HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY MASTER BANK
HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY MASTER BANK
Final-Week Revision Edition — FINAL EXAM HACKS
HOW TO USE THIS IN YOUR FINAL WEEK
Same system as the Chemistry and Physics banks: organized by topic cluster, (a Paper 1 question
can pull ecology from and genetics in one paper).
Biology final exam rewards PRECISE language over vague description — "explain," "describe,"
and "state" are marked differently, and half of all Biology marks lost are from imprecise wording of
an otherwise correct idea. Watch for this throughout.
For each cluster: core facts, key terms/processes, worked examples (including genetics crosses
and ecology calculations), and exam traps.
PART 0: QUICK-REFERENCE SHEET (memorize this page cold)
Command word meanings (answer to the word or lose marks)
State/Name/List — a fact, no explanation needed, be brief
Describe — give a detailed account of what happens/what it looks like, no reasons needed
Explain — give reasons/causes ("because...", "this is due to...") — always needs a "why"
Compare — must state similarities AND differences, or as instructed
Distinguish — differences only
Account for — same as explain, give reasons
Key life process definitions (get these word-perfect)
Photosynthesis: process by which green plants manufacture food (carbohydrates) from
carbon dioxide and water, using light energy trapped by chlorophyll, releasing oxygen as a
by-product.
Respiration: process by which food substances are broken down to release energy in living
cells.
Osmosis: movement of water molecules from a region of high water potential (dilute
solution) to a region of low water potential (concentrated solution), through a partially
permeable membrane.
Diffusion: net movement of molecules/ions from a region of higher concentration to a region
of lower concentration, until evenly distributed, without using energy.
Active transport: movement of molecules/ions from a region of low concentration to a
region of high concentration (against the concentration gradient), using metabolic energy
(ATP).
, HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY MASTER BANK
Homeostasis: maintenance of a constant internal environment despite external changes.
Excretion: removal of metabolic waste products from the body.
Growth: an irreversible increase in size/mass/volume/number of cells of an organism.
Key equations
Photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O --(light, chlorophyll)--> C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Aerobic respiration: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy (ATP)
Anaerobic respiration (in muscles/humans): glucose → lactic acid + energy (small amount)
Anaerobic respiration (in yeast/fermentation): glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide + energy
Magnification = size of image ÷ actual (real) size of object
Linear magnification calculations always keep units consistent (convert mm↔µm as
needed: 1mm = 1000µm)
Genetics shorthand
Dominant allele = capital letter; recessive = lowercase of the SAME letter.
Homozygous = two identical alleles (TT or tt); heterozygous = two different alleles (Tt).
Genotype = genetic makeup (e.g. Tt); Phenotype = physical appearance (e.g. tall).
Monohybrid cross ratio (heterozygous × heterozygous) = 3:1 (dominant:recessive
phenotype)
Test cross: cross an organism of unknown genotype with a homozygous recessive to
determine if it's homozygous or heterozygous dominant.
A. CLASSIFICATION & CELL BIOLOGY
Core facts
Classification hierarchy (broadest to narrowest): Kingdom, Phylum/Division, Class, Order,
Family, Genus, Species. Mnemonic: "King Philip Came Over For Good Soup."
Binomial nomenclature: scientific name has two parts — Genus (capitalized) + species
(lowercase), both italicized/underlined, e.g. Homo sapiens.
Five (or more, per updated syllabus) kingdoms typically tested: Monera (bacteria,
prokaryotic, no nucleus), Protista (unicellular, eukaryotic, e.g. Amoeba, Paramecium), Fungi
(cell wall of chitin, no chlorophyll, absorb nutrients), Plantae (cell wall of cellulose,
chlorophyll, autotrophic), Animalia (no cell wall, heterotrophic).
Cell structure: plant cells have a cell wall (cellulose), large permanent vacuole, chloroplasts
— animal cells lack all three. Both have: cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria,
ribosomes.
, HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY MASTER BANK
Organization of life: cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism.
Using a light microscope: total magnification = eyepiece lens magnification × objective lens
magnification.
Worked examples
1. A specimen appears 5mm long under a microscope with an eyepiece lens of ×10 and
objective lens of ×40. Find the actual size of the specimen.
Total magnification = 10 × 40 = 400
Actual size = image size ÷ magnification = 5mm ÷ 400 = 0.0125mm = 12.5 µm
2. State three structural differences between a plant cell and an animal cell. → Plant cells have
a cell wall made of cellulose (animal cells don't); plant cells have chloroplasts (animal cells
don't); plant cells have a large, permanent central vacuole (animal cells have small,
temporary vacuoles if any).
3. Classify a human using the hierarchy from Kingdom to Species. → Kingdom: Animalia;
Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Primates; Family: Hominidae; Genus: Homo;
Species: sapiens.
Exam traps
Always double the magnification correctly: total = eyepiece × objective, NOT added.
Scientific names must be written with genus capitalized, species lowercase, and both
italicized/underlined — a formatting detail that is penalized.
"Cell wall" (structural, found in plants/fungi/bacteria) is often confused with "cell
membrane" (functional, controls entry/exit, found in ALL cells including animal cells) —
every cell has a membrane, not every cell has a wall.
B. CELL TRANSPORT (Diffusion, Osmosis, Active Transport)
Core facts
Diffusion: passive (no energy), net movement high→low concentration, continues until
equilibrium; rate increases with higher temperature, greater concentration gradient, larger
surface area, shorter diffusion distance.
Osmosis is a special case of diffusion — specifically of WATER molecules across a
partially permeable membrane, from high water potential (dilute) to low water potential
(concentrated).
Plant cells in different solutions: in a hypotonic solution (dilute, more water outside), water
enters by osmosis, cell becomes turgid (cell wall prevents bursting); in a hypertonic solution
(concentrated, less water outside), water leaves the cell, cytoplasm shrinks away from the
cell wall = plasmolysis (the cell becomes flaccid/plasmolysed).
Animal cells (no cell wall) in a hypotonic solution: water enters, cell may burst (haemolysis,
HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY MASTER BANK
Final-Week Revision Edition — FINAL EXAM HACKS
HOW TO USE THIS IN YOUR FINAL WEEK
Same system as the Chemistry and Physics banks: organized by topic cluster, (a Paper 1 question
can pull ecology from and genetics in one paper).
Biology final exam rewards PRECISE language over vague description — "explain," "describe,"
and "state" are marked differently, and half of all Biology marks lost are from imprecise wording of
an otherwise correct idea. Watch for this throughout.
For each cluster: core facts, key terms/processes, worked examples (including genetics crosses
and ecology calculations), and exam traps.
PART 0: QUICK-REFERENCE SHEET (memorize this page cold)
Command word meanings (answer to the word or lose marks)
State/Name/List — a fact, no explanation needed, be brief
Describe — give a detailed account of what happens/what it looks like, no reasons needed
Explain — give reasons/causes ("because...", "this is due to...") — always needs a "why"
Compare — must state similarities AND differences, or as instructed
Distinguish — differences only
Account for — same as explain, give reasons
Key life process definitions (get these word-perfect)
Photosynthesis: process by which green plants manufacture food (carbohydrates) from
carbon dioxide and water, using light energy trapped by chlorophyll, releasing oxygen as a
by-product.
Respiration: process by which food substances are broken down to release energy in living
cells.
Osmosis: movement of water molecules from a region of high water potential (dilute
solution) to a region of low water potential (concentrated solution), through a partially
permeable membrane.
Diffusion: net movement of molecules/ions from a region of higher concentration to a region
of lower concentration, until evenly distributed, without using energy.
Active transport: movement of molecules/ions from a region of low concentration to a
region of high concentration (against the concentration gradient), using metabolic energy
(ATP).
, HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY MASTER BANK
Homeostasis: maintenance of a constant internal environment despite external changes.
Excretion: removal of metabolic waste products from the body.
Growth: an irreversible increase in size/mass/volume/number of cells of an organism.
Key equations
Photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O --(light, chlorophyll)--> C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Aerobic respiration: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy (ATP)
Anaerobic respiration (in muscles/humans): glucose → lactic acid + energy (small amount)
Anaerobic respiration (in yeast/fermentation): glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide + energy
Magnification = size of image ÷ actual (real) size of object
Linear magnification calculations always keep units consistent (convert mm↔µm as
needed: 1mm = 1000µm)
Genetics shorthand
Dominant allele = capital letter; recessive = lowercase of the SAME letter.
Homozygous = two identical alleles (TT or tt); heterozygous = two different alleles (Tt).
Genotype = genetic makeup (e.g. Tt); Phenotype = physical appearance (e.g. tall).
Monohybrid cross ratio (heterozygous × heterozygous) = 3:1 (dominant:recessive
phenotype)
Test cross: cross an organism of unknown genotype with a homozygous recessive to
determine if it's homozygous or heterozygous dominant.
A. CLASSIFICATION & CELL BIOLOGY
Core facts
Classification hierarchy (broadest to narrowest): Kingdom, Phylum/Division, Class, Order,
Family, Genus, Species. Mnemonic: "King Philip Came Over For Good Soup."
Binomial nomenclature: scientific name has two parts — Genus (capitalized) + species
(lowercase), both italicized/underlined, e.g. Homo sapiens.
Five (or more, per updated syllabus) kingdoms typically tested: Monera (bacteria,
prokaryotic, no nucleus), Protista (unicellular, eukaryotic, e.g. Amoeba, Paramecium), Fungi
(cell wall of chitin, no chlorophyll, absorb nutrients), Plantae (cell wall of cellulose,
chlorophyll, autotrophic), Animalia (no cell wall, heterotrophic).
Cell structure: plant cells have a cell wall (cellulose), large permanent vacuole, chloroplasts
— animal cells lack all three. Both have: cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria,
ribosomes.
, HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY MASTER BANK
Organization of life: cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism.
Using a light microscope: total magnification = eyepiece lens magnification × objective lens
magnification.
Worked examples
1. A specimen appears 5mm long under a microscope with an eyepiece lens of ×10 and
objective lens of ×40. Find the actual size of the specimen.
Total magnification = 10 × 40 = 400
Actual size = image size ÷ magnification = 5mm ÷ 400 = 0.0125mm = 12.5 µm
2. State three structural differences between a plant cell and an animal cell. → Plant cells have
a cell wall made of cellulose (animal cells don't); plant cells have chloroplasts (animal cells
don't); plant cells have a large, permanent central vacuole (animal cells have small,
temporary vacuoles if any).
3. Classify a human using the hierarchy from Kingdom to Species. → Kingdom: Animalia;
Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Primates; Family: Hominidae; Genus: Homo;
Species: sapiens.
Exam traps
Always double the magnification correctly: total = eyepiece × objective, NOT added.
Scientific names must be written with genus capitalized, species lowercase, and both
italicized/underlined — a formatting detail that is penalized.
"Cell wall" (structural, found in plants/fungi/bacteria) is often confused with "cell
membrane" (functional, controls entry/exit, found in ALL cells including animal cells) —
every cell has a membrane, not every cell has a wall.
B. CELL TRANSPORT (Diffusion, Osmosis, Active Transport)
Core facts
Diffusion: passive (no energy), net movement high→low concentration, continues until
equilibrium; rate increases with higher temperature, greater concentration gradient, larger
surface area, shorter diffusion distance.
Osmosis is a special case of diffusion — specifically of WATER molecules across a
partially permeable membrane, from high water potential (dilute) to low water potential
(concentrated).
Plant cells in different solutions: in a hypotonic solution (dilute, more water outside), water
enters by osmosis, cell becomes turgid (cell wall prevents bursting); in a hypertonic solution
(concentrated, less water outside), water leaves the cell, cytoplasm shrinks away from the
cell wall = plasmolysis (the cell becomes flaccid/plasmolysed).
Animal cells (no cell wall) in a hypotonic solution: water enters, cell may burst (haemolysis,
