AQA GCSE BIOLOGY 8461/1H PAPER 1
HIGHER TIER PAPER & MARK SCHEME
FINAL TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ What are fossils and give 3 ways they form in rock.
Answer: THE REMAINS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS FORMED IN
ROCK1-gradual replacement by minerals-forming rock-like
substance2-casts/impressionssoft material around it hardens, leaving
cast/impression-from fossil/footprint3-preservation in places where no
decay happensglaciers/amber-no oxygen or moisture or peat bogs which are
too acidic for decay
◍ Explain how the eye focuses on something that is far away..
Answer: The ciliary muscles relax which causes the suspensory muscles to
pull tight. This causes the lens to become thinner so refracts light by a
smaller amount.
◍ How do the levels of biomass affect the number of organisms at each trophic
level?.
Answer: Normally as you move up trophic levels and the biomass decreases,
the number of organisms also decreases
◍ What is the medulla?.
Answer: The base, controls unconscious activities like breathing, movement
in the intestines and heartbeat
◍ What do each of the chromosomes control?.
Answer: 22 pairs of chromosomes are matched/homologous pairs-control
CHARACTERISTICS23rd pair-XY or XX -Sex defining chromosomes
,◍ What is the binomial system?.
Answer: Organisms are named according to this system.2 part Latin
namepart one:GENUS the organism belongs topart two:the species
◍ What is a motor neurone?.
Answer: Neurones that carry information from the CNS to the effectors.
◍ Examples of structural adaptations.
Answer: Features of body structure, shape or colour - e.g. animals living in
cold environments have small ears (low SA:vol ratio), Arctic foxes have
white fur, whales have blubber, herbivores have teeth for grinding up plant
cells
◍ What is short sightedness (myopia)? How do you treat it?.
Answer: People are unable to focus on FAR objects. This occurs when the
lens is the wrong SHAPE and refracts the light too much. The image is
brought into focus IN FRONT of the retina. You can use glasses with a
concave lens to treat it.
◍ Name a permanent ways to avoid pregnancy..
Answer: Abstinence (not having sex), sterilisation which is having Fallopian
tubes or sperm duct cut.
◍ How do you use genetic diagrams to find the probability of getting a boy or
a girl? (3).
Answer: 1-Put possible gametes from one parent down side, and from other
parent along the top2-In middle boxes, fill in letters from top & side (like
multiplication)3-There are 2 XX result & 2 XY results -50% chance of
boy/girl
◍ What is the role of oestrogen in the menstrual cycle?.
Answer: Produced by the ovaries. Causes the lining of the uterus to grow.
Stimulates the release of LH (which causes ovulation) and inhibits the
release of FSH.
◍ Where can pollution occur and from what?.
, Answer: 1. Water - sewage, fertiliser, toxic chemicals2. Air - smoke, acidic
gases3. Land - landfill and toxic chemicals
◍ What is a genotype?.
Answer: The combination of alleles you have e.g- BB Bb etc
◍ Why is it important to maintain fish stocks at a level where breeding
continues?.
Answer: Otherwise certain species may disappear altogether ins ome areas
◍ Photosynthetic organisms are....
Answer: .the producers of biomass for life on earth
◍ What is the thermoregulatory centre of the brain?.
Answer: Near the hypothalamus, monitors the temperature of blood.
◍ What is a phenotype?.
Answer: Visible characteristics of an organism, due to its genotypes'
interaction with the environment eg- eye colour/hair length/features
◍ What are 2 methods used by ecologists to determine the distribution and
abundance of species in a ecosystem?.
Answer: Transects and quadrats
◍ What is an issue with quadrat investigations?.
Answer: Time consuming and difficult if animals are present
◍ What is the role of the kidneys..
Answer: Kidneys make urine by taking unwanted waste products out of your
blood. They are involved in selective reabsorption.
◍ Nucleus.
Answer: Contains DNA and controls the cells activity
◍ How is mycoprotein produced?.
Answer: 1. The fungus Fusarium is grown on glucose syrup in aerobic
conditions2. The biomass is harvested and purified
◍ Why is the iris reflex needed?.
, Answer: To prevent light from damaging the retina.
◍ Organ.
Answer: An organ is made up of different tissues and has a specific job. E.g.
the heart's job is to pump blood around the body.
◍ What is the role of the pancreas?.
Answer: Produces glucagon and insulin which are involved in regulating
glucose levels in the blood.
◍ Xylem Cell.
Answer: A cell that makes up xylem tissue in a plant. Xylem tissue is like a
long tube that carries water from the roots of a plant to the leaves
◍ How might GM crops help people in the developing world?.
Answer: People in the developing world often lack nutrients in their diet.
GM crops could be engineered to contain the missing nutrient e.g. Golden
rice is a GM crop that contains Beta Carotene-lack of this substance causes
blindness.
◍ What are the ethical concerns linked to IVF?.
Answer: IVF leads to unused embryos which are destroyed or used for
medical research. (Potential life).Genetic testing could be carried out on the
embryo which could lead to designed babies.
◍ What are mutations ?.
Answer: Changes to the sequence of bases in DNA. Mutations include
substitutions, deletions and additions.
◍ How do mutations occur?.
Answer: Randomly. Increased by exposure to certain substances e.g.
carcinogens and radiation.
◍ What happens during vasoconstriction?.
Answer: The blood vessels supplying the skin constrict to close off the skins
blood supply.
