NESA Biology Performance

Overall average 71%75,223 questions answered2026 data

Score by Unit & Topic

Full syllabus

Heredity

70.1%

Reproduction

78%

Cell Replication

75%

DNA and Polypeptide Synthesis

66.5%

Genetic Variation

70.3%

Inheritance Patterns in a Population

71.3%

Genetic Change

72.8%

Mutation

69.9%

Biotechnology

72.3%

Genetic Technologies

77.7%

Infectious Disease

71.7%

Causes of Infectious Disease

75.2%

Responses to Pathogens

61.1%

Immunity

72.9%

Prevention, Treatment and Control

69.8%

Non-infectious Disease and Disorders

67.9%

67%

69.7%

69.7%

73.7%

Technologies and Disorders

64.8%

Working Scientifically Skills

71.3%

Questioning and Predicting

73%

Planning Investigations

71.8%

Conducting Investigations

65.3%

Processing Data and Information

67.9%

Analysing Data and Information

72.3%

Problem Solving

70.9%

Communicating

74.1%

Score by Past Paper

2026 data

2025

76.6%

2024

76%

2023

76.2%

Score by Question Type

2026 data

Extended Response

56.9%

Multiple Choice

72.9%

Short Answer

68.4%

Cognitive Verb Performance

2026 data

Analyse

72.4%

Annotate

53.3%

Assess

64.2%

Calculate

63.9%

Compare

59.5%

Construct

74.6%

Contrast

72.5%

Deduce

87.5%

Define

72.1%

Describe

69.8%

Design

65.8%

Determine

62.7%

Discuss

69.6%

Distinguish

62.5%

Draw

69.4%

Estimate

60%

Evaluate

72.7%

Explain

65.4%

Identify

68.4%

Infer

77.1%

Justify

70.1%

Label

66.1%

Name

72.8%

Outline

68.8%

Predict

72.3%

Present

53%

Propose

85.3%

Provide

48%

Recommend

100%

Select

86.7%

State

69.3%

Write

35.7%

Study Guides

HSC Biology Hardest Topics: Where Students Lose the Most MarksAverage scores in HSC Biology by past paper, topic, question type and command verb, plus the high-weight low-score revision list.HSC Biology Most Tested Topics: What the NESA Exams CoverMarks by topic and dot point across 3 NESA Biology external papers, 2023 to 2025, plus the question type and cognitive verb mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hardest NESA Biology topics?

Based on student performance on AusGrader in 2026, the hardest NESA Biology topics are Responses to Pathogens (61.1%), Technologies and Disorders (64.8%), Conducting Investigations (65.3%). Focus your revision on these areas for the biggest score improvement.

What are the easiest NESA Biology topics?

Based on student performance on AusGrader in 2026, the highest-scoring NESA Biology topics are Reproduction (78%), Genetic Technologies (77.7%), Causes of Infectious Disease (75.2%).

What are the most common command words in NESA Biology exams?

The most frequently tested command words in NESA Biology are Explain, Identify, Describe, Justify, Outline. Practising responses to these verbs is a high-impact study strategy.

Ready to practise NESA Biology?

Get instant AI feedback on past exam questions, aligned to the syllabus

Start Practising Free