GCSE Biology Mock Paper 1

A free GCSE Biology mock paper on cells, organisation, infection, bioenergetics, homeostasis, inheritance and ecology. Instant marking with worked answers.

Time allowed: 40 minutes
Total marks: 37
Calculator: Allowed

Instructions

You may use a calculator.
Short answers are marked instantly. Spelling is checked, so take care with key words.
Longer answers are marked by you against a mark scheme after you finish.

Suitable for AQA, Edexcel, OCR. Written by MockNine; not an official exam board paper.

Your result

Estimated grade

Topic	Progress	Marks

The estimated grade uses typical grade boundaries. Real boundaries are set after each exam and change every year. Scroll down to see a worked answer under every question.

1

Cell biology

(a)Name the part of the cell where aerobic respiration takes place.

(1 mark)

(b)Name the part of the cell that contains genetic material and controls the cell's activities.

(1 mark)

(c)Which structure is found in plant cells but not in animal cells?

Cell membraneRibosomeCell wallCytoplasm

(1 mark)

(d)Bacterial cells are prokaryotic. Which of these do they NOT have?

A nucleusCytoplasmA cell membraneRibosomes

(1 mark)

(e)A cell is 0.05 mm wide. In a drawing, it is 5 mm wide. Calculate the magnification.

× (2 marks)

2

Cell biology

(a)Which statement describes diffusion?

Movement of particles from a low to a high concentration using energyNet movement of particles from a high to a low concentrationMovement of water only, through a partially permeable membraneMovement of particles that only happens in plants

(1 mark)

(b)Osmosis is the diffusion of which substance through a partially permeable membrane?

(1 mark)

3

Organisation

(a)The enzyme amylase breaks down starch. What does it produce?

(1 mark)

(b)Why does an enzyme stop working at a very high temperature?

It runs out of energyIts active site changes shape so the substrate no longer fitsIt is eaten by bacteriaIt turns into glucose

(1 mark)

(c)Name the type of blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

(1 mark)

(d)Which chamber of the heart pumps blood out to the rest of the body?

Right atriumLeft atriumRight ventricleLeft ventricle

(1 mark)

4

Infection and response

(a)Which disease is caused by a virus?

SalmonellaMeaslesMalariaRose black spot

(1 mark)

(b)White blood cells produce proteins that stick to pathogens. What are they called?

(1 mark)

(c)Why are antibiotics not used to treat viral infections?

Viruses are too largeAntibiotics do not kill virusesViruses are not pathogensAntibiotics only work on fungi

(1 mark)

5

Bioenergetics

(a)Which gas is released by photosynthesis?

(1 mark)

(b)Which of these is NOT a limiting factor for photosynthesis?

Light intensityTemperatureCarbon dioxide concentrationOxygen concentration

(1 mark)

(c)During hard exercise, muscles respire anaerobically. What substance builds up?

(1 mark)

6

Homeostasis

(a)Name the hormone that lowers blood glucose concentration.

(1 mark)

(b)Which organ produces this hormone?

(1 mark)

7

Inheritance

(a)How many chromosomes are in a normal human body cell?

(1 mark)

(b)What is the shape of a DNA molecule called?

(1 mark)

(c)A parent with genotype Bb has children with a parent with genotype bb. What is the probability that a child is bb? Give your answer as a decimal or fraction.

(2 marks)

8

Ecology

(a)A student counts a mean of 4 daisies per 1 m² quadrat. The field has an area of 200 m². Estimate the number of daisies in the field.

(2 marks)

(b)In the food chain grass → rabbit → fox, what is the grass?

ProducerPrimary consumerSecondary consumerDecomposer

(1 mark)

9

Inheritance

Explain how a population of bacteria can become resistant to an antibiotic.

(4 marks)

10

Bioenergetics

Describe how you could investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis in pondweed.

(6 marks)

END OF QUESTIONS