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CXC CAPE · · Biology

Free CXC CAPE Biology
Practice Paper

8 mixed-difficulty practice questions in the style of real CXC CAPE papers — answers, mark-scheme-style explanations, and the official exam structure all on one page.

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What the real CXC CAