aqa gcse biology paper 1 test paper question
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026 GRADED
A+
◍ What does cytoplasm do? Answer: It's a gel-like substance where
most of the chemical reactions happen. It contains enzymes that
control these chemical reactions
◍ What does a cell membrane do? Answer: It holds the cell together
and controls what goes in and out
◍ What do mitochondria do? Answer: These are where most of the
reactions for aerobic respiration occur. Respiration transfers energy
that the cell needs to work
◍ What do ribosomes do? Answer: This is where protein synthesis
takes place - where proteins are made in the cell
◍ What do cell walls do? Answer: They are made of cellulose and
they support and strengthen the cell
◍ What does a vacuole do? Answer: It contains cell sap and helps
maintain the shape of the cell
,◍ What do chloroplasts do? Answer: This is where photosynthesis
occurs, which makes food for the plant. They contain chlorophyll - a
green pigment - which absorbs light needed for photosynthesis
◍ What do bacterial cells contain? Answer: Cytoplasm, cell
membrane, cell wall, flagella, ribosomes, mitochondria, slime
capsule, plasmids (small rings of DNA) and a single circular strand of
DNA that floats freely in the cytoplasm
◍ What do bacterial cells NOT contain? Answer: A nucleus
◍ What is the equation for magnification? Answer: Image size
divided by actual size
◍ What is differentiation? Answer: The process by which a cell
changes to become specialised for its job
◍ What are undifferentiated cells called? Answer: Stem cells
◍ What are sperm cells specialised for and how are they specialised?
Answer: Reproduction - they transport the male DNA to the female
DNA
-It has a flagella and a streamlined head to help it swim towards the
egg
-There are lots of mitochondria in the cell to provide the energy
needed
,-It carries enzymes in its head to help digest through the egg cell
membranes
◍ What are nerve cells specialised for and how are they specialised?
Answer: Rapid signalling - they carry electrical signals from one part
of the body to another
-They are long to cover more distance
-They have branched connections at their ends to connect to other
nerve cells and form a network throughout the body
◍ What are muscle cells specialised for and how are they specialised?
Answer: Contraction - they need to contract quickly
-They are long so they have space to contract
-They contain lots of mitochondria to generate the energy needed for
contraction
◍ What are root hair cells specialised for and how are they
specialised? Answer: Absorbing water and minerals
-They are cells on the surface of plant roots which grow into long
hairs that stick out into the soil
-They have a large surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions
from the soil
◍ What are chromosomes? Answer: Coiled up lengths of DNA
molecules that are found in the nuclei
, ◍ What do multicellular organisms use mitosis for? Answer: To grow
or replace cells that have been damaged
◍ What are stem cells? Answer: They are undifferentiated cells that
divide to produce lots more undifferentiated cells. They then
differentiate into different types of cell
◍ Where are stem cells found? Answer: In early human embryos or
the bone marrow of adults
◍ What do embryonic stem cells do? Answer: 1) Used to replace
faulty cells in sick people - insulin-producing cells for diabetes and
nerve cells for paralysed spinal injuries
2) Used to replace faulty blood cells
◍ What is diffusion? Answer: Diffusion is the movement of particles
from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
◍ Name the substances that can diffuse through cell membranes
Answer: Glucose, water, oxygen and amino acids
◍ Name two substances that can't diffuse through cell membranes
Answer: Protein and starch
◍ What is osmosis? Answer: Osmosis is the passive movement of
water molecules through a partially permeable cell membrane from an
area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026 GRADED
A+
◍ What does cytoplasm do? Answer: It's a gel-like substance where
most of the chemical reactions happen. It contains enzymes that
control these chemical reactions
◍ What does a cell membrane do? Answer: It holds the cell together
and controls what goes in and out
◍ What do mitochondria do? Answer: These are where most of the
reactions for aerobic respiration occur. Respiration transfers energy
that the cell needs to work
◍ What do ribosomes do? Answer: This is where protein synthesis
takes place - where proteins are made in the cell
◍ What do cell walls do? Answer: They are made of cellulose and
they support and strengthen the cell
◍ What does a vacuole do? Answer: It contains cell sap and helps
maintain the shape of the cell
,◍ What do chloroplasts do? Answer: This is where photosynthesis
occurs, which makes food for the plant. They contain chlorophyll - a
green pigment - which absorbs light needed for photosynthesis
◍ What do bacterial cells contain? Answer: Cytoplasm, cell
membrane, cell wall, flagella, ribosomes, mitochondria, slime
capsule, plasmids (small rings of DNA) and a single circular strand of
DNA that floats freely in the cytoplasm
◍ What do bacterial cells NOT contain? Answer: A nucleus
◍ What is the equation for magnification? Answer: Image size
divided by actual size
◍ What is differentiation? Answer: The process by which a cell
changes to become specialised for its job
◍ What are undifferentiated cells called? Answer: Stem cells
◍ What are sperm cells specialised for and how are they specialised?
Answer: Reproduction - they transport the male DNA to the female
DNA
-It has a flagella and a streamlined head to help it swim towards the
egg
-There are lots of mitochondria in the cell to provide the energy
needed
,-It carries enzymes in its head to help digest through the egg cell
membranes
◍ What are nerve cells specialised for and how are they specialised?
Answer: Rapid signalling - they carry electrical signals from one part
of the body to another
-They are long to cover more distance
-They have branched connections at their ends to connect to other
nerve cells and form a network throughout the body
◍ What are muscle cells specialised for and how are they specialised?
Answer: Contraction - they need to contract quickly
-They are long so they have space to contract
-They contain lots of mitochondria to generate the energy needed for
contraction
◍ What are root hair cells specialised for and how are they
specialised? Answer: Absorbing water and minerals
-They are cells on the surface of plant roots which grow into long
hairs that stick out into the soil
-They have a large surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions
from the soil
◍ What are chromosomes? Answer: Coiled up lengths of DNA
molecules that are found in the nuclei
, ◍ What do multicellular organisms use mitosis for? Answer: To grow
or replace cells that have been damaged
◍ What are stem cells? Answer: They are undifferentiated cells that
divide to produce lots more undifferentiated cells. They then
differentiate into different types of cell
◍ Where are stem cells found? Answer: In early human embryos or
the bone marrow of adults
◍ What do embryonic stem cells do? Answer: 1) Used to replace
faulty cells in sick people - insulin-producing cells for diabetes and
nerve cells for paralysed spinal injuries
2) Used to replace faulty blood cells
◍ What is diffusion? Answer: Diffusion is the movement of particles
from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
◍ Name the substances that can diffuse through cell membranes
Answer: Glucose, water, oxygen and amino acids
◍ Name two substances that can't diffuse through cell membranes
Answer: Protein and starch
◍ What is osmosis? Answer: Osmosis is the passive movement of
water molecules through a partially permeable cell membrane from an
area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration
