AQA GCSE BIOLOGY PAPER 1
ACTUAL EXAM 2026 2027 VERIFIED
ANSWERS ACTUAL UPDATED
PRACTICE QUESTIONS TEST BANK
HIGH YIELD STUDY GUIDE EXAM
PREP MATERIAL LATEST VERSION
GRADED A+ SUCCESS REVIEW PACK
COMPLETE EDITION
1. What does a nucleus do?: It contains genetic material and controls the activities
of the cell
2. What does cytoplasm do?: It's a gel-like substance where most of the chemical
reactions happen. It contains enzymes that control these chemical reactions
3. What does a cell membrane do?: It holds the cell together and controls what
goes in and out
4. What do mitochondria do?: These are where most of the reactions for aerobic
respiration occur. Respiration transfers energy that the cell needs to work
5. What do ribosomes do?: This is where protein synthesis takes place - where
proteins are made in the cell
6. What do cell walls do?: They are made of cellulose and they support and
strengthen the cell
7. What does a vacuole do?: It contains cell sap and helps maintain the shape of
the cell
,
,8. What do chloroplasts do?: This is where photosynthesis occurs, which makes
food for the plant. They contain chlorophyll - a green pigment - which absorbs light
needed for photosynthesis
9. What do bacterial cells contain?: Cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, flagella,
ribosomes, mitochondria, slime capsule, plasmids (small rings of DNA) and a single
circular strand of DNA that floats freely in the cytoplasm
10. What do bacterial cells NOT contain?: A nucleus
11. What is the equation for magnification?: Image size divided by actual size
12. What is differentiation?: The process by which a cell changes to become
specialised for its job
13. What are undifferentiated cells called?: Stem cells
14. What are sperm cells specialised for and how are they specialised?: Re-
production - they transport the male DNA to the female DNA
-It has a flagella and a streamlined head to help it swim towards the egg
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
GUARANTEED PASS
-There are lots of mitochondria in the cell to provide the energy needed
-It carries enzymes in its head to help digest through the egg cell membranes
15. What are nerve cells specialised for and how are they specialised?: Rapid
signalling - they carry electrical signals from one part of the body to another
-They are long to cover more distance
-They have branched connections at their ends to connect to other nerve cells and form
a network throughout the body
16. What are muscle cells specialised for and how are they specialised?: Con-
traction - they need to contract quickly -They are long so they have space to
contract
-They contain lots of mitochondria to generate the energy needed for contraction
,
, .
AQA GCSE BIOLOGY - PAPER 1 ACTUAL EXAM
,250 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
GUARANTEED PASS
17. What are root hair cells specialised for and how are they specialised?: Ab-
sorbing water and minerals
-They are cells on the surface of plant roots which grow into long hairs that stick out
into the soil
-They have a large surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions from the soil
18. What are chromosomes?: Coiled up lengths of DNA molecules that are found in
the nuclei
19. What is mitosis?: The stage of the cell cycle where the cell divides
20. What do multicellular organisms use mitosis for?: To grow or replace cells that
have been damaged
21. Describe each stage of mitosis: Prophase - The chromosomes shorten and
duplicate
Metaphase - The chromosomes line up on the equator of the cell
Anaphase - The chromosomes are pulled to the opposite ends of the cell. The
chromatids are now known as daughter cells.
Telophase - New membranes form around the daughter nuclei which becomes the
nuclei of the two new cells - the nucleus has divided. The cytoplasm and cell
membrane divide to create two daughter cells.
22. What are stem cells?: They are undifferentiated cells that divide to produce lots
more undifferentiated cells. They then differentiate into different types of cell
23. Where are stem cells found?: In early human embryos or the bone marrow of
adults
,
, .
AQA GCSE BIOLOGY - PAPER 1 ACTUAL EXAM
,250 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH (VERIFIED
24. What do embryonic stem cells do?: 1) Used to replace faulty cells in sick people
- insulin-producing cells for diabetes and nerve cells for paralysed spinal injuries
2) Used to replace faulty blood cells
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
GUARANTEED PASS
25. Where are stem cells found in plants?: Meristems
26. What is diffusion?: Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high
concentration to an area of low concentration
27. Name the substances that can diffuse through cell membranes: Glucose,
water, oxygen and amino acids
28. Name two substances that can't diffuse through cell membranes: Protein
and starch
29. What is osmosis?: Osmosis is the passive movement of water molecules through
a partially permeable cell membrane from an area of high water concen- tration
to an area of low water concentration
30. What are the two main differences between active transport and
diffusion?-
: Active transport uses energy whereas diffusion doesn't. Active transport goes
against the concentration gradient whereas diffusion goes along it
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
GUARANTEED PASS
31. Adaptations of Exchange Surfaces: 1) Large surface area - lots of substances
can diffuse at once
2) Lots of blood vessels - to get stuff into and out of the blood quickly
,
ACTUAL EXAM 2026 2027 VERIFIED
ANSWERS ACTUAL UPDATED
PRACTICE QUESTIONS TEST BANK
HIGH YIELD STUDY GUIDE EXAM
PREP MATERIAL LATEST VERSION
GRADED A+ SUCCESS REVIEW PACK
COMPLETE EDITION
1. What does a nucleus do?: It contains genetic material and controls the activities
of the cell
2. What does cytoplasm do?: It's a gel-like substance where most of the chemical
reactions happen. It contains enzymes that control these chemical reactions
3. What does a cell membrane do?: It holds the cell together and controls what
goes in and out
4. What do mitochondria do?: These are where most of the reactions for aerobic
respiration occur. Respiration transfers energy that the cell needs to work
5. What do ribosomes do?: This is where protein synthesis takes place - where
proteins are made in the cell
6. What do cell walls do?: They are made of cellulose and they support and
strengthen the cell
7. What does a vacuole do?: It contains cell sap and helps maintain the shape of
the cell
,
,8. What do chloroplasts do?: This is where photosynthesis occurs, which makes
food for the plant. They contain chlorophyll - a green pigment - which absorbs light
needed for photosynthesis
9. What do bacterial cells contain?: Cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, flagella,
ribosomes, mitochondria, slime capsule, plasmids (small rings of DNA) and a single
circular strand of DNA that floats freely in the cytoplasm
10. What do bacterial cells NOT contain?: A nucleus
11. What is the equation for magnification?: Image size divided by actual size
12. What is differentiation?: The process by which a cell changes to become
specialised for its job
13. What are undifferentiated cells called?: Stem cells
14. What are sperm cells specialised for and how are they specialised?: Re-
production - they transport the male DNA to the female DNA
-It has a flagella and a streamlined head to help it swim towards the egg
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
GUARANTEED PASS
-There are lots of mitochondria in the cell to provide the energy needed
-It carries enzymes in its head to help digest through the egg cell membranes
15. What are nerve cells specialised for and how are they specialised?: Rapid
signalling - they carry electrical signals from one part of the body to another
-They are long to cover more distance
-They have branched connections at their ends to connect to other nerve cells and form
a network throughout the body
16. What are muscle cells specialised for and how are they specialised?: Con-
traction - they need to contract quickly -They are long so they have space to
contract
-They contain lots of mitochondria to generate the energy needed for contraction
,
, .
AQA GCSE BIOLOGY - PAPER 1 ACTUAL EXAM
,250 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
GUARANTEED PASS
17. What are root hair cells specialised for and how are they specialised?: Ab-
sorbing water and minerals
-They are cells on the surface of plant roots which grow into long hairs that stick out
into the soil
-They have a large surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions from the soil
18. What are chromosomes?: Coiled up lengths of DNA molecules that are found in
the nuclei
19. What is mitosis?: The stage of the cell cycle where the cell divides
20. What do multicellular organisms use mitosis for?: To grow or replace cells that
have been damaged
21. Describe each stage of mitosis: Prophase - The chromosomes shorten and
duplicate
Metaphase - The chromosomes line up on the equator of the cell
Anaphase - The chromosomes are pulled to the opposite ends of the cell. The
chromatids are now known as daughter cells.
Telophase - New membranes form around the daughter nuclei which becomes the
nuclei of the two new cells - the nucleus has divided. The cytoplasm and cell
membrane divide to create two daughter cells.
22. What are stem cells?: They are undifferentiated cells that divide to produce lots
more undifferentiated cells. They then differentiate into different types of cell
23. Where are stem cells found?: In early human embryos or the bone marrow of
adults
,
, .
AQA GCSE BIOLOGY - PAPER 1 ACTUAL EXAM
,250 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH (VERIFIED
24. What do embryonic stem cells do?: 1) Used to replace faulty cells in sick people
- insulin-producing cells for diabetes and nerve cells for paralysed spinal injuries
2) Used to replace faulty blood cells
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
GUARANTEED PASS
25. Where are stem cells found in plants?: Meristems
26. What is diffusion?: Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high
concentration to an area of low concentration
27. Name the substances that can diffuse through cell membranes: Glucose,
water, oxygen and amino acids
28. Name two substances that can't diffuse through cell membranes: Protein
and starch
29. What is osmosis?: Osmosis is the passive movement of water molecules through
a partially permeable cell membrane from an area of high water concen- tration
to an area of low water concentration
30. What are the two main differences between active transport and
diffusion?-
: Active transport uses energy whereas diffusion doesn't. Active transport goes
against the concentration gradient whereas diffusion goes along it
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
GUARANTEED PASS
31. Adaptations of Exchange Surfaces: 1) Large surface area - lots of substances
can diffuse at once
2) Lots of blood vessels - to get stuff into and out of the blood quickly
,
