A-LEVEL BIOLOGY PAPER 1 FINAL EXAM
PAPER 2026 EXAM Q&A FULL SOLUTION
GRADED A+
⩥ Has stacked membranes arranged in parallel and contains DNA.
Answer: Chloroplasts
⩥ Is an organelle and is not surrounded by two membranes. Answer:
Golgi Apparatus
⩥ Human breast milk is produced and secreted by gland cells. These
gland cells have adaptations that include many mitochondria and many
Golgi vesicles. The milk contains a high concentration of protein.
Explain the role of these cell adaptations in the production and secretion
of breast milk. Answer: Mitochondria release energy in the form of ATP
for vesicle transportation.
Golgi Vesicles transport the protein out of the cell.
⩥ Explain the advantages of lipid droplet and micelle formation.
Answer: The droplets have a large surface area which increases the rate
of hydrolysis.
The micelles are smaller so are able to pass through the membrane
carrying the products.
,⩥ Suggest how the Golgi apparatus is involved in the absorption of
lipids. Answer: It modifies and processes triglycerides and combines
them with proteins, forms vesicles and releases them via exocytosis.
⩥ In cell fractionation, why is the solution ice cold? Answer: Stops
enzyme activity to prevent digestion of organelles
⩥ Is RNA in a Virus or Bacterium? Answer: Both
⩥ Is a cell wall in a Virus or Bacterium? Answer: Bacterium
⩥ Are enzyme molecules in a Virus or Bacterium? Answer: Both
⩥ Is a capsid in a Virus or Bacterium? Answer: Virus
⩥ Which of cell membrane, cell wall and nucleus is a is white blood cell
present in? Answer: Cell surface membrane and nucleus
⩥ Which of cell membrane, cell wall and nucleus is a is bacterial cell
present in? Answer: Cell wall and cell surface membrane
,⩥ Some scientists support the theory that mitochondria are organelles
that evolved from prokaryotic cells.
(i) Give one piece of evidence that supports the theory that mitochondria
evolved from prokaryotic cells. Answer: Prokaryotic cells have circular
DNA
⩥ What is the advantage to cells of having mitochondria? Answer: The
respire aerobically so provide energy in the form of ATP.
⩥ Describe how temporary mounts are made. Answer: Thin
slice/section;
Stain with iodine
Add cover slip;
⩥ Describe how the scientist could have used the temporary mounts of
leaves to determine the mean number of chloroplasts in mesophyll cells
of a leaf. Answer: 1. Take a large number of cells
2. Count number of chloroplasts;
3. Divide number of chloroplasts by number of cells
, ⩥ In which organelle does protein synthesis take place? Answer: The
RER
⩥ Describe how the RER is involved in the production of enzymes.
Answer: Its covered in ribosomes which join amino acids together to
make proteins in protein synthesis.
⩥ Describe how the Golgi apparatus is involved in the secretion of
enzymes. Answer: It modifies and packages into vesicles for transport.
⩥ Give two structures a bacterial cell may have that a white blood cell
does not have. Answer: Flagella and capsule
⩥ People given whole-cell vaccines were more likely to develop harmful
side effects than the people given the vaccines containing parts of the
bacterial cells (lines 4-6).
Suggest reasons why. Answer: Heating was supposed to kill bacteria
so active bacteria are still alive meaning they can reproduce and make
toxins.
⩥ People given whole-cell vaccines produced a greater range of
antibodies against the bacterium than the people given the vaccines
containing parts of the bacterial cells (lines 7-8).
PAPER 2026 EXAM Q&A FULL SOLUTION
GRADED A+
⩥ Has stacked membranes arranged in parallel and contains DNA.
Answer: Chloroplasts
⩥ Is an organelle and is not surrounded by two membranes. Answer:
Golgi Apparatus
⩥ Human breast milk is produced and secreted by gland cells. These
gland cells have adaptations that include many mitochondria and many
Golgi vesicles. The milk contains a high concentration of protein.
Explain the role of these cell adaptations in the production and secretion
of breast milk. Answer: Mitochondria release energy in the form of ATP
for vesicle transportation.
Golgi Vesicles transport the protein out of the cell.
⩥ Explain the advantages of lipid droplet and micelle formation.
Answer: The droplets have a large surface area which increases the rate
of hydrolysis.
The micelles are smaller so are able to pass through the membrane
carrying the products.
,⩥ Suggest how the Golgi apparatus is involved in the absorption of
lipids. Answer: It modifies and processes triglycerides and combines
them with proteins, forms vesicles and releases them via exocytosis.
⩥ In cell fractionation, why is the solution ice cold? Answer: Stops
enzyme activity to prevent digestion of organelles
⩥ Is RNA in a Virus or Bacterium? Answer: Both
⩥ Is a cell wall in a Virus or Bacterium? Answer: Bacterium
⩥ Are enzyme molecules in a Virus or Bacterium? Answer: Both
⩥ Is a capsid in a Virus or Bacterium? Answer: Virus
⩥ Which of cell membrane, cell wall and nucleus is a is white blood cell
present in? Answer: Cell surface membrane and nucleus
⩥ Which of cell membrane, cell wall and nucleus is a is bacterial cell
present in? Answer: Cell wall and cell surface membrane
,⩥ Some scientists support the theory that mitochondria are organelles
that evolved from prokaryotic cells.
(i) Give one piece of evidence that supports the theory that mitochondria
evolved from prokaryotic cells. Answer: Prokaryotic cells have circular
DNA
⩥ What is the advantage to cells of having mitochondria? Answer: The
respire aerobically so provide energy in the form of ATP.
⩥ Describe how temporary mounts are made. Answer: Thin
slice/section;
Stain with iodine
Add cover slip;
⩥ Describe how the scientist could have used the temporary mounts of
leaves to determine the mean number of chloroplasts in mesophyll cells
of a leaf. Answer: 1. Take a large number of cells
2. Count number of chloroplasts;
3. Divide number of chloroplasts by number of cells
, ⩥ In which organelle does protein synthesis take place? Answer: The
RER
⩥ Describe how the RER is involved in the production of enzymes.
Answer: Its covered in ribosomes which join amino acids together to
make proteins in protein synthesis.
⩥ Describe how the Golgi apparatus is involved in the secretion of
enzymes. Answer: It modifies and packages into vesicles for transport.
⩥ Give two structures a bacterial cell may have that a white blood cell
does not have. Answer: Flagella and capsule
⩥ People given whole-cell vaccines were more likely to develop harmful
side effects than the people given the vaccines containing parts of the
bacterial cells (lines 4-6).
Suggest reasons why. Answer: Heating was supposed to kill bacteria
so active bacteria are still alive meaning they can reproduce and make
toxins.
⩥ People given whole-cell vaccines produced a greater range of
antibodies against the bacterium than the people given the vaccines
containing parts of the bacterial cells (lines 7-8).
