Biology Study Guide HESI Exam
General Knowledge
This subsection of the test requires that you understand the five kingdom classification system, which is
best memorized using the mnemonic, “King Phillip came over for good soup.” This stands for: Kingdom,
Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. You will also need to demonstrate your knowledge of
the scientific method, as well as evolution, including natural selection, punctuated equilibrium, and
gradualism. Below are a couple sample questions.
1. What is the third part of an organism’s classification?
2. True or False: Gradualism describes the process of evolution as involving long periods without
significant change, or stasis.
3. What is the fourth step in the scientific method?
The answer to the first question can be attained by remembering the King Phillip mnemonic mentioned
above. The correct answer is class. The correct answer for the second question is False. Gradualism
describes evolution as occurring steadily, or gradually, over time. Punctuated equilibrium, on the other
hand, includes periods of stasis. The answer to the third question is performing the experiments based
on earlier predictions.
Water
In this subsection, you may be required to demonstrate your knowledge of the properties of water,
including specific heat, cohesion, adhesion, and solvency. Below are a few sample questions:
1. Does water decrease or increase the temperature of a living organism?
2. What is the chemical composition of water?
3. True or False: Ice is the densest phase of water.
The answer to the first question is that water stabilizes internal temperatures in living organisms,
allowing them to achieve homeostasis. The answer to the second question is H2O, or two atoms of
hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. The third answer is False. Liquid water is the densest phase of water,
which is why ice floats in water.
Macromolecules
This subsection covers anabolic reactions and the four basic macromolecules: carbohydrates, proteins,
nucleic acids, and lipids. You may also see questions pertaining catabolic reactions and the four basic
building blocks: monosaccharides, fatty acids, amino acids, and nucleotides. Below are a couple sample
questions:
1. Fill in the blank in the question below:
Carbohydrates are converted into ___ in order to provide energy.
2. Of what does a fatty acid chain consist?
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, Biology Study Guide HESI Exam
The answer to the first question is glucose, a result of the oxidation process of carbohydrates, from
which most of a cell’s energy is derived. The answer to the second question is that a fatty acid chain is
comprised of a carboxylic acid group on one end and a methyl group at the other end.
Metabolism
This subsection will require that you demonstrate your knowledge of metabolism. This includes
answering questions related to metabolic pathways, anabolic reactions, and catabolic reactions. Below
are a couple sample questions:
1. True or False: An anabolic reaction consists of large molecules breaking into smaller molecules.
2. The four basic building blocks resulting from catabolic reactions are:
3.
1.
a. Monosaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides
b. Amino acids, fatty acids, macromolecules, and catalysts
c. Polysaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides
The answer to the first question is False. An anabolic reaction consists of smaller molecules building into
larger, more complex molecules, or macromolecules. Catabolic reactions refers to large molecules
breaking into smaller molecules. The answer to the second question is a. Monosaccharides, amino acids,
fatty acids, and nucleotides.
The Cell
This subsection will require that you demonstrate your knowledge of the function and structure of cells,
including nuclei, and chromosomes, as well as ribosomes, nuclear pores, nucleoplasm, cytoplasm, cell
membranes, and other parts of the cell and related concepts. Below are a couple sample questions:
1.
1. The part of the cytoskeleton that is made of protein and helps support the cell is:
a. Cytosol
b. Cell membrane
c. Microtubules
1.
1. The sacs used for storage in a cell, as well as digestion and waste, are called:
a. Waste sacs
b. Vacuoles
c. Cell membranes
This study source was downloaded by 100000788557518 from CourseHero.com on 03-02-2023 15:52:35 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/49941417/Biology-study-info-HESI-EXAMdocx/
General Knowledge
This subsection of the test requires that you understand the five kingdom classification system, which is
best memorized using the mnemonic, “King Phillip came over for good soup.” This stands for: Kingdom,
Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. You will also need to demonstrate your knowledge of
the scientific method, as well as evolution, including natural selection, punctuated equilibrium, and
gradualism. Below are a couple sample questions.
1. What is the third part of an organism’s classification?
2. True or False: Gradualism describes the process of evolution as involving long periods without
significant change, or stasis.
3. What is the fourth step in the scientific method?
The answer to the first question can be attained by remembering the King Phillip mnemonic mentioned
above. The correct answer is class. The correct answer for the second question is False. Gradualism
describes evolution as occurring steadily, or gradually, over time. Punctuated equilibrium, on the other
hand, includes periods of stasis. The answer to the third question is performing the experiments based
on earlier predictions.
Water
In this subsection, you may be required to demonstrate your knowledge of the properties of water,
including specific heat, cohesion, adhesion, and solvency. Below are a few sample questions:
1. Does water decrease or increase the temperature of a living organism?
2. What is the chemical composition of water?
3. True or False: Ice is the densest phase of water.
The answer to the first question is that water stabilizes internal temperatures in living organisms,
allowing them to achieve homeostasis. The answer to the second question is H2O, or two atoms of
hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. The third answer is False. Liquid water is the densest phase of water,
which is why ice floats in water.
Macromolecules
This subsection covers anabolic reactions and the four basic macromolecules: carbohydrates, proteins,
nucleic acids, and lipids. You may also see questions pertaining catabolic reactions and the four basic
building blocks: monosaccharides, fatty acids, amino acids, and nucleotides. Below are a couple sample
questions:
1. Fill in the blank in the question below:
Carbohydrates are converted into ___ in order to provide energy.
2. Of what does a fatty acid chain consist?
This study source was downloaded by 100000788557518 from CourseHero.com on 03-02-2023 15:52:35 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/49941417/Biology-study-info-HESI-EXAMdocx/
, Biology Study Guide HESI Exam
The answer to the first question is glucose, a result of the oxidation process of carbohydrates, from
which most of a cell’s energy is derived. The answer to the second question is that a fatty acid chain is
comprised of a carboxylic acid group on one end and a methyl group at the other end.
Metabolism
This subsection will require that you demonstrate your knowledge of metabolism. This includes
answering questions related to metabolic pathways, anabolic reactions, and catabolic reactions. Below
are a couple sample questions:
1. True or False: An anabolic reaction consists of large molecules breaking into smaller molecules.
2. The four basic building blocks resulting from catabolic reactions are:
3.
1.
a. Monosaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides
b. Amino acids, fatty acids, macromolecules, and catalysts
c. Polysaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides
The answer to the first question is False. An anabolic reaction consists of smaller molecules building into
larger, more complex molecules, or macromolecules. Catabolic reactions refers to large molecules
breaking into smaller molecules. The answer to the second question is a. Monosaccharides, amino acids,
fatty acids, and nucleotides.
The Cell
This subsection will require that you demonstrate your knowledge of the function and structure of cells,
including nuclei, and chromosomes, as well as ribosomes, nuclear pores, nucleoplasm, cytoplasm, cell
membranes, and other parts of the cell and related concepts. Below are a couple sample questions:
1.
1. The part of the cytoskeleton that is made of protein and helps support the cell is:
a. Cytosol
b. Cell membrane
c. Microtubules
1.
1. The sacs used for storage in a cell, as well as digestion and waste, are called:
a. Waste sacs
b. Vacuoles
c. Cell membranes
This study source was downloaded by 100000788557518 from CourseHero.com on 03-02-2023 15:52:35 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/49941417/Biology-study-info-HESI-EXAMdocx/
