AQA GCSE BIOLOGY PAPER 2 LATEST 2025-2026
EXAM UPDATE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Name the hormone that is released if blood sugar is too high. - Answer-
Insulin
What does insulin do? - Answer-It makes the liver convert glucose into
glycogen. This causes blood glucose levels to decrease.
Name the hormone that is released if blood sugar is too low. - Answer-
Glucagon
What does glucagon do? HINT GLU-COSE-GONE - Answer-It makes
the liver convert glycogen to glucose. This causes the blood glucose
level to increase.
What is type I diabetes? - Answer-When the pancreas produces little or
no insulin.
What is type II diabetes? - Answer-When a person becomes resistant to
their own insulin. Being overweight can increase your chances of type II
diabetes.
, How can type I diabetes be treated? - Answer-Insulin injections,
limiting intake of foods rich is simple carbohydrates e.g. sugars and
regular exercise.
How can type II diabetes be treated? - Answer-It can be controlled by
eating a carbohydrate controlled diet and getting regular exercise.
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.
Name three things that are re-absorbed by the kidneys into the blood. -
Answer-Glucose, water and ions.
Name three things that are removed from the body in the urine. -
Answer-Urea, water and ions.
What is deamination? - Answer-Proteins (excess amino acids) cannot be
stored by the body. Excess amino acids are converted to fats and
carbohydrates. This occurs in the liver.
What is produced as a waste product of deamination? - Answer-
Ammonia is produced as a waste product. Ammonia is toxic so it is
converted into urea in the liver.
What hormone controls the amount of water absorbed by the kidneys? -
Answer-ADH
, What happens when the concentration of water in the blood is too low.
I.e. the Blood is MORE concentrated. - Answer-Receptors in the
hypothalamus detects the water content is too low. The coordinator in
the brain receives the information and coordinates a response. The
pituitary gland produces MORE (Anti-diuretic hormone) ADH, which
makes the kidney tubule MORE permeable. This means that MORE
water is reabsorbed into the bloodstream. The kidneys produce a small
volume of concentrated urine.
What happens when the concentration of water in the blood is too high.
I.e. the Blood is dilute/LESS concentrated. - Answer-Receptors in the
hypothalamus detects the water content is too high. The coordinator in
the brain receives the information and coordinates a response. The
pituitary gland produced LESS ADH, which makes the kidney tubule
LESS permeable. This means that LESS water is reabsorbed into the
bloodstream. The kidneys produce a large volume of dilute urine.
How does a dialysis machine work? - Answer-In a dialysis machine the
patients blood flows between a partially permeable membrane
surrounded by dialysis fluid. The dialysis fluid contains the same
concentration of dissolved ions and glucose as healthy blood. This
means they won't be lost from the blood during dialysis. Only wastes
such as urea and excess ions and waters diffuse across the barrier.
What is the purpose of the partially permeable membrane in the dialysis
machine. - Answer-To only allow small soluble molecules (e.g. urea,
water and ions) to move into the dialysis fluid, not large molecules like
proteins.
, What are the advantages and disadvantages of a kidney transplant over
dialysis? - Answer-Kidney transplants are a cure, but they can be
rejected. Patients are treated with immunosuppressants. People are not
always on the donor list, relatives have to agree to the donation.
Transplants are cheaper than dialysis to the NHS. Long waiting lists for
transplants. Patients have to spend 3-4 hours a day, 3 x a week which
can have a negative impact on their quality of life.
What are the four stages of the menstrual cycle? - Answer-1)
Menstruation-the uterus lining breaks down
2) The uterus lining builds up again
3) Ovulation-Around day 14 a egg is released from an ovary.
4) The wall is maintained for about 14 days until day 28. If the egg has
not been fertilised and implanted into the uterus lining it breaks down.
What is the role of FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone) in the menstrual
cycle? - Answer-Made in the pituitary gland.
Causes a egg to mature in one of the ovaries in a structure called a
follicle.
