TL;DR Pure Biology Paper 3 is 1h50min (40 marks, twenty percent of 6093) and Combined Science Paper 5 is 1h30min (30 marks, fifteen percent of 5087/5088). Both grade Planning, MMO, PDO, and ACE, expect polished food-test/enzyme/fieldwork technique, and run in shifts in October.
Lab venues
Practical sessions run at our partner lab venues (not at the theory tuition centres).
Drill the SEAB skill strands now, because vague observations and sloppy sig. figs are still the most common mark killers.
Train With the Experiment Hub
Use this overview alongside the dedicated O-Level Biology Experiments hub so every Paper 3 skill (enzymes, osmosis, ecology) has a companion drill.
1 | Formats, marks, weighting
Syllabus
Paper
Duration
Marks
Weighting
What you’ll do
Pure Biology (6093) (SEAB 2025 syllabus)
Paper 3 Practical
1h50min
40
twenty percent
Two to three compulsory questions assessing Planning (P), Manipulation/Measurement/Observation (MMO), Presentation of Data/Observations (PDO), and Analysis/Conclusions/Evaluation (ACE). No notes allowed; approved calculators permitted.
Combined Science (Biology component in 5087/5088) (SEAB 2026 syllabus)
Paper 5 Practical
1h30min
30
fifteen percent
One or two compulsory questions per science. Includes a modification/extension element worth roughly ten to twenty percent of Paper 5. No reference material except the Chemistry Practical Notes issued inside the paper; calculators allowed.
Skill balance (6093 Paper 3). Planning carries fifteen percent of the marks; MMO + PDO + ACE make up the remaining eighty-five percent (SEAB 2025 syllabus).
Skill focus (Combined Science Paper 5). Same four strands apply, but the modification/extension task typically probes your ability to suggest a plausible tweak or follow-up investigation (SEAB 2026 syllabus).
2 | What actually shows up in Pure Biology Paper 3
Expect SEAB’s core practical experiences to be recycled in different combinations (SEAB 2025 syllabus).
Enzyme investigations: e.g., measuring catalase or amylase activity; tracking colour change or gas evolution.
Gas exchange/respiration: hydrogencarbonate indicator tubes, methylene blue, simple respirometers.
Water relations: Visking tubing osmosis setups, weighing cores.
Plant & animal material handling: Use mounted needles, scalpels, forceps safely; may involve leaf epidermis peels or animal tissue (no prohibited sampling).
Observation and drawing: Recognise unfamiliar specimens, draw accurate line diagrams with labels and magnification.
Quantitative measurements: Use thermometer, syringes, measuring cylinders, rulers, balances to sensible precision.
Data-loggers: Be ready to justify how you’d deploy probes; appropriate use can be probed under Planning.
Remember: notebooks/textbooks are banned; misuse of units or significant figures is penalised (SEAB 2025 syllabus).
3 | Combined Science Paper 5 biology tasks
Paper 5 is shared with Physics or Chemistry depending on your combination. Biology segments usually ask you to (SEAB 2026 syllabus):
Perform food tests, enzyme investigations, or diffusion/osmosis experiments.
Handle biological materials with basic apparatus. E.g. test tubes, droppers, syringes, hand lens.
Record observations meticulously and interpret data (tables, graphs, unfamiliar contexts).
Suggest a modification/extension - e.g., how to improve accuracy or apply the method to a related question (worth roughly ten to twenty percent of Paper 5).
Execute simple measurement tasks (1mm precision with a ruler, consistent decimal places in calculations).
Only the Chemistry Practical Notes booklet is supplied; no other reference materials are allowed (SEAB 2026 syllabus).
4 | Logistics - confirm the current timetable
The SEAB timetable PDF linked in earlier versions now redirects to a 404 (checked 2025-11-30). Always:
Check the latest O-Level timetable on SEAB’s timetable page or your school portal.
Note that practical papers usually run in multiple shifts on the same day; your school will assign the slot.
Arrive early with ID, writing instruments, and an approved calculator.
5 | Apparatus and reagents you should recognise
For 6093 Paper 3 (typical list) (SEAB 2025 syllabus):
Light microscope with eyepiece graticule (shared), stage micrometer.
Slides, coverslips, mounted needles, hand lens ≥×6.
Rulers, syringes (1cm3,5cm3,10cm3), droppers, measuring cylinders, beakers, Petri dishes.
Test/boiling tubes with racks, glass rod, rubber bungs and tubing, Visking tubing, capillary tubes.
Scalpels, forceps, spatulas, pestle and mortar, cutting mat.
Thermometer −10∘C to +110∘C, stopwatch, white tile, bench lamp, retort stand & clamp.
Balance readable to 0.01g, wash bottle, distilled water, filters, cotton wool, black paper, aluminium foil.
Combined Science apparatus/reagents are published in the 5086/5087/5088 syllabuses and may vary yearly, but overlap heavily with the list above (SEAB 2026 syllabus).
6 | How to translate the skill bands into marks
Skill
In the exam this means…
Planning (P)
State the independent/dependent variables and key controls; outline a feasible procedure; explain how you'll use the data; identify hazards with real precautions.
MMO
Set up apparatus correctly, collect measurements/observations to appropriate precision, and note timing/stages accurately.
PDO
Present tables with headings/units, keep decimal places consistent, and plot graphs with sensible scales and labelled axes.
ACE
Analyse data (averages, rates, comparisons), draw conclusions linked to evidence, identify significant errors/limitations, and propose realistic improvements.
Line drawings should be single, clean lines with clear labels and magnification. Failure to match instrument precision or include units can cost PDO marks even when the method is correct (SEAB 2025 syllabus).
7 | Quick wins and common pitfalls
Variables in planning. Always name IV, DV, key controls, and at least one meaningful risk + mitigation.
Observation language. Replace “positive/negative” with what you saw (colour, precipitate behaviour, bubbles, odour).
Biological drawings. Labels must be horizontal, lines should not sketch; include estimated magnification (image size ÷ actual size).
Sig. figs. discipline. Match data processing to instrument resolution (e.g., 0.1∘C,1mm,0.01g). Over-rounding is penalised.
Modification tasks (Combined Science). Suggest improvements that are actually executable in a school lab; avoid unrealistic equipment or steps that contradict exam constraints.
8 | Final prep checklist
I can plan investigations with clear variables, data use, and precaution statements.
I have rehearsed food tests, enzyme kinetics, hydrogencarbonate indicator usage, and microscope drawings with magnification.
My data tables and graphs consistently include units and correct decimal places/significant figures.
I can identify major experimental errors and propose targeted improvements.
I know my practical shift time and have my calculator, writing kit, and lab-appropriate attire ready.
SEAB, GCE O-Level Science (Chemistry, Biology) (5088) Syllabus 2026 (PDF on SEAB site) - shared Paper 5 structure and apparatus guidance.
SEAB O-Level Examination Timetable (link currently redirects to 404 on 2025-11-30; confirm via SEAB timetable page)
Need the same treatment for Physics or Chemistry practicals? Ping us - we already have the raw notes and can turn them into classroom-ready drill guides within a day.
