AQA GCSE BIOLOGY 8464 1H HIGHER TIER
PAPER ONE COMPLETE MARKING GUIDE 2026
◉ What is the function of the cell membrane? Answer: Controls entry
and exit of substances
◉ What is the function of the cell wall? Answer: Provides structure and
support
◉ What is the function of mitochondria? Answer: Carry out respiration
to release energy
◉ What is the function of ribosomes? Answer: Protein synthesis
◉ What is the function of chloroplasts? Answer: Carry out
photosynthesis
◉ What is the function of a vacuole? Answer: Contains cell sap
◉ Define a prokaryote Answer: A cell that does not have a nucleus
◉ Define a eukaryote Answer: A cell that has DNA in a nucleus
,◉ Name two cell structures that are in a eukaryote but not in a
prokaryote Answer: Nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts
◉ What is a plasmid? Answer: A small loop of DNA in bacteria
◉ What is a plant cell wall made from? Answer: Cellulose
◉ How is DNA stored in a bacterial cell? Answer: As a single, free-
floating loop; also on plasmids
◉ What is differentiation? Answer: The process by which cells become
specialised
◉ What is the equation for magnification? Answer: Magnification =
Image Size ÷ Actual Size
◉ A photograph of a cell is 15mm long. It has a magnification of 1100x.
What is the actual size? Answer: 0.0136mm, or 13.6µm
◉ A cell is 12µm wide. It is magnified by 450 times. How big is the
image? Answer: 5400µm, or 5.4mm
◉ If the image of a virus is 1.2mm, and its actual size is 0.2µm, how
much has it been magnified by? Answer: 6000 times
, ◉ Convert 38500µm into mm Answer: 38.5mm
◉ How many µm are in 1mm? Answer: 1000
◉ Write 17400m in standard form Answer: 1.74 x 10^4 m
◉ Write 0.0034 in standard form Answer: 3.4 x 10^-3
◉ How is a sperm cell adapted for its function? Answer: It has a tail to
swim to the egg
◉ How is a nerve cell adapted for its function? Answer: It has a long
axon to conduct impulses over long distances
◉ How is a muscle cell adapted for its function? Answer: It can contract
to cause movement
◉ How is a root hair cell adapted for its function? Answer: It has a large
surface area to increase osmosis of water
◉ How is a xylem cell adapted for its function? Answer: It has hollow
ends to transport water
PAPER ONE COMPLETE MARKING GUIDE 2026
◉ What is the function of the cell membrane? Answer: Controls entry
and exit of substances
◉ What is the function of the cell wall? Answer: Provides structure and
support
◉ What is the function of mitochondria? Answer: Carry out respiration
to release energy
◉ What is the function of ribosomes? Answer: Protein synthesis
◉ What is the function of chloroplasts? Answer: Carry out
photosynthesis
◉ What is the function of a vacuole? Answer: Contains cell sap
◉ Define a prokaryote Answer: A cell that does not have a nucleus
◉ Define a eukaryote Answer: A cell that has DNA in a nucleus
,◉ Name two cell structures that are in a eukaryote but not in a
prokaryote Answer: Nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts
◉ What is a plasmid? Answer: A small loop of DNA in bacteria
◉ What is a plant cell wall made from? Answer: Cellulose
◉ How is DNA stored in a bacterial cell? Answer: As a single, free-
floating loop; also on plasmids
◉ What is differentiation? Answer: The process by which cells become
specialised
◉ What is the equation for magnification? Answer: Magnification =
Image Size ÷ Actual Size
◉ A photograph of a cell is 15mm long. It has a magnification of 1100x.
What is the actual size? Answer: 0.0136mm, or 13.6µm
◉ A cell is 12µm wide. It is magnified by 450 times. How big is the
image? Answer: 5400µm, or 5.4mm
◉ If the image of a virus is 1.2mm, and its actual size is 0.2µm, how
much has it been magnified by? Answer: 6000 times
, ◉ Convert 38500µm into mm Answer: 38.5mm
◉ How many µm are in 1mm? Answer: 1000
◉ Write 17400m in standard form Answer: 1.74 x 10^4 m
◉ Write 0.0034 in standard form Answer: 3.4 x 10^-3
◉ How is a sperm cell adapted for its function? Answer: It has a tail to
swim to the egg
◉ How is a nerve cell adapted for its function? Answer: It has a long
axon to conduct impulses over long distances
◉ How is a muscle cell adapted for its function? Answer: It can contract
to cause movement
◉ How is a root hair cell adapted for its function? Answer: It has a large
surface area to increase osmosis of water
◉ How is a xylem cell adapted for its function? Answer: It has hollow
ends to transport water
