AQA A Level Biology Paper 3 Essay Plans
(I have collated all of the essay titles from the past and present specification. In 2023 both titles
were covered in this document, so it is likely that next years (and the following years) will be covered
on here )
This is how I revised for Paper 3 Essay and it was highly effective
Weighting of the essay
- A01– 2/3
- A02 importance – 1/3 – say “this is important because” “this is essential because”
- 4/5 paragraphs – must be VERY accurate and A Level specific
- AQA state 5 is best however 4 accurate will still gain very high marks (I did 4 in my exam)
- Remember: A level content is key – always avoid gcse content to maximise marks
Beyond the specification (THIS IS NOT NEEDED AT ALL) - Only if you are aiming for 23-25 marks
(15 and above is great!)
But interest only…..
Cholera is a disease caused by bacteria. Cholera releases the toxin that can bind to channel proteins,
causing ions to move and this effects the water potential of the gut.
THEREFORE, cholera fits many essay titles as above the spec knowledge if you would like to right
about it however make sure it does not compromise the accuracy and quality of your essay
In this document below I have covered 31 essay titles.
Each essay title contains ideas about which topics I would recommended talking about to maximise
marks. In my opinion, one of the most helpful documents you will find for Year 13 Biology
The importance of shapes fitting together in cells and organisms
1. Enzymes - enzyme substrate complexes – lock and key to induced fit model
- Importance of enzymes for catalysing reactions such as digestion of proteins, lipids and carbs
2. Insulin binds to specific complementary receptor on target cells – describe process
- Important to maintain blood glucose levels in diabetics
3. Synapses – acetylcholine binding to receptors on post synaptic neuron
- Important as depolarisation is only caused in post synaptic neurone and how
acetylcholinesterase has complementary shape to acetylcholine to break to down into
choline and acetate to be recycled back – important to ensure electrical impulses are not
constantly fired in the absence of a stimulus. Inhibition/excitation of drugs.
4. Helper T cell receptors binds to complementary antigen in cell mediated immunity
- Important because it triggers cell mediated response:
- Activates T cell to divide by mitosis/clonal selection to formed cloned cells
- Cloned T helper cells secrete cytokines that activate:
- Phagocytes to engulf pathogens by phagocytosis
- Stimulate B cells to divide and secrete antibodies
- Activate cytotoxic T cells to kill abnormal cells by producing perforin
5. Haemoglobin – oxygen binding sites
- Important to transfer oxygen to respiring tissues
, 6. Restriction endonucleases
- Cut at specific DNA sequences/recognition sites – complementary sticky ends
7. Transcriptional factors
The importance of microbes and how they can affect the lives of humans and other organisms
1. Humoral response
- Importance of the interaction between bacteria and B cells is that it enables long term active
immunity. This has been manipulated in medicine to create vaccines made of attenuated
pathogen or the antigens
2. Nitrogen cycle
- Importance of microbes in the nitrogen cycle is that it enables nitrogen to be absorbed in the
form of nitrates. Nitrogen needed for amino acids, DNA/RNA
3. In vivo cloning
- Importance of bacteria in insulin production is that it results in large quantities of insulin
being produced rapidly to treat type I diabetes
4. Succession – pioneer species
- Importance of microbes in succession is that they enable the change in abiotic conditions to
help increase biodiversity and make environment more stable
The importance of different relationships and interactions between organisms
1. Mycorrhizae
- Importance of symbiotic relationship between fungus and the plant is that it enables more
nitrogen to be absorbed – more amino acids produced which are enzymes
2. Courtship behaviour
- Importance of courtship behaviour is that increases the likelihood of successful reproduction
and passing on advantageous alleles which increases the population size and also population
adaptations to their environment
3. Humoral response
- Importance of the interaction between bacteria and B cells is that it enables long term active
immunity. This has been manipulated in medicine to create vaccines made of attenuated
pathogen or the antigens
4. Natural selection
- Importance of interaction between competing organisms in natural selection is important as
it makes an entire population more adapted to their environment to survive
Importance of membranes of different types of cells (Essay title in 2023!)
