Free AQA GCSE Biology
Practice Paper

Which of the following best defines biodiversity?

1. A) The total number of individuals in a single species
2. B) The variety of all living organisms in an area, including different species and genes
3. C) The number of producers in a food chain
4. D) The variety of habitats found only in rainforests

What is an allele?

1. A different version of a gene
2. A section of DNA that codes for a protein
3. The complete set of genetic information in an organism
4. A pair of chromosomes found in body cells

Which of the following is the correct definition of osmosis?

1. A. The movement of any molecule from high to low concentration through a membrane
2. B. The net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to lower water potential through a partially permeable membrane
3. C. The movement of solute particles from low concentration to high concentration across a cell membrane
4. D. The net movement of water molecules from low water potential to high water potential through a partially permeable membrane

Which statement best explains why sexual reproduction produces offspring with more genetic variation than asexual reproduction?

1. Sexual reproduction uses mitosis to generate genetically different daughter cells.
2. Sexual reproduction involves more cell divisions than asexual reproduction.
3. Sexual reproduction combines genetic material from two parents via meiosis and fertilisation.
4. Sexual reproduction introduces mutations at a higher rate than asexual reproduction.

Which of the following is an example of an in situ conservation method?

1. A) Storing seeds in a seed bank
2. B) Keeping endangered animals in a zoo breeding programme
3. C) Protecting a species within its natural habitat as a nature reserve
4. D) Growing rare plants in botanical gardens

A student investigates osmosis using dialysis tubing filled with concentrated sugar solution. The tubing is placed in a beaker of distilled water. Which observation would be expected after one hour?

1. A. The dialysis tubing decreases in mass as sugar leaves through the tubing
2. B. The dialysis tubing increases in mass as water enters by osmosis
3. C. The dialysis tubing stays the same mass because osmosis requires energy
4. D. The dialysis tubing increases in mass as sugar draws in water by active transport

A potato cylinder of initial mass 8.0 g is placed in a sucrose solution and after 40 minutes has a mass of 8.6 g. A second cylinder of initial mass 10.0 g is placed in the same solution and gains 0.6 g. Which cylinder shows a greater percentage change in mass?

1. A. The first cylinder, because it gained 0.6 g just like the second
2. B. The second cylinder, because it had a larger initial mass
3. C. The first cylinder, because its percentage change is higher
4. D. Both cylinders show exactly the same percentage change

A student claims that intensive farming methods, such as keeping animals indoors and limiting their movement, increase the efficiency of biomass transfer to humans. Evaluate this claim.

1. The claim is incorrect because animals indoors cannot photosynthesise efficiently
2. The claim is correct because less energy is lost to respiration, so more biomass is retained for human consumption
3. The claim is incorrect because animals indoors eat more food, increasing biomass loss
4. The claim is correct because indoor animals are at a lower trophic level than outdoor animals