AQA GCSE BIOLOGY EXAMPREP STUDY
GUIDE 2026 DETAILED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● What does an animal cell have? Answer: - cytoplasm
- nucleus
- ribosomes
- cell membrane
- mitochondria
●● What does the nucleus do? Answer: contains genetic material that
controls the activities of the cell
●● What is the cytoplasm? Answer: gel-like substance where most of
the chemical reactions happen. It contains enzymes which control these
chemical reactions
●● What is the cell membrane Answer: holds the cell together and
controls what goes in and out
●● What happens in the mitochondria? Answer: these are where most of
the reactions for respiration take place. Respiration releases energy that
the cell needs to work
,●● What happens in the ribosomes? Answer: these are where proteins
are made in the cell
●● What does a bacterial cell NOT have? Answer: a nucleus- genetic
material floats in the cytoplasm
●● What is a yeast cell an example of? Answer: a single cell organism
●● What does a yeast cell have? Answer: - nucleus
- cytoplasm
- cell membrane
- surrounding cell wall
●● How is a leaf cell different from a yeast cell? Answer: leaf cells have
chloroplasts and a cellulose cell wall. yeast cells have neither
●● What is the definition of diffusion? Answer: the SPREADING OUT
of PARTICLES from an area of HIGH CONCENTRATION to an area
of LOW CONCENTRATION
or
the NET MOVEMENT of PARTICLES down a CONCENTRATION
GRADIENT
,●● What substances can diffuse through cell membranes? Answer: small
molecules like oxygen, glucose, amino acids and water
●● What substances can't diffuse through cell membranes? Answer: big
molecules like starch and proteins
●● What are some examples of diffusion? Answer: - the diffusion of
oxygen into the cells of the body from the bloodstream as the cells are
respiring (and using up oxygen)
- the diffusion of carbon dioxide into actively photosynthesising plant
cells
- the diffusion of simple sugars and amino acids for the gut through cell
membranes
●● When, and in which direction, will diffusion take place in solutions
and in gases? Answer: - if two solutions are separated by a cell
membrane, particles will move from a region of high concentration to a
region of low concentration
- gases will also diffuse through the air from a region of high
concentration to a region of low concentration
, ●● How is a leaf cell adapted to carry out photosynthesis? Answer: - the
leaf has mesophyll tissue
- the mesophyll cells contain chloroplasts which can photosynthesise
●● How are palisade cells adapted for photosynthesis? Answer: - packed
will chloroplasts for photosynthesis
- tall shape means a lot of surface area exposed down the side for
absorbing carbon dioxide from the air in the leaf
- they are grouped together at the top of the leaf so that they can absorb
more sunlight
●● How are red blood cells adapted to carry oxygen? Answer: - concave
shape gives a big surface area for absorbing oxygen. it also helps them
pass smoothly through capillaries to reach body cells
- packed with haemoglobin which absorbs oxygen
- they have no nucleus to leave even more room for haemoglobin
●● How are sperm cells adapted for swimming to the egg? Answer: -
streamlined head and flagella to help it swim to the egg
- there are a lot of mitochondria in the cell to provide the energy needed
- carry enzymes in their heads to digest through the egg cell membrane
●● If a cell has many mitochondria... Answer: it must need a lot of
energy, e.g. muscle cell, sperm cell
GUIDE 2026 DETAILED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● What does an animal cell have? Answer: - cytoplasm
- nucleus
- ribosomes
- cell membrane
- mitochondria
●● What does the nucleus do? Answer: contains genetic material that
controls the activities of the cell
●● What is the cytoplasm? Answer: gel-like substance where most of
the chemical reactions happen. It contains enzymes which control these
chemical reactions
●● What is the cell membrane Answer: holds the cell together and
controls what goes in and out
●● What happens in the mitochondria? Answer: these are where most of
the reactions for respiration take place. Respiration releases energy that
the cell needs to work
,●● What happens in the ribosomes? Answer: these are where proteins
are made in the cell
●● What does a bacterial cell NOT have? Answer: a nucleus- genetic
material floats in the cytoplasm
●● What is a yeast cell an example of? Answer: a single cell organism
●● What does a yeast cell have? Answer: - nucleus
- cytoplasm
- cell membrane
- surrounding cell wall
●● How is a leaf cell different from a yeast cell? Answer: leaf cells have
chloroplasts and a cellulose cell wall. yeast cells have neither
●● What is the definition of diffusion? Answer: the SPREADING OUT
of PARTICLES from an area of HIGH CONCENTRATION to an area
of LOW CONCENTRATION
or
the NET MOVEMENT of PARTICLES down a CONCENTRATION
GRADIENT
,●● What substances can diffuse through cell membranes? Answer: small
molecules like oxygen, glucose, amino acids and water
●● What substances can't diffuse through cell membranes? Answer: big
molecules like starch and proteins
●● What are some examples of diffusion? Answer: - the diffusion of
oxygen into the cells of the body from the bloodstream as the cells are
respiring (and using up oxygen)
- the diffusion of carbon dioxide into actively photosynthesising plant
cells
- the diffusion of simple sugars and amino acids for the gut through cell
membranes
●● When, and in which direction, will diffusion take place in solutions
and in gases? Answer: - if two solutions are separated by a cell
membrane, particles will move from a region of high concentration to a
region of low concentration
- gases will also diffuse through the air from a region of high
concentration to a region of low concentration
, ●● How is a leaf cell adapted to carry out photosynthesis? Answer: - the
leaf has mesophyll tissue
- the mesophyll cells contain chloroplasts which can photosynthesise
●● How are palisade cells adapted for photosynthesis? Answer: - packed
will chloroplasts for photosynthesis
- tall shape means a lot of surface area exposed down the side for
absorbing carbon dioxide from the air in the leaf
- they are grouped together at the top of the leaf so that they can absorb
more sunlight
●● How are red blood cells adapted to carry oxygen? Answer: - concave
shape gives a big surface area for absorbing oxygen. it also helps them
pass smoothly through capillaries to reach body cells
- packed with haemoglobin which absorbs oxygen
- they have no nucleus to leave even more room for haemoglobin
●● How are sperm cells adapted for swimming to the egg? Answer: -
streamlined head and flagella to help it swim to the egg
- there are a lot of mitochondria in the cell to provide the energy needed
- carry enzymes in their heads to digest through the egg cell membrane
●● If a cell has many mitochondria... Answer: it must need a lot of
energy, e.g. muscle cell, sperm cell
