2026 AQA A-level BIOLOGY 7402/1 PAPER 1
COMPLETE QUESTION PAPER & MARK SCHEME
(MERGED) – WITH MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
EXAM INFORMATION
| Component | Details |
|--||
| Exam Board | AQA |
| Qualification | A-level |
| Subject | Biology |
| Paper | Paper 1 |
| Code | 7402/1 |
| Date | June 2023 |
| Time | 2 hours |
| Total Marks | 91 (75 + 16) |
PAPER STRUCTURE
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks |
|||-|
| Section A | Multiple choice & short answer | ~75 marks |
| Section B | One essay question (choice of two) | 16 marks |
SECTION A – QUESTIONS 1-23
Question 1
Which of the following statements about the light-independent reaction (Calvin cycle) is correct?
A) The Calvin cycle occurs in the thylakoid membranes
B) RuBP is regenerated from triose phosphate using ATP only
, C) GP is reduced to TP using reduced NADP
D) Carbon dioxide is fixed by RuBP to form TP
Answer: C) GP is reduced to TP using reduced NADP
Rationale: GP (glycerate‑3‑phosphate) is reduced to TP (triose phosphate) using reduced
NADP (NADPH) and ATP. The Calvin cycle occurs in the stroma, not thylakoid membranes.
RuBP is regenerated using both ATP and reduced NADP.
Question 2
A student used a colorimeter to measure the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction. She used a
red filter. Which of the following statements correctly explains why a red filter was used?
A) Red filters transmit red light, which is absorbed by the coloured product
B) Red filters absorb red light, which is reflected by the coloured product
C) Red filters transmit all wavelengths of light equally
D) Red filters are used only to calibrate the colorimeter
Answer: A) Red filters transmit red light, which is absorbed by the coloured product
Rationale: A colorimeter measures the absorbance of light by a coloured solution. The filter is
chosen to transmit the wavelength of light that is absorbed by the product; the red filter
transmits red light, which is absorbed if the product is complementary in colour (e.g., blue‑green
product absorbs red light).
Question 3
A scientist measured the rate of oxygen production in a pondweed at different light intensities.
Which of the following is the correct identification of the limiting factor at point X on the graph?
A) Light intensity
B) Temperature
C) Carbon dioxide concentration
D) Chlorophyll concentration
Answer: A) Light intensity
Rationale: At point X (the rising part of the curve), increasing light intensity increases the rate of
photosynthesis, so light intensity is the limiting factor.
COMPLETE QUESTION PAPER & MARK SCHEME
(MERGED) – WITH MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
EXAM INFORMATION
| Component | Details |
|--||
| Exam Board | AQA |
| Qualification | A-level |
| Subject | Biology |
| Paper | Paper 1 |
| Code | 7402/1 |
| Date | June 2023 |
| Time | 2 hours |
| Total Marks | 91 (75 + 16) |
PAPER STRUCTURE
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks |
|||-|
| Section A | Multiple choice & short answer | ~75 marks |
| Section B | One essay question (choice of two) | 16 marks |
SECTION A – QUESTIONS 1-23
Question 1
Which of the following statements about the light-independent reaction (Calvin cycle) is correct?
A) The Calvin cycle occurs in the thylakoid membranes
B) RuBP is regenerated from triose phosphate using ATP only
, C) GP is reduced to TP using reduced NADP
D) Carbon dioxide is fixed by RuBP to form TP
Answer: C) GP is reduced to TP using reduced NADP
Rationale: GP (glycerate‑3‑phosphate) is reduced to TP (triose phosphate) using reduced
NADP (NADPH) and ATP. The Calvin cycle occurs in the stroma, not thylakoid membranes.
RuBP is regenerated using both ATP and reduced NADP.
Question 2
A student used a colorimeter to measure the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction. She used a
red filter. Which of the following statements correctly explains why a red filter was used?
A) Red filters transmit red light, which is absorbed by the coloured product
B) Red filters absorb red light, which is reflected by the coloured product
C) Red filters transmit all wavelengths of light equally
D) Red filters are used only to calibrate the colorimeter
Answer: A) Red filters transmit red light, which is absorbed by the coloured product
Rationale: A colorimeter measures the absorbance of light by a coloured solution. The filter is
chosen to transmit the wavelength of light that is absorbed by the product; the red filter
transmits red light, which is absorbed if the product is complementary in colour (e.g., blue‑green
product absorbs red light).
Question 3
A scientist measured the rate of oxygen production in a pondweed at different light intensities.
Which of the following is the correct identification of the limiting factor at point X on the graph?
A) Light intensity
B) Temperature
C) Carbon dioxide concentration
D) Chlorophyll concentration
Answer: A) Light intensity
Rationale: At point X (the rising part of the curve), increasing light intensity increases the rate of
photosynthesis, so light intensity is the limiting factor.
