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GCSEAQA
Biology
Exam Questions
Turning questions into testable hypothesesNewChoosing independent, dependent and control variablesNewWriting a clear method with repeat measurementsNewRisk assessment: hazards, risks and control measuresNewPrecision, accuracy and improving reliabilityNewRepeatability, reproducibility and spotting anomaliesNewPresenting results in tables with units and headingsNewPlotting graphs with sensible scales and best-fit linesNewInterpreting trends, patterns and correlationsNewCalculating mean, range and percentage changeNewRate calculations (including practical contexts)NewUsing standard form in biology calculationsNewUsing the microscope: scale bars and magnification basicsNewEvaluating method limitations and suggesting improvementsNew
What all cells have in commonNewAnimal cells: key sub-cellular structures and functionsNewPlant cells: chloroplasts, vacuole and cellulose cell wallNewBacterial cells: features and plasmidsNewEukaryotic vs prokaryotic cellsNewEstimating and comparing sizes of sub-cellular structuresNewCell specialisation in animals: sperm, neurones and muscle cellsNewCell specialisation in plants: root hair cells, xylem and phloemNewCell differentiation: what it means and why it mattersNewDifferentiation in animals vs plantsNewStem cells: what they are and why they’re usefulNewStem cells in medicine: benefits and risks (including ethics)NewMicroscopy: light vs electron microscopesNewMagnification calculations (image size, real size, magnification)NewMitosis: why cells divideNewThe cell cycle and stages of mitosis (overview)NewDiffusion: movement down a concentration gradientNewDiffusion rate: surface area, temperature and concentration differenceNewOsmosis: movement of water across a partially permeable membraneNewActive transport: moving substances against a concentration gradientNewExchange surfaces: what makes diffusion efficientNewUsing SA:V ratio to explain diffusion limits in organismsNew
Levels of organisation: cells to tissues to organs to organ systemsNewThe digestive system: organs and overall functionNewDigestive enzymes: lock-and-key modelNewAmylase: where it’s made and what it doesNewProteases: where they’re made and what they doNewLipases: where they’re made and what they doNewBile: neutralising acid and emulsifying fatsNewAbsorption in the small intestineNewVilli adaptations for absorptionNewRequired practical: food tests for sugars, starch, protein and lipids (AQA)NewRequired practical: effect of pH on amylase (continuous sampling) (AQA)NewThe circulatory system: what the blood transportsNewThe heart: structure (atria, ventricles, valves) and functionNewBlood vessels: arteries, veins and capillariesNewBlood components: plasma, red cells, white cells and plateletsNewCoronary heart disease: causes and risk factorsNewTreating CHD: stents and statins (and lifestyle)NewThe respiratory system: ventilation basicsNewGas exchange in alveoli: adaptations and diffusionNewNon-communicable disease: examples and risk factorsNewCancer: benign vs malignant tumoursNewPlant tissues: epidermis, palisade and spongy mesophyllNewXylem: structure and functionNewPhloem: structure and functionNewTranspiration: how water moves through a plantNewTranspiration rate: light, temperature, humidity and windNewTranslocation: moving sugars in the phloemNew
Pathogens and the idea of infectious diseaseNewHow communicable diseases spread (air, water, contact, vectors)NewReducing disease spread: hygiene and isolation strategiesNewViral diseases: measles, HIV and tobacco mosaic virusNewBacterial diseases: salmonella and gonorrhoeaNewFungal diseases: rose black spot (plants)NewProtist diseases: malaria and mosquito vectorsNewNon-specific human defences: skin barrierNewNon-specific human defences: nose hairs and mucusNewNon-specific human defences: trachea/bronchi cilia and mucusNewNon-specific human defences: stomach acidNewWhite blood cells: phagocytosisNewWhite blood cells: antibody productionNewWhite blood cells: antitoxin productionNewVaccination: how it prevents diseaseNewHerd immunity: why vaccinating many people reduces spreadNewAntibiotics: what they treat (and what they don’t)NewPainkillers: symptom relief vs killing pathogensNewAntibiotic resistance: how resistant strains increaseNewDrug discovery: plant/microbe origins and modern synthesisNewPreclinical testing: cells, tissues and live animalsNewClinical trials: safety, efficacy and dosageNewPlacebos and double-blind trialsNewRequired practical: zones of inhibition on agar (AQA)NewMonoclonal antibodies: how they are made (HT)NewMonoclonal antibodies: diagnosis uses (HT)NewMonoclonal antibodies: treatment uses (HT)NewMonoclonal antibodies: side effects and ethical issues (HT)NewDetecting plant disease by symptoms (HT)NewIdentifying plant disease: lab tests and reference sources (HT)NewPlant physical defences (cell walls, cuticle, bark)NewPlant chemical defences (antibacterial chemicals and poisons)New
Photosynthesis word equation and balanced symbol equationNewPhotosynthesis as an endothermic reactionNewChloroplasts and chlorophyll: what they doNewLimiting factors: light intensityNewLimiting factors: carbon dioxide concentrationNewLimiting factors: temperatureNewLimiting factors: chlorophyll amountNewInterpreting graphs with one limiting factorNewInterpreting graphs with 2–3 limiting factors (HT)NewUsing the inverse square law for light intensity (HT)NewGreenhouses: balancing cost with limiting factors (HT)NewRequired practical: light intensity on photosynthesis (pondweed) (AQA)NewUses of glucose: respirationNewUses of glucose: starch storageNewUses of glucose: fats/oils storageNewUses of glucose: cellulose for cell wallsNewUses of glucose: making amino acids with nitrate ionsNewRespiration as an exothermic reaction in cellsNewAerobic respiration equation and uses of energyNewAnaerobic respiration in muscles: products and energy yieldNewAnaerobic respiration in plants/yeast: fermentation and usesNewExercise response: heart rate, breathing rate, breath volumeNewLactic acid build-up and muscle fatigueNewOxygen debt: what it means and how it’s repaidNewMetabolism: definition and why it mattersNewBuilding carbohydrates, lipids and proteins from smaller moleculesNewMaking urea from excess proteins (link to excretion)New
Homeostasis: keeping internal conditions stableNewControl systems: receptors, coordination centres and effectorsNewNegative feedback: how homeostasis restores optimum conditionsNewThe nervous system: CNS and neuronesNewReflex actions: why they are rapid and protectiveNewReflex arc: sensory neurone, synapse, relay neurone, motor neuroneNewSynapses: why transmission is one-wayNewMeasuring reaction time using data and graphsNewRequired practical: effect of a factor on human reaction time (AQA)NewThe brain regions: cerebral cortex, cerebellum, medulla (biology only)NewBrain investigation and treatment: difficulties and ethics (HT, biology only)NewThe eye structures: retina, optic nerve, sclera, cornea, irisNewAccommodation: focusing on near vs distant objectsNewPupils and light intensity: reflex controlNewHormones vs nerves: speed, duration and targetingNewEndocrine glands: roles (pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, gonads)NewBlood glucose control: insulin and glucagonNewDiabetes: Type 1 basics and managementNewType 2 diabetes: risk factors and treatment (HT)NewThermoregulation: core temperature and enzymesNewSkin responses: sweating, vasodilation and vasoconstrictionNewShivering and metabolic heat productionNewKidney structure: role of nephrons (overview)NewFiltering blood: urea, water and ionsNewSelective reabsorption in the kidney tubulesNewWater balance and ADHNewKidney failure: dialysis vs transplant (pros and cons)NewReproduction hormones: FSH, LH, oestrogen, progesterone (overview)NewThe menstrual cycle: hormone changes across the cycleNewContraception: barrier methods and condomsNewContraception: hormonal methods (pill, implant) and effectsNewContraception: IUDs and other non-barrier methodsNewFertility treatment: IVF steps (and success factors)NewEthics of fertility treatment and embryo screening (HT)NewPlant hormones: tropisms (phototropism and gravitropism)NewAuxin and growth responses in shoots and rootsNewUses of auxins: weedkillers and rooting powderNewGibberellins: seed germination and growth effectsNewEthene: fruit ripening and commercial controlNewRequired practical: light/gravity on seedling growth (AQA, biology only)New
Sexual reproduction: what it involves (animals and flowering plants)NewAsexual reproduction: what it is and where it happensNewMeiosis: halving chromosome number in gametesNewFertilisation: restoring the full chromosome numberNewMitosis vs meiosis: identical vs non-identical cellsNewAdvantages and disadvantages of sexual reproduction (biology only)NewAdvantages and disadvantages of asexual reproduction (biology only)NewDNA, genes, alleles and chromosomes: the basicsNewThe genome and phenotype: environment interaction (AQA)NewGenetic inheritance: genotype vs phenotypeNewMonohybrid crosses using Punnett squaresNewDominant and recessive alleles in inheritance problemsNewInherited disorders: polydactyly and cystic fibrosisNewEmbryo screening: economic, social and ethical issuesNewSex determination: XX and XY chromosomesNewGenetic cross for sex inheritanceNewVariation: genetic vs environmental causesNewMutations: what they are and their effectsNewEvolution by natural selection: steps in the processNewSelective breeding: method and impactsNewGenetic engineering: transferring genes for desired traitsNewGM crops: potential benefits and concernsNewDarwin and Wallace: developing natural selection (biology only)NewSpeciation: how new species form (biology only)NewMendel: why his work mattered (and why delayed recognition)NewEvidence for evolution: fossils and resistant bacteriaNewFossil formation: why fossils form in some conditionsNewExtinction: causes and examples of factorsNewResistant bacteria (including MRSA): selection and spreadNewClassification: Linnaean hierarchy (kingdom to species)NewBinomial naming: genus and speciesNewUsing evidence to place organisms into groupsNew
Levels of organisation in ecosystems: organism to ecosystem (AQA)NewInterdependence: why species rely on each otherNewCompetition: resources organisms compete forNewAbiotic factors: light, temperature, moisture, soil pH, etc.NewBiotic factors: predators, pathogens, food availability, competitionNewAdaptations: structural, behavioural and functionalNewCommunities and stable ecosystemsNewFood chains: producers and consumersNewFood webs: interlinked feeding relationshipsNewTrophic levels: numbering and definitions (biology only)NewPyramids of biomass: constructing from data (biology only)NewTransfer of biomass: ~10% to next trophic level (biology only)NewBiomass losses: respiration, movement, waste and uneaten materialNewHow materials are cycled: abiotic and biotic componentsNewThe water cycle: processes and importanceNewThe carbon cycle: photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, decompositionNewDecomposition: microorganisms and decay conditions (biology only)NewFactors affecting decay rate: temperature, water and oxygen (biology only)NewAnaerobic decay: biogas and methane (links to waste)NewRequired practical: temperature and milk decay rate using pH (AQA)NewImpact of environmental change on species distribution (HT, biology only)NewBiodiversity: what it is and why it supports stabilityNewMeasuring biodiversity: counting species in an area (overview)NewPollution types: water, air and landNewWaste management: reducing, reusing and recycling strategiesNewLand use: building, quarrying, farming and landfill impactsNewPeat bogs: habitat loss and carbon dioxide releaseNewDeforestation: causes and environmental implicationsNewGlobal warming: greenhouse gases and biological consequencesNewMaintaining biodiversity: conservation programmes and actionsNewRequired practical: sampling and estimating population size (AQA)NewFood security: what it means (biology only)NewFactors threatening food security (biology only)NewFarming techniques to improve efficiency (biology only)NewEthical objections to intensive farming (biology only)NewSustainable fisheries: quotas and net sizes (biology only)NewBiotechnology in food: culturing microorganisms (biology only)NewBiotechnology and GM solutions for growing demand (biology only)New
Required practical 1: microscopy drawings of plant and animal cells (AQA)NewRequired practical 2: antibiotics/antiseptics and zones of inhibition (AQA, biology only)NewRequired practical 3: osmosis in plant tissue using sugar/salt solutions (AQA)NewRequired practical 4: food tests for carbohydrates, lipids and proteins (AQA)NewRequired practical 5: effect of pH on amylase (AQA)NewRequired practical 6: light intensity and photosynthesis rate (pondweed) (AQA)NewRequired practical 7: factor affecting human reaction time (AQA)NewRequired practical 8: light/gravity and seedling growth (AQA, biology only)NewRequired practical 9: field sampling to estimate population and distribution (AQA)NewRequired practical 10: temperature and milk decay rate via pH (AQA, biology only)New
Cells, tissues, organs and organ systems work togetherNewMitosis vs meiosis as the basis of growth and inheritanceNewPhotosynthesis and respiration as the two key life reactionsNewMetabolism as the sum of all chemical reactions in organismsNewCycling of materials between organisms and the environment (AQA)New
