AQA GCSE BIOLOGY (FOUNDATION TIER) |
COMBINED PAPERS & MARK SCHEMES
CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ What is the function of the nucleus?.
Answer: Contains DNA to control the cell
◍ What is the function of the cell membrane?.
Answer: Controls entry and exit of substances
◍ genome.
Answer: an entire genetic code
◍ 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
◍ gene.
Answer: a portion of DNA that codes for protien
◍ 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
◍ genotype.
Answer: a specific genetic code
◍ 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
, ◍ phenotype.
Answer: how genetic code is shown physically
◍ 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
◍ Homeostasis.
Answer: an organisms ability to maintain regular internal conditions so
crucial reactions can take place in optimum rates
◍ How is a phloem cell adapted for its function?.
Answer: It has sieve tubes to transport sugars
◍ What is a stem cell?.
Answer: An undifferentiated cell that can differentiate to become any type
of specialised cell
◍ Where are stem cells most commonly found in animals?.
Answer: In embryos and in bone marrow
COMBINED PAPERS & MARK SCHEMES
CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ What is the function of the nucleus?.
Answer: Contains DNA to control the cell
◍ What is the function of the cell membrane?.
Answer: Controls entry and exit of substances
◍ genome.
Answer: an entire genetic code
◍ 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
◍ gene.
Answer: a portion of DNA that codes for protien
◍ 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
◍ genotype.
Answer: a specific genetic code
◍ 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
, ◍ phenotype.
Answer: how genetic code is shown physically
◍ 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
◍ Homeostasis.
Answer: an organisms ability to maintain regular internal conditions so
crucial reactions can take place in optimum rates
◍ How is a phloem cell adapted for its function?.
Answer: It has sieve tubes to transport sugars
◍ What is a stem cell?.
Answer: An undifferentiated cell that can differentiate to become any type
of specialised cell
◍ Where are stem cells most commonly found in animals?.
Answer: In embryos and in bone marrow
