AQA A LEVEL BIOLOGY PAPER 1 2026 ACTUAL
TEST PAPER QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
COMPLETE STUDY PACKAGE
◉ describe benedicts test for reducing sugars
Answer: add equal volumes of the sugar sample and benedicts
reagent.
heat the mixture in a water bath for 5 minutes.
brick red precipitate will form.
◉ what is a reducing sugar?
Answer: a sugar that can reduce (give electrons to) another
chemical.
◉ describe the benedicts test for non reducing sugars
Answer: with food sample, add an equal volume of dilute
hydrochloric acid in a test tube.
place test tube in water bath for 5 mins.
add sodium hydrogencarbonate solution.
heat resulting solution with an equal volume of benedicts. solution
for 5 minutes.
turns orange/brown.
,◉ what does dilute hydrochloric acid do in the benedicts test for non
reducing sugars?
Answer: it hydrolyses any disaccharide into monosaccharides, thus
also forming reducing sugars.
◉ describe the structure of starch
Answer: chains of alpha glucose
some chains are branched= amylopetcin
some chains are coiled= amylose
◉ what purpose does the structure of amylose serve?
Answer: makes the molecule compact so it is stored more easily.
◉ what purpose does the structure of amylopectin serve?
Answer: more surface area for enzymes to work on, thus glucose
molecules can be released at a much quicker rate.
◉ how is the structure of starch suited to its function?
Answer: 1. starch is insolube so it doesnt affect water potential
2. it is large enough that it doesnt diffuse out of cells
3. compact enough so that a lot of it can be stored in a small space
,4. branched= each end can simultaneously be acted on by enzymes,
so glucose is quickly released
◉ how is the structure of glycogen suited to its function?
Answer: 1. insoluble, so no effect on water potential of cell
2. insoluble, so doesnt diffuse out of cells
3. compact, a lot of it can be stored in a small space
4. very highly branched= each end can simultaneously be acted on
by enzymes, so glucose is quickly released
◉ why do animals need highly branched glycogen?
Answer: because animals metabolic rate is faster than plants and so
needs glucose to be released quicker.
◉ describe the structure of cellulose
Answer: made up of straight chains of beta glucose
the chains are parallel to each other, so H bonds form cross-linkages
all the H bonds together strengthens the cellulose
forms microfibrils
◉ draw alpha and beta glucose
Answer:
, ◉ how does the structure of triglycerides relate to their properties?
Answer: 1. triglycerides have a high ratio of energy-storing carbon-
hydrogen bonds to carbon atoms, so its a good source of energy.
2. low mass to energy ratio, so theyre good energy storage
molecules.
3. large and non-polar, therefore insoluble, therefore don't affect
osmosis.
4. high ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms, so can release water when
oxidised, hence provide a source of water
◉ what are the roles of lipids?
Answer: 1. source of energy
2. waterproofing
3. insulation
4. protection
◉ how does the structure of phospholipids relate to their
properties?
Answer: 1. polar, therefore will position itself to form a bilayer
2. the structure allows them to form glycolipids by combining with
carbohydrates within the cell-surface membrane. these are
important in cell recognition.
TEST PAPER QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
COMPLETE STUDY PACKAGE
◉ describe benedicts test for reducing sugars
Answer: add equal volumes of the sugar sample and benedicts
reagent.
heat the mixture in a water bath for 5 minutes.
brick red precipitate will form.
◉ what is a reducing sugar?
Answer: a sugar that can reduce (give electrons to) another
chemical.
◉ describe the benedicts test for non reducing sugars
Answer: with food sample, add an equal volume of dilute
hydrochloric acid in a test tube.
place test tube in water bath for 5 mins.
add sodium hydrogencarbonate solution.
heat resulting solution with an equal volume of benedicts. solution
for 5 minutes.
turns orange/brown.
,◉ what does dilute hydrochloric acid do in the benedicts test for non
reducing sugars?
Answer: it hydrolyses any disaccharide into monosaccharides, thus
also forming reducing sugars.
◉ describe the structure of starch
Answer: chains of alpha glucose
some chains are branched= amylopetcin
some chains are coiled= amylose
◉ what purpose does the structure of amylose serve?
Answer: makes the molecule compact so it is stored more easily.
◉ what purpose does the structure of amylopectin serve?
Answer: more surface area for enzymes to work on, thus glucose
molecules can be released at a much quicker rate.
◉ how is the structure of starch suited to its function?
Answer: 1. starch is insolube so it doesnt affect water potential
2. it is large enough that it doesnt diffuse out of cells
3. compact enough so that a lot of it can be stored in a small space
,4. branched= each end can simultaneously be acted on by enzymes,
so glucose is quickly released
◉ how is the structure of glycogen suited to its function?
Answer: 1. insoluble, so no effect on water potential of cell
2. insoluble, so doesnt diffuse out of cells
3. compact, a lot of it can be stored in a small space
4. very highly branched= each end can simultaneously be acted on
by enzymes, so glucose is quickly released
◉ why do animals need highly branched glycogen?
Answer: because animals metabolic rate is faster than plants and so
needs glucose to be released quicker.
◉ describe the structure of cellulose
Answer: made up of straight chains of beta glucose
the chains are parallel to each other, so H bonds form cross-linkages
all the H bonds together strengthens the cellulose
forms microfibrils
◉ draw alpha and beta glucose
Answer:
, ◉ how does the structure of triglycerides relate to their properties?
Answer: 1. triglycerides have a high ratio of energy-storing carbon-
hydrogen bonds to carbon atoms, so its a good source of energy.
2. low mass to energy ratio, so theyre good energy storage
molecules.
3. large and non-polar, therefore insoluble, therefore don't affect
osmosis.
4. high ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms, so can release water when
oxidised, hence provide a source of water
◉ what are the roles of lipids?
Answer: 1. source of energy
2. waterproofing
3. insulation
4. protection
◉ how does the structure of phospholipids relate to their
properties?
Answer: 1. polar, therefore will position itself to form a bilayer
2. the structure allows them to form glycolipids by combining with
carbohydrates within the cell-surface membrane. these are
important in cell recognition.
