1
AQA A Level Biology 7402/2 Paper 2 Actual
Exam June 2026 | Complete Exam-Style
Questions | 100% Verified – Detailed
Rationales – Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Cells and Cell Transport | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Immunology and Disease | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Homeostasis and The Nervous System | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Hormonal Control and Excretion | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Populations, Evolution, and Ecosystems | Q41 – Q50
SECTION 1: CELLS AND CELL TRANSPORT
Question 1 of 50
A student prepares a sample of liver tissue for cell fractionation. To preserve the functionality of
the mitochondria, she uses a cold, isotonic buffer solution during the homogenization process.
She filters the homogenate and places it in a centrifuge tube. If she intends to isolate the largest
organelles first, which speed and duration setting would be most appropriate for the initial
centrifugation step?
A. Low speed for a short time to pellet nuclei
B. High speed for a long time to pellet ribosomes
C. Medium speed for a moderate time to pellet mitochondria
D. Very high speed for an extended time to pellet endoplasmic reticulum
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Differential centrifugation separates organelles based on size and density, meaning the
largest and densest organelles like nuclei sediment first at low speeds. Using high speeds initially
,2
would pellet all components together, preventing the sequential isolation required to study
specific organelles like mitochondria.
Question 2 of 50
Scientists investigating the effects of colchicine on cell division treated a culture of actively
dividing onion root tip cells. Colchicine prevents the formation of spindle microtubules.
Following the treatment, the scientists observed the cells under a microscope and noted a specific
stage at which the cell cycle was arrested.
A. Metaphase, as chromosomes cannot align at the equator
B. Anaphase, as sister chromatids cannot separate
C. Telophase, as the nuclear envelope cannot reform
D. Prophase, as chromosomes cannot condense
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Microtubules are essential for the mitotic spindle to attach to kinetochores and exert
tension to align chromosomes at the metaphase plate; without them, chromosomes condense but
cannot align or separate, arresting the cell in metaphase. While colchicine affects the spindle
apparatus, chromosomes do condense in prophase, so the arrest occurs later when the spindle
function is actually required.
Question 3 of 50
Red blood cells were placed in three different solutions: Solution X (distilled water), Solution Y
(0.9% saline), and Solution Z (5% saline). After 30 minutes, the cells in Solution X had burst,
those in Solution Y remained unchanged, and those in Solution Z appeared shrunken and
crenated. These observations support the conclusion that Solution Z is _____ to the cytoplasm of
the red blood cells.
A. hypotonic
, 3
B. hypertonic
C. isotonic
D. isosmotic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Water moves from a region of high water potential (low solute concentration) to low
water potential (high solute concentration) via osmosis; the shrinkage of cells in Solution Z
indicates water left the cells, meaning the solution has a lower water potential and higher solute
concentration than the cytoplasm. A hypotonic solution would cause bursting, while an isotonic
solution would cause no change in volume.
Question 4 of 50
The epithelial cells lining the small intestine absorb glucose against a concentration gradient
using a sodium-potassium pump and a sodium-glucose co-transporter protein. If a metabolic
inhibitor is applied that stops ATP production, what would be the immediate effect on glucose
transport and the concentration of sodium ions inside the cell?
A. Glucose transport stops and intracellular sodium increases
B. Glucose transport continues and intracellular sodium decreases
C. Glucose transport stops and intracellular sodium decreases
D. Glucose transport increases and intracellular sodium increases
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The sodium-potassium pump requires ATP to maintain a low concentration of sodium
inside the cell; without ATP, the pump stops functioning, sodium diffuses in down its gradient,
and the co-transporter lacks the sodium gradient required to actively import glucose. It is a
common misconception that co-transporters work independently, but they are secondary active
transport mechanisms reliant entirely on the primary active transport established by the Na+/K+
pump.
AQA A Level Biology 7402/2 Paper 2 Actual
Exam June 2026 | Complete Exam-Style
Questions | 100% Verified – Detailed
Rationales – Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Cells and Cell Transport | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Immunology and Disease | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Homeostasis and The Nervous System | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Hormonal Control and Excretion | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Populations, Evolution, and Ecosystems | Q41 – Q50
SECTION 1: CELLS AND CELL TRANSPORT
Question 1 of 50
A student prepares a sample of liver tissue for cell fractionation. To preserve the functionality of
the mitochondria, she uses a cold, isotonic buffer solution during the homogenization process.
She filters the homogenate and places it in a centrifuge tube. If she intends to isolate the largest
organelles first, which speed and duration setting would be most appropriate for the initial
centrifugation step?
A. Low speed for a short time to pellet nuclei
B. High speed for a long time to pellet ribosomes
C. Medium speed for a moderate time to pellet mitochondria
D. Very high speed for an extended time to pellet endoplasmic reticulum
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Differential centrifugation separates organelles based on size and density, meaning the
largest and densest organelles like nuclei sediment first at low speeds. Using high speeds initially
,2
would pellet all components together, preventing the sequential isolation required to study
specific organelles like mitochondria.
Question 2 of 50
Scientists investigating the effects of colchicine on cell division treated a culture of actively
dividing onion root tip cells. Colchicine prevents the formation of spindle microtubules.
Following the treatment, the scientists observed the cells under a microscope and noted a specific
stage at which the cell cycle was arrested.
A. Metaphase, as chromosomes cannot align at the equator
B. Anaphase, as sister chromatids cannot separate
C. Telophase, as the nuclear envelope cannot reform
D. Prophase, as chromosomes cannot condense
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Microtubules are essential for the mitotic spindle to attach to kinetochores and exert
tension to align chromosomes at the metaphase plate; without them, chromosomes condense but
cannot align or separate, arresting the cell in metaphase. While colchicine affects the spindle
apparatus, chromosomes do condense in prophase, so the arrest occurs later when the spindle
function is actually required.
Question 3 of 50
Red blood cells were placed in three different solutions: Solution X (distilled water), Solution Y
(0.9% saline), and Solution Z (5% saline). After 30 minutes, the cells in Solution X had burst,
those in Solution Y remained unchanged, and those in Solution Z appeared shrunken and
crenated. These observations support the conclusion that Solution Z is _____ to the cytoplasm of
the red blood cells.
A. hypotonic
, 3
B. hypertonic
C. isotonic
D. isosmotic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Water moves from a region of high water potential (low solute concentration) to low
water potential (high solute concentration) via osmosis; the shrinkage of cells in Solution Z
indicates water left the cells, meaning the solution has a lower water potential and higher solute
concentration than the cytoplasm. A hypotonic solution would cause bursting, while an isotonic
solution would cause no change in volume.
Question 4 of 50
The epithelial cells lining the small intestine absorb glucose against a concentration gradient
using a sodium-potassium pump and a sodium-glucose co-transporter protein. If a metabolic
inhibitor is applied that stops ATP production, what would be the immediate effect on glucose
transport and the concentration of sodium ions inside the cell?
A. Glucose transport stops and intracellular sodium increases
B. Glucose transport continues and intracellular sodium decreases
C. Glucose transport stops and intracellular sodium decreases
D. Glucose transport increases and intracellular sodium increases
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The sodium-potassium pump requires ATP to maintain a low concentration of sodium
inside the cell; without ATP, the pump stops functioning, sodium diffuses in down its gradient,
and the co-transporter lacks the sodium gradient required to actively import glucose. It is a
common misconception that co-transporters work independently, but they are secondary active
transport mechanisms reliant entirely on the primary active transport established by the Na+/K+
pump.