◍ Explain why the function of a protein might be affected by a mutation..
HIGHER TIER PAPER & MARK SCHEME
FINAL TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ What are fossils and give 3 ways they form in rock.
Answer: THE REMAINS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS FORMED IN
ROCK1-gradual replacement by minerals-forming rock-like
substance2-casts/impressionssoft material around it hardens, leaving
cast/impression-from fossil/footprint3-preservation in places where no
decay happensglaciers/amber-no oxygen or moisture or peat bogs which are
too acidic for decay
◍ Explain how the eye focuses on something that is far away..
Answer: The ciliary muscles relax which causes the suspensory muscles to
pull tight. This causes the lens to become thinner so refracts light by a
smaller amount.
◍ How do the levels of biomass affect the number of organisms at each trophic
level?.
Answer: Normally as you move up trophic levels and the biomass decreases,
the number of organisms also decreases
◍ What is the medulla?.
Answer: The base, controls unconscious activities like breathing, movement
in the intestines and heartbeat
◍ What do each of the chromosomes control?.
Answer: 22 pairs of chromosomes are matched/homologous pairs-control
CHARACTERISTICS23rd pair-XY or XX -Sex defining chromosomes
,◍ What is the binomial system?.
Answer: Organisms are named according to this system.2 part Latin
namepart one:GENUS the organism belongs topart two:the species
◍ What is a motor neurone?.
Answer: Neurones that carry information from the CNS to the effectors.
◍ Examples of structural adaptations.
Answer: Features of body structure, shape or colour - e.g. animals living in
cold environments have small ears (low SA:vol ratio), Arctic foxes have
white fur, whales have blubber, herbivores have teeth for grinding up plant
cells
◍ What is short sightedness (myopia)? How do you treat it?.
Answer: People are unable to focus on FAR objects. This occurs when the
lens is the wrong SHAPE and refracts the light too much. The image is
brought into focus IN FRONT of the retina. You can use glasses with a
concave lens to treat it.
◍ Name a permanent ways to avoid pregnancy..
Answer: Abstinence (not having sex), sterilisation which is having Fallopian
tubes or sperm duct cut.
◍ How do you use genetic diagrams to find the probability of getting a boy or
a girl? (3).
Answer: 1-Put possible gametes from one parent down side, and from other
parent along the top2-In middle boxes, fill in letters from top & side (like
multiplication)3-There are 2 XX result & 2 XY results -50% chance of
boy/girl
◍ What is the role of oestrogen in the menstrual cycle?.
Answer: Produced by the ovaries. Causes the lining of the uterus to grow.
Stimulates the release of LH (which causes ovulation) and inhibits the
release of FSH.
◍ Where can pollution occur and from what?.
, Answer: 1. Water - sewage, fertiliser, toxic chemicals2. Air - smoke, acidic
gases3. Land - landfill and toxic chemicals
◍ What is a genotype?.
Answer: The combination of alleles you have e.g- BB Bb etc
◍ Why is it important to maintain fish stocks at a level where breeding
continues?.
Answer: Otherwise certain species may disappear altogether ins ome areas
◍ Photosynthetic organisms are....
Answer: .the producers of biomass for life on earth
◍ What is the thermoregulatory centre of the brain?.
Answer: Near the hypothalamus, monitors the temperature of blood.
◍ What is a phenotype?.
Answer: Visible characteristics of an organism, due to its genotypes'
interaction with the environment eg- eye colour/hair length/features
◍ What are 2 methods used by ecologists to determine the distribution and
abundance of species in a ecosystem?.
Answer: Transects and quadrats
◍ What is an issue with quadrat investigations?.
Answer: Time consuming and difficult if animals are present
◍ What is the role of the kidneys..
Answer: Kidneys make urine by taking unwanted waste products out of your
blood. They are involved in selective reabsorption.
◍ Nucleus.
Answer: Contains DNA and controls the cells activity
◍ How is mycoprotein produced?.
Answer: 1. The fungus Fusarium is grown on glucose syrup in aerobic
conditions2. The biomass is harvested and purified
◍ Why is the iris reflex needed?.
, Answer: To prevent light from damaging the retina.
◍ Organ.
Answer: An organ is made up of different tissues and has a specific job. E.g.
the heart's job is to pump blood around the body.
◍ What is the role of the pancreas?.
Answer: Produces glucagon and insulin which are involved in regulating
glucose levels in the blood.
◍ Xylem Cell.
Answer: A cell that makes up xylem tissue in a plant. Xylem tissue is like a
long tube that carries water from the roots of a plant to the leaves
◍ How might GM crops help people in the developing world?.
Answer: People in the developing world often lack nutrients in their diet.
GM crops could be engineered to contain the missing nutrient e.g. Golden
rice is a GM crop that contains Beta Carotene-lack of this substance causes
blindness.
◍ What are the ethical concerns linked to IVF?.
Answer: IVF leads to unused embryos which are destroyed or used for
medical research. (Potential life).Genetic testing could be carried out on the
embryo which could lead to designed babies.
◍ What are mutations ?.
Answer: Changes to the sequence of bases in DNA. Mutations include
substitutions, deletions and additions.
◍ How do mutations occur?.
Answer: Randomly. Increased by exposure to certain substances e.g.
carcinogens and radiation.
◍ What happens during vasoconstriction?.
Answer: The blood vessels supplying the skin constrict to close off the skins
blood supply.
◍ Explain why the function of a protein might be affected by a mutation..
