GCSE BIOLOGY – EXAM REVISION QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST 2025 UPDATE.
Define movement - ANSWER- An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a
change of position or place
Define respiration - ANSWER- The chemical reaction that breaks down nutrient molecules in
living cells to release energy
Respiration word equation - ANSWER- Glucose+oxygen->water+carbon dioxide
Respiration symbol equation - ANSWER-
Define sensitivity - ANSWER- Ability to detect or sense changes in the environment and to
make responses
Define growth - ANSWER- A permanent increase in size and mass by an increase in cell
number or cell size
Define reproduction - ANSWER- Processes that make more of the same kind of organisms
Define excretion - ANSWER- Removal from organisms of toxic materials, the waste product
of metabolism and substances in excess requirement
Define nutrition - ANSWER- Taking in of nutrients which are organic substances and mineral
ions, containing raw materials or energy for growth and tissue repair, absorbing and assimilating
them
Define cell - ANSWER- The smallest structural and functional unit of an aorganism
,State differences between the typical animal and plant cell - ANSWER- -Only plant cells have
chloroplasts and cell walls
-Shape of plant cell is more regular
-Animal cells store carbohydrates as glycogen, plant cells store carbohydrates as starch
Function of nucleus (cell) - ANSWER- Contains DNA (Genetic material), which controls cell
activity
Function of cytoplasm - ANSWER- Where chemical reactions take place
Function of cell membrane - ANSWER- Partially permeable membrane which controls
substances that move in and out of the cell
Function of cell wall - ANSWER- Strengthens and protects the cell
Function of chloroplast - ANSWER- Contains chlorophyll which absorbs light energy for
photosyntheis
Word equation for photosynthesis - ANSWER- Carbon dioxide+water->Oxygen+glucose
Symbol equation fo photosynthesis - ANSWER-
Function of vacuole - ANSWER- Filled with cell sap which helps keep the cell turgid
Function of red blood cell - ANSWER- Carries oxygen around the body to all respiring tissues
(Contains haemoglobin which picks up oxygen)
,How the red blood cell is suitable for its function - ANSWER- -Biconcave shape (Higher
surface area)
-No nucleus (Can move around more easily and allows the cell to hold more oxygen)
Function of root hair cell - ANSWER- To absorb water and mineral ions for the plant (vis
osmosis
How the root hair cell is suitable for its function - ANSWER- -Elongated section to its main
body (Higher surface area)
-Membrane of the root is semi permeable (only water and minerals can go through)
Define diffusion - ANSWER- The net movement of molecules form a region of high
concentration to a region of lower concentration down a concentration gradient (Result of random
movement/brownian motion)
Importance of diffusion in gases - ANSWER- -Necessary for gas exchange in living organisms
-Necessary for photosynthesis
Importance of diffusion in a solvent - ANSWER- -Absorption of dissolved food material
-Dissolved salts diffuse through the root hair cell
Importance of diffusion in water as a solvent - ANSWER- -Absorption of minerals in plants
(minerals salt needs to dissolve in water)
-Necessary for excretion (pee)
Define osmosis - ANSWER- The diffusion of water molecules from a region of high
concentration to a region of lower concentration through a semi permeable membrane
Osmosis in plant cells - ANSWER- -Water enters the root hair cell through osmosis
-If vacuoles aren't full of water the cell will become flaccid causing the plant to will
, Osmosis in animal cells - ANSWER- -If surrounded with high water potential, water will enter
the cell, if to much water ends up in the cell it will burst
-If surrounded with low water potential, water in cytoplasm will diffuse outwards causing the cell
to shrink
Define enzyme - ANSWER- Proteins that function as biological catalysts (speeds up reaction
in living cells)
Define substrate molecule - ANSWER- A substance on which enzymes act on
Define active site - ANSWER- A region on an enzyme which binds to the substrate during a
reaction
Explain the lock and key mechanism for enzymes - ANSWER- An enzyme has to be the right
shape for the substrate to fit into. An enzyme will only accept 1 substrate (1 specific chemical
reaction)
Temperatures effect on enzymes - ANSWER- -As temperature increase so does the rate of
reaction, up to a certain point. This point is known as the "optimum temperature". If the
temperature goes above this enzyme activity will decrease (denature)
-If the temperature is to low the enzyme will be dormand
PHs effect on enzymes - ANSWER- -Different enzymes work best ad different PH s
-If the PH is to low OR to high the enzyme will denature
Function of protease - ANSWER- Breaks down protein
Function of amylase - ANSWER- Breaks down starch
SOLUTIONS LATEST 2025 UPDATE.