Stimulates the ovaries to produce oestrogen.
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.
EXAM UPDATE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Name the hormone that is released if blood sugar is too high. - Answer-
Insulin
What does insulin do? - Answer-It makes the liver convert glucose into
glycogen. This causes blood glucose levels to decrease.
Name the hormone that is released if blood sugar is too low. - Answer-
Glucagon
What does glucagon do? HINT GLU-COSE-GONE - Answer-It makes
the liver convert glycogen to glucose. This causes the blood glucose
level to increase.
What is type I diabetes? - Answer-When the pancreas produces little or
no insulin.
What is type II diabetes? - Answer-When a person becomes resistant to
their own insulin. Being overweight can increase your chances of type II
diabetes.
, How can type I diabetes be treated? - Answer-Insulin injections,
limiting intake of foods rich is simple carbohydrates e.g. sugars and
regular exercise.
How can type II diabetes be treated? - Answer-It can be controlled by
eating a carbohydrate controlled diet and getting regular exercise.
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.
Name three things that are re-absorbed by the kidneys into the blood. -
Answer-Glucose, water and ions.
Name three things that are removed from the body in the urine. -
Answer-Urea, water and ions.
What is deamination? - Answer-Proteins (excess amino acids) cannot be
stored by the body. Excess amino acids are converted to fats and
carbohydrates. This occurs in the liver.
What is produced as a waste product of deamination? - Answer-
Ammonia is produced as a waste product. Ammonia is toxic so it is
converted into urea in the liver.
What hormone controls the amount of water absorbed by the kidneys? -
Answer-ADH
, What happens when the concentration of water in the blood is too low.
I.e. the Blood is MORE concentrated. - Answer-Receptors in the
hypothalamus detects the water content is too low. The coordinator in
the brain receives the information and coordinates a response. The
pituitary gland produces MORE (Anti-diuretic hormone) ADH, which
makes the kidney tubule MORE permeable. This means that MORE
water is reabsorbed into the bloodstream. The kidneys produce a small
volume of concentrated urine.
What happens when the concentration of water in the blood is too high.
I.e. the Blood is dilute/LESS concentrated. - Answer-Receptors in the
hypothalamus detects the water content is too high. The coordinator in
the brain receives the information and coordinates a response. The
pituitary gland produced LESS ADH, which makes the kidney tubule
LESS permeable. This means that LESS water is reabsorbed into the
bloodstream. The kidneys produce a large volume of dilute urine.
How does a dialysis machine work? - Answer-In a dialysis machine the
patients blood flows between a partially permeable membrane
surrounded by dialysis fluid. The dialysis fluid contains the same
concentration of dissolved ions and glucose as healthy blood. This
means they won't be lost from the blood during dialysis. Only wastes
such as urea and excess ions and waters diffuse across the barrier.
What is the purpose of the partially permeable membrane in the dialysis
machine. - Answer-To only allow small soluble molecules (e.g. urea,
water and ions) to move into the dialysis fluid, not large molecules like
proteins.
, What are the advantages and disadvantages of a kidney transplant over
dialysis? - Answer-Kidney transplants are a cure, but they can be
rejected. Patients are treated with immunosuppressants. People are not
always on the donor list, relatives have to agree to the donation.
Transplants are cheaper than dialysis to the NHS. Long waiting lists for
transplants. Patients have to spend 3-4 hours a day, 3 x a week which
can have a negative impact on their quality of life.
What are the four stages of the menstrual cycle? - Answer-1)
Menstruation-the uterus lining breaks down
2) The uterus lining builds up again
3) Ovulation-Around day 14 a egg is released from an ovary.
4) The wall is maintained for about 14 days until day 28. If the egg has
not been fertilised and implanted into the uterus lining it breaks down.
What is the role of FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone) in the menstrual
cycle? - Answer-Made in the pituitary gland.
Causes a egg to mature in one of the ovaries in a structure called a
follicle.
Stimulates the ovaries to produce oestrogen.
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.
