key terms
There are lots of definitions and key terms in GCSE Single Award Science. They are commonly asked in exams and often need to be word perfect. Make a list of all definitions and key terms and practise writing them out from memory, saying them aloud, or turning them into flashcards to test yourself regularly. The more you repeat them, the more quickly and accurately you’ll recall them in the exam.

5. Review practical methods
There are three prescribed practicals in each of the sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. You may have to explain a practical method in a six-mark question or draw a diagram of the apparatus used in an experiment. Use exam mark schemes to see examples of how you should structure your method in a six-mark question.

Many students are unprepared for practical-based questions. You need to know apparatus, variables, method, expected results, and improvements for all prescribed practicals. You may also be asked about reliability, accuracy and the concept of fair testing.

Five top tips for your Single Award Science exams

A line of students at their desks in an examination room.

1. Read the question properly
Always read the whole question carefully, including any diagrams, tables, or graphs – important clues are often hiding there. For example, a graph might have a curve instead of a straight line, or a table might use different units like minutes instead of seconds. Underline key words such as describe, explain, or calculate so you know exactly what you need to do. Make sure your answer matches the question: if it says “Give one reason”, only give one; if it asks for a formula like “Write the formula for carbon dioxide”, write CO₂, not the words “carbon dioxide”. This helps you stay focused and pick up easy marks.

2. Graphs and diagrams: Be accurate
When you draw graphs or diagrams, make them as clear as possible so examiners can easily follow your work. Always label both axes with the quantity and the unit – for example, write “Time /s” or “Temperature /^оC)” rather than just “Time” or “Temperature”. Use the headings in the table of data to work out what labels and units to use. Plot each point neatly. In Biology a dot-to-dot line is common but in chemistry and physics it is most often a best fit line or curve, keep it smooth and draw only one line – don’t sketch multiple versions.

If you’re drawing scientific diagrams, label everything clearly, such as naming the beaker, measuring cylinder, or delivery tube in a practical setup, or adding arrows to show the direction of a ray of light in a physics diagram. Clear diagrams and graphs make it much easier to earn full marks.

3. Use accurate scientific language
Use the correct scientific words for each topic so your answers are clear and accurate. For example, in biology use terms like diffusion, osmosis or enzyme instead of vague phrases like “it spreads” or “it breaks stuff down”. In chemistry, say reactants and products, not “the stuff at the start” and “the stuff at the end”. In physics, talk about force, acceleration, and velocity rather than “push”, “speeding up”, or “how fast it goes”.

Learn your key definitions word for word because exam questions often require exact wording to get the mark – for example, knowing the precise definition of conservation of energy or pure substance. When doing calculations, always include the correct units, such as N (newtons), m/s², cm³, g or ^оC, because leaving them out can lose you marks even if the number is right.

4. Manage your time
Try to manage your time by using the rule of “one mark = about one minute”, so a three-mark question should take roughly three minutes. This helps stop you spending too long on one tricky question. If you get stuck, don’t panic – move on and come back later so you don’t miss easier marks further on in the paper.

For example, if you can’t rearrange a physics equation straight away, skip it and return once you’ve answered the questions you find easier. Leave the final five minutes at the end of the exam to check the important details: make sure you’ve included units like “N” or “^оC”, check that calculations make sense, correct any spelling of scientific words like photosynthesis or electrolysis, and fill in any blanks you forgot about earlier. These final checks can easily gain you extra marks.

5. Describe trends clearly and comparatively
When you describe trends in graphs or data, make sure your answer is clear and specific. Avoid vague phrases like “it goes up”, because they don’t tell the examiner anything useful. Instead, compare the variables properly (these will be on the axes of the graph or heading in a table) – for example, say “As temperature increases, the rate of reaction increases quickly at first and then levels off”, or “Plant A grows faster than Plant B between days two and six”.

Use comparative words like greater, smaller, faster, or more slowly to show exactly how the values change. Being precise helps you earn full marks when interpreting graphs or data.

Revise specific Single Award Science topics

Students looking through a microscope in a school lab.

If practising with past papers has highlighted a particular area you need to improve, then further help is at hand.

You can go straight to the most relevant Bitesize study guide for CCEA GCSE Single Award Science and refresh your knowledge.

All topics are covered, across biology, chemistry and physics. There is also help and advice around the practical skills required for investigations and experiments.

Follow the links to the topic of your choice, where you'll find easy-to-understand revision materials, including videos, diagrams and quick quizzes.