Define movement - ANSWER- An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a
change of position or place
Define respiration - ANSWER- The chemical reaction that breaks down nutrient molecules in
living cells to release energy
Respiration word equation - ANSWER- Glucose+oxygen->water+carbon dioxide
Respiration symbol equation - ANSWER-
Define sensitivity - ANSWER- Ability to detect or sense changes in the environment and to
make responses
Define growth - ANSWER- A permanent increase in size and mass by an increase in cell
number or cell size
Define reproduction - ANSWER- Processes that make more of the same kind of organisms
Define excretion - ANSWER- Removal from organisms of toxic materials, the waste product
of metabolism and substances in excess requirement
Define nutrition - ANSWER- Taking in of nutrients which are organic substances and mineral
ions, containing raw materials or energy for growth and tissue repair, absorbing and assimilating
them
Define cell - ANSWER- The smallest structural and functional unit of an aorganism
,State differences between the typical animal and plant cell - ANSWER- -Only plant cells have
chloroplasts and cell walls
-Shape of plant cell is more regular
-Animal cells store carbohydrates as glycogen, plant cells store carbohydrates as starch
Function of nucleus (cell) - ANSWER- Contains DNA (Genetic material), which controls cell
activity
Function of cytoplasm - ANSWER- Where chemical reactions take place
Function of cell membrane - ANSWER- Partially permeable membrane which controls
substances that move in and out of the cell
Function of cell wall - ANSWER- Strengthens and protects the cell
Function of chloroplast - ANSWER- Contains chlorophyll which absorbs light energy for
photosyntheis
Word equation for photosynthesis - ANSWER- Carbon dioxide+water->Oxygen+glucose
Symbol equation fo photosynthesis - ANSWER-
Function of vacuole - ANSWER- Filled with cell sap which helps keep the cell turgid
Function of red blood cell - ANSWER- Carries oxygen around the body to all respiring tissues
(Contains haemoglobin which picks up oxygen)
,How the red blood cell is suitable for its function - ANSWER- -Biconcave shape (Higher
surface area)
-No nucleus (Can move around more easily and allows the cell to hold more oxygen)
Function of root hair cell - ANSWER- To absorb water and mineral ions for the plant (vis
osmosis
How the root hair cell is suitable for its function - ANSWER- -Elongated section to its main
body (Higher surface area)
-Membrane of the root is semi permeable (only water and minerals can go through)
Define diffusion - ANSWER- The net movement of molecules form a region of high
concentration to a region of lower concentration down a concentration gradient (Result of random
movement/brownian motion)
Importance of diffusion in gases - ANSWER- -Necessary for gas exchange in living organisms
-Necessary for photosynthesis
Importance of diffusion in a solvent - ANSWER- -Absorption of dissolved food material
-Dissolved salts diffuse through the root hair cell
Importance of diffusion in water as a solvent - ANSWER- -Absorption of minerals in plants
(minerals salt needs to dissolve in water)
-Necessary for excretion (pee)
Define osmosis - ANSWER- The diffusion of water molecules from a region of high
concentration to a region of lower concentration through a semi permeable membrane
Osmosis in plant cells - ANSWER- -Water enters the root hair cell through osmosis
-If vacuoles aren't full of water the cell will become flaccid causing the plant to will
, Osmosis in animal cells - ANSWER- -If surrounded with high water potential, water will enter
the cell, if to much water ends up in the cell it will burst
-If surrounded with low water potential, water in cytoplasm will diffuse outwards causing the cell
to shrink
Define enzyme - ANSWER- Proteins that function as biological catalysts (speeds up reaction
in living cells)
Define substrate molecule - ANSWER- A substance on which enzymes act on
Define active site - ANSWER- A region on an enzyme which binds to the substrate during a
reaction
Explain the lock and key mechanism for enzymes - ANSWER- An enzyme has to be the right
shape for the substrate to fit into. An enzyme will only accept 1 substrate (1 specific chemical
reaction)
Temperatures effect on enzymes - ANSWER- -As temperature increase so does the rate of
reaction, up to a certain point. This point is known as the "optimum temperature". If the
temperature goes above this enzyme activity will decrease (denature)
-If the temperature is to low the enzyme will be dormand
PHs effect on enzymes - ANSWER- -Different enzymes work best ad different PH s
-If the PH is to low OR to high the enzyme will denature
Function of protease - ANSWER- Breaks down protein
Function of amylase - ANSWER- Breaks down starch
