WACE · Year 12 · 2026· ATBLY

Biology

Units 3 and 4 · Course guide

Practise WACE Biology →

Course at a glance

Scales down2025 Year 12 cohort. Individual results vary. No syllabus changesFor the 2026 course. Use past examsPast papers and marking keys for practice.

What you'll study

Unit 3

Continuity of species

  • DNA and gene expression
  • Inheritance and variation
  • Evolutionary mechanisms
  • Population genetics
About this unit

Connect DNA and inheritance with variation, evolution, and population genetics.

Unit 4

Surviving in a changing environment

  • Homeostatic regulation
  • Pathogens and transmission
  • Immune responses
  • Epidemiology and control
About this unit

Study homeostasis, pathogens, immune responses, epidemiology, and disease control.

Official resources

Start with the current SCSA syllabus, then use the supporting documents that match your course.

Current Year 12

Syllabus
2027 preview2 files
2027 syllabus Summary of minor changes

Assessment

Three hours working time follows ten minutes reading time. The paper samples Units 3 and 4.

30%

Multiple-choice

30 questions · 40 min suggested

50%

Short answer

4–6 questions · 90 min suggested

20%

Extended answer

One Unit 3 and one Unit 4 response · 50 min suggested

Assessment details

Multiple-choice

Questions can use diagrams, tables, graphs, and other stimulus material.

Short answer

Multi-part questions use biological data, diagrams, and recent research.

Extended answer

Choose one question for each unit and build two structured responses.

WACE Biology scaling

The 2025 cohort mean scaled score was 57.3, below TISC's all-course mean of 60.

Your score 60/ 100
Biology57.4/ 100Estimated scaled score
-2.6 points · Biology
0100
Scaled score00252550507575100100Biology: 60 → 57.4Your score →
━ Biology
2024 model · About these estimates

These curves are rough estimates from 2024 cohort summary statistics, not published individual score conversions. The input is your SCSA standardised combined score, not a school or raw exam mark. Scaling changes each year. These are Year 12 results, not predictions for Year 11.

View scaling data

Biology

2024 model estimates
Standardised combined scoreScaled score (out of 100)
02.1
13
24
34.9
45.8
56.7
67.6
78.6
89.5
910.4
1011.3
1112.2
1213.2
1314.1
1415
1515.9
1616.9
1717.8
1818.7
1919.6
2020.5
2121.5
2222.4
2323.3
2424.2
2525.2
2626.1
2727
2827.9
2928.8
3029.8
3130.7
3231.6
3332.5
3433.4
3534.4
3635.3
3736.2
3837.1
3938.1
4039
4139.9
4240.8
4341.7
4442.7
4543.6
4644.5
4745.4
4846.3
4947.3
5048.2
5149.1
5250
5350.9
5451.9
5552.8
5653.7
5754.6
5855.6
5956.5
6057.4
6158.3
6259.2
6360.2
6461.1
6562
6662.9
6763.9
6864.8
6965.7
7066.6
7167.5
7268.5
7369.4
7470.3
7571.2
7672.1
7773.1
7874
7974.9
8075.8
8176.8
8277.7
8378.6
8479.5
8580.4
8681.4
8782.3
8883.2
8984.1
9085
9186
9286.9
9387.8
9488.7
9589.7
9690.6
9791.5
9892.4
9993.3
10094.3
View source ↗
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Syllabus updates and paper advice

Current · 2026

No recent changes to the course

The syllabus taught from 2024 has no published assessable content change for 2025 or 2026.

Practice · older papers

Use recent exams for practice

The 2024 and 2025 exams match the current syllabus. Check earlier questions against current dot points.

Ahead

Minor wording changes for 2027

Updates refine genomics, bioinformatics, conservation planning and disease-modelling language without restructuring the course.

Common questions

How is the final WACE course mark calculated?

The final combined course mark weights the moderated school assessment and external SCSA examination equally: 50% each.

Does WACE Biology scale up or down?

Biology typically scales down, but this isn’t guaranteed in future years.

How should I use older WACE papers?

The 2024 and 2025 exams match the current syllabus. Check earlier questions against current dot points.

BiologyYear 11 →ChemistryYear 12 →Human BiologyYear 12 →

WACE · Year 12

Practise Biology

Build exam technique across Units 3 and 4 with syllabus-aligned Biology questions.

Practise WACE Biology →