1. Thylakoid membrane in LDR of photosynthesis
- Importance of products of LDR for LIDR – GP to TP – TP converted into organic substances eg
glucose for respiration, cellulose for cell walls, starch or nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA
(I have collated all of the essay titles from the past and present specification. In 2023 both titles
were covered in this document, so it is likely that next years (and the following years) will be covered
on here )
This is how I revised for Paper 3 Essay and it was highly effective
Weighting of the essay
- A01– 2/3
- A02 importance – 1/3 – say “this is important because” “this is essential because”
- 4/5 paragraphs – must be VERY accurate and A Level specific
- AQA state 5 is best however 4 accurate will still gain very high marks (I did 4 in my exam)
- Remember: A level content is key – always avoid gcse content to maximise marks
Beyond the specification (THIS IS NOT NEEDED AT ALL) - Only if you are aiming for 23-25 marks
(15 and above is great!)
But interest only…..
Cholera is a disease caused by bacteria. Cholera releases the toxin that can bind to channel proteins,
causing ions to move and this effects the water potential of the gut.
THEREFORE, cholera fits many essay titles as above the spec knowledge if you would like to right
about it however make sure it does not compromise the accuracy and quality of your essay
In this document below I have covered 31 essay titles.
Each essay title contains ideas about which topics I would recommended talking about to maximise
marks. In my opinion, one of the most helpful documents you will find for Year 13 Biology
The importance of shapes fitting together in cells and organisms
1. Enzymes - enzyme substrate complexes – lock and key to induced fit model
- Importance of enzymes for catalysing reactions such as digestion of proteins, lipids and carbs
2. Insulin binds to specific complementary receptor on target cells – describe process
- Important to maintain blood glucose levels in diabetics
3. Synapses – acetylcholine binding to receptors on post synaptic neuron
- Important as depolarisation is only caused in post synaptic neurone and how
acetylcholinesterase has complementary shape to acetylcholine to break to down into
choline and acetate to be recycled back – important to ensure electrical impulses are not
constantly fired in the absence of a stimulus. Inhibition/excitation of drugs.
4. Helper T cell receptors binds to complementary antigen in cell mediated immunity
- Important because it triggers cell mediated response:
- Activates T cell to divide by mitosis/clonal selection to formed cloned cells
- Cloned T helper cells secrete cytokines that activate:
- Phagocytes to engulf pathogens by phagocytosis
- Stimulate B cells to divide and secrete antibodies
- Activate cytotoxic T cells to kill abnormal cells by producing perforin
5. Haemoglobin – oxygen binding sites
- Important to transfer oxygen to respiring tissues
, 6. Restriction endonucleases
- Cut at specific DNA sequences/recognition sites – complementary sticky ends
7. Transcriptional factors
The importance of microbes and how they can affect the lives of humans and other organisms
1. Humoral response
- Importance of the interaction between bacteria and B cells is that it enables long term active
immunity. This has been manipulated in medicine to create vaccines made of attenuated
pathogen or the antigens
2. Nitrogen cycle
- Importance of microbes in the nitrogen cycle is that it enables nitrogen to be absorbed in the
form of nitrates. Nitrogen needed for amino acids, DNA/RNA
3. In vivo cloning
- Importance of bacteria in insulin production is that it results in large quantities of insulin
being produced rapidly to treat type I diabetes
4. Succession – pioneer species
- Importance of microbes in succession is that they enable the change in abiotic conditions to
help increase biodiversity and make environment more stable
The importance of different relationships and interactions between organisms
1. Mycorrhizae
- Importance of symbiotic relationship between fungus and the plant is that it enables more
nitrogen to be absorbed – more amino acids produced which are enzymes
2. Courtship behaviour
- Importance of courtship behaviour is that increases the likelihood of successful reproduction
and passing on advantageous alleles which increases the population size and also population
adaptations to their environment
3. Humoral response
- Importance of the interaction between bacteria and B cells is that it enables long term active
immunity. This has been manipulated in medicine to create vaccines made of attenuated
pathogen or the antigens
4. Natural selection
- Importance of interaction between competing organisms in natural selection is important as
it makes an entire population more adapted to their environment to survive
Importance of membranes of different types of cells (Essay title in 2023!)
1. Thylakoid membrane in LDR of photosynthesis
- Importance of products of LDR for LIDR – GP to TP – TP converted into organic substances eg
glucose for respiration, cellulose for cell walls, starch or nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA
