How to Ace the ACCA BT Exam in 2025: Scoring
Strategy, Time Management, and Question
Breakdown
Question 1: What is amylase?
A. an enzyme
B. a sugar
C. a polysaccharide
D. a starch
Rationale: Amylase Definition: Amylase is a well-known enzyme that plays a crucial role in
the digestion of carbohydrates.1
Question 2: What is the function of amylase?
A. degrades plant starch into maltose2
B. degrades disaccharides into glucose molecules
C. bonds with other starch molecules to form plant cell wall
D. artificial sweetener
Rationale: Amylase Function: Amylase specifically breaks down starch (a complex
carbohydrate) into simpler sugars like maltose.3
Question 3: How does an ELISA work in home pregnancy tests?
A. it detects the HCGH hormone from urine using an anti-HCGH antibody4
B. it detects the anti-HCGH antibody using the hormone HCGH
C. it detects HGH from the fetus using the anti-HGH antibody
D. it detects the HGH antibody from the mothers urine using an anti-HGH hormone
,Rationale: ELISA in Pregnancy Tests: Home pregnancy tests use an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked
Immunosorbent Assay) to detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone
in urine.5 This is achieved by using antibodies that specifically bind to the hCG hormone.6
Question 4: Which of the following is an enzyme commonly used as a reporter molecule in an
ELISA or Western Blot?
A. amylase
B. maltose dehydrogenase
C. tetramethylbemzidine
D. horseradish peroxidase
Rationale: Reporter Enzyme in ELISA/Western Blot: Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is a
very common enzyme used as a reporter molecule because it produces a detectable signal (e.g.,
color, light) when it reacts with a specific substrate, allowing for visualization and quantification
in assays like ELISA and Western Blot.7
Question 5: ELISAs are frequently used to assay for proteins during manufacturing because:
A. they are very general and can detect any sort of protein contaminant
B. they are very specific and can recognize a single protein from a mixture
C. only occasional samplings need to be taken during the entire manufacturing process
D. a simple indicator test is efficient
Rationale: ELISA Specificity: The primary advantage of ELISAs in manufacturing is their high
specificity. They utilize antibodies designed to bind to a unique protein, ensuring accurate
detection and quantification of the desired product or specific contaminants within complex
biological mixtures.8
Question 6: All of the following are involved in a typical Western Blot visualization except:
A. primary antibody
B. secondary antibody
C. substrate
D. colloid suspensions
, Rationale: Western Blot Visualization Components: A standard Western blot visualization
involves a primary antibody to bind the target protein, a secondary antibody conjugated to a
reporter (like an enzyme), and a substrate that reacts with the reporter to produce a detectable
signal. Colloid suspensions are not typically used for visualization in Western blotting; they are
more associated with techniques like colloidal gold staining, which is less common for general
protein detection in Western blots.
Question 7: Two different antimicrobials, A and B, are soaked into paper disks and placed on a
Petri dish with bacteria spread in the top. After 24 hours of incubation, the plates are examined.
The zone of inhibition around antimicrobial A is completely clear and measures 2.4 cm in
diameter.9 The zone of inhibition around antimicrobial B is mostly clear and measures 3.2 cm in
diameter. Which antimicrobial is more effective at inhibiting bacterial growth?
A. A
B. B
C. A and B are equally effective
D. neither A nor B are effective
Rationale: Antimicrobial Effectiveness: The effectiveness of an antimicrobial is judged by the
complete inhibition of bacterial growth within the zone. Antimicrobial A, despite a smaller
diameter, created a completely clear zone, indicating full inhibition. Antimicrobial B's zone was
only mostly clear, meaning some bacterial growth was still present.
Question 8: A starch test was performed on four different samples by adding iodine drops. After
incubation, sample A was light brown, sample B was dark blue, sample C was light blue, sample
D was medium blue. Which sample exhibited the most amylase activity?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
Rationale: Amylase Activity and Starch Test: The iodine test turns dark blue/black in the
presence of starch.10 Amylase breaks down starch.11 Therefore, the sample with the most
amylase activity would have broken down the most starch, resulting in the least dark blue color
(i.e., light brown), indicating less remaining starch.
Question 9: What assay should be done to test for the presence and concentration of a specific
goat antigen throughout research and manufacturing processes?
Strategy, Time Management, and Question
Breakdown
Question 1: What is amylase?
A. an enzyme
B. a sugar
C. a polysaccharide
D. a starch
Rationale: Amylase Definition: Amylase is a well-known enzyme that plays a crucial role in
the digestion of carbohydrates.1
Question 2: What is the function of amylase?
A. degrades plant starch into maltose2
B. degrades disaccharides into glucose molecules
C. bonds with other starch molecules to form plant cell wall
D. artificial sweetener
Rationale: Amylase Function: Amylase specifically breaks down starch (a complex
carbohydrate) into simpler sugars like maltose.3
Question 3: How does an ELISA work in home pregnancy tests?
A. it detects the HCGH hormone from urine using an anti-HCGH antibody4
B. it detects the anti-HCGH antibody using the hormone HCGH
C. it detects HGH from the fetus using the anti-HGH antibody
D. it detects the HGH antibody from the mothers urine using an anti-HGH hormone
,Rationale: ELISA in Pregnancy Tests: Home pregnancy tests use an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked
Immunosorbent Assay) to detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone
in urine.5 This is achieved by using antibodies that specifically bind to the hCG hormone.6
Question 4: Which of the following is an enzyme commonly used as a reporter molecule in an
ELISA or Western Blot?
A. amylase
B. maltose dehydrogenase
C. tetramethylbemzidine
D. horseradish peroxidase
Rationale: Reporter Enzyme in ELISA/Western Blot: Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is a
very common enzyme used as a reporter molecule because it produces a detectable signal (e.g.,
color, light) when it reacts with a specific substrate, allowing for visualization and quantification
in assays like ELISA and Western Blot.7
Question 5: ELISAs are frequently used to assay for proteins during manufacturing because:
A. they are very general and can detect any sort of protein contaminant
B. they are very specific and can recognize a single protein from a mixture
C. only occasional samplings need to be taken during the entire manufacturing process
D. a simple indicator test is efficient
Rationale: ELISA Specificity: The primary advantage of ELISAs in manufacturing is their high
specificity. They utilize antibodies designed to bind to a unique protein, ensuring accurate
detection and quantification of the desired product or specific contaminants within complex
biological mixtures.8
Question 6: All of the following are involved in a typical Western Blot visualization except:
A. primary antibody
B. secondary antibody
C. substrate
D. colloid suspensions
, Rationale: Western Blot Visualization Components: A standard Western blot visualization
involves a primary antibody to bind the target protein, a secondary antibody conjugated to a
reporter (like an enzyme), and a substrate that reacts with the reporter to produce a detectable
signal. Colloid suspensions are not typically used for visualization in Western blotting; they are
more associated with techniques like colloidal gold staining, which is less common for general
protein detection in Western blots.
Question 7: Two different antimicrobials, A and B, are soaked into paper disks and placed on a
Petri dish with bacteria spread in the top. After 24 hours of incubation, the plates are examined.
The zone of inhibition around antimicrobial A is completely clear and measures 2.4 cm in
diameter.9 The zone of inhibition around antimicrobial B is mostly clear and measures 3.2 cm in
diameter. Which antimicrobial is more effective at inhibiting bacterial growth?
A. A
B. B
C. A and B are equally effective
D. neither A nor B are effective
Rationale: Antimicrobial Effectiveness: The effectiveness of an antimicrobial is judged by the
complete inhibition of bacterial growth within the zone. Antimicrobial A, despite a smaller
diameter, created a completely clear zone, indicating full inhibition. Antimicrobial B's zone was
only mostly clear, meaning some bacterial growth was still present.
Question 8: A starch test was performed on four different samples by adding iodine drops. After
incubation, sample A was light brown, sample B was dark blue, sample C was light blue, sample
D was medium blue. Which sample exhibited the most amylase activity?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
Rationale: Amylase Activity and Starch Test: The iodine test turns dark blue/black in the
presence of starch.10 Amylase breaks down starch.11 Therefore, the sample with the most
amylase activity would have broken down the most starch, resulting in the least dark blue color
(i.e., light brown), indicating less remaining starch.
Question 9: What assay should be done to test for the presence and concentration of a specific
goat antigen throughout research and manufacturing processes?
