AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1 practice questions

What is on Paper 1?

• Paper 1 covers cell biology, organisation, infection and response, and bioenergetics.
• It is a written paper of 1 hour 45 minutes, worth 100 marks — 50% of the GCSE.
• Questions are a mix of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and extended response.
• Required practicals and maths or data skills from anywhere in the course can appear, so they are worth revising alongside the main topics.

Paper 1 practice questions with answers

16 original questions across the 8 Paper 1 topics. Try each one before reading the answer.

1. Cell structure and organelles

   1. Which structure is found in a prokaryotic cell but NOT in an animal cell?

   • • Ribosome
   • • Plasmid
   • • Cell membrane
   • • Cytoplasm

   Answer: Plasmid

   Plasmids are small DNA rings unique to bacteria among these options.

2. Cell structure and organelles

   2. A muscle cell contains many mitochondria. Why?

   • • To store extra genetic material
   • • To release energy through aerobic respiration
   • • To make the cell rigid
   • • To absorb more water

   Answer: To release energy through aerobic respiration

   Contraction needs a lot of energy transfer, so more mitochondria.

3. Transport in and out of cells

   3. Which process requires energy from respiration?

   • • Diffusion
   • • Osmosis
   • • Active transport
   • • Evaporation

   Answer: Active transport

   It works against the concentration gradient, so energy is needed.

4. Transport in and out of cells

   4. Define osmosis.

   Answer: The movement of water through a partially permeable membrane from a dilute solution to a more concentrated solution.

   Three marking points: water, partially permeable membrane, dilute → concentrated.

5. Cell division and stem cells

   5. Mitosis produces daughter cells that are:

   • • Genetically identical
   • • Genetically different
   • • Always gametes
   • • Always stem cells

   Answer: Genetically identical

   DNA is copied first, so each daughter cell gets the same genes.

6. Cell division and stem cells

   6. Why are stem cells useful in medicine?

   Answer: They can differentiate into other cell types to replace damaged cells, e.g. in diabetes or paralysis.

   Give a use as well as the definition.

7. Enzymes and digestion

   7. Which enzyme breaks down protein?

   • • Amylase
   • • Lipase
   • • Protease
   • • Catalase

   Answer: Protease

   Protease → amino acids.

8. Enzymes and digestion

   8. Explain why an enzyme stops working at 70 °C.

   Answer: High temperature changes the shape of the active site, so the substrate no longer fits — the enzyme is denatured.

   Mention active site shape and substrate fit.

9. The heart, blood and circulation

   9. Which vessel carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart?

   • • Aorta
   • • Pulmonary artery
   • • Pulmonary vein
   • • Vena cava

   Answer: Pulmonary artery

   It takes blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

10. The heart, blood and circulation

    10. Explain why the left ventricle has a thicker muscular wall than the right.

    Answer: It generates a higher pressure to pump blood all around the body, not just to the nearby lungs.

    Link thickness → pressure → distance.

11. Pathogens and communicable disease

    11. Why don't antibiotics treat flu?

    • • Flu is caused by a virus
    • • Flu is not infectious
    • • Antibiotics only work in the stomach
    • • Flu bacteria are resistant

    Answer: Flu is caused by a virus

    Antibiotics target bacterial processes only.

12. Pathogens and communicable disease

    12. Describe how a vaccine protects a person.

    Answer: It introduces dead or inactive pathogen; white blood cells make antibodies, and memory cells respond faster if the real pathogen appears.

    Three points: inactive pathogen, antibodies, faster secondary response.

13. Photosynthesis

    13. Write the word equation for photosynthesis.

    Answer: Carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen

    Light and chlorophyll go above the arrow, not in the reactants.

14. Photosynthesis

    14. A graph of rate vs light intensity levels off. What does this suggest?

    • • Light is still limiting
    • • Another factor such as CO₂ or temperature is now limiting
    • • The plant has died
    • • Respiration has stopped

    Answer: Another factor such as CO₂ or temperature is now limiting

    A plateau means light is no longer the limiting factor.

15. Respiration and exercise

    15. What is produced by anaerobic respiration in human muscle?

    • • Ethanol
    • • Lactic acid
    • • Carbon dioxide only
    • • Water

    Answer: Lactic acid

    Yeast makes ethanol; muscle makes lactic acid.

16. Respiration and exercise

    16. Explain why breathing rate stays high after exercise finishes.

    Answer: To repay the oxygen debt — extra oxygen is needed to oxidise the lactic acid that built up.

    Mention oxygen debt and lactic acid.

Where Paper 1 marks are usually lost

• Describing a process without naming the structure or enzyme involved — examiners want the correct term, not a vague description.
• Mixing up mitosis and meiosis, or stating the wrong number of daughter cells.
• Writing 'kills germs' instead of naming the immune response, such as phagocytosis or antibody production.
• Quoting graph values without units on photosynthesis and respiration data questions.
• Forgetting that 'explain' needs a reason, not just a description of what happens.

How to pick up the extended-answer marks

• Spend the first 30 seconds underlining the command word — 'describe', 'explain' and 'evaluate' are marked differently.
• Plan one point per mark, each carrying a scientific term and a consequence. Short linked sentences beat one long paragraph.
• For 'evaluate' questions, include a benefit, a drawback and a judgement sentence at the end.
• For required practical questions, name the control variable and how the result was measured — method detail is where the marks sit.

Timing that works under pressure

• Work at roughly one mark per minute so you keep spare time for checking at the end.
• Bank the short recall questions first, then return to the longer answers with your remaining time.
• If a question stalls for more than two minutes, write down what you know and move on — partial marks still count.
• Leave five minutes to check units, significant figures and whether any question part was skipped over a page break.

Revise each Paper 1 topic

• Cell structure and organelles (80 questions)
• Transport in and out of cells (77 questions)
• Cell division and stem cells (76 questions)
• Enzymes and digestion (77 questions)
• The heart, blood and circulation (77 questions)
• Pathogens and communicable disease (77 questions)
• Photosynthesis (76 questions)
• Respiration and exercise (76 questions)

AQA Biology Paper 1 FAQs

What topics are on AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1?

Paper 1 assesses cell biology, organisation, infection and response, and bioenergetics (photosynthesis and respiration). Required practicals and data skills linked to these topics can also be examined.

How long is AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1?

It is a 1 hour 45 minute written exam worth 100 marks, which is 50% of the GCSE. Working at about one mark per minute leaves time to check your answers.

How should I revise for Biology Paper 1?

Practise answering questions rather than rereading notes. Short daily sets of five questions per topic, marked straight away, expose weak areas faster than a long passive revision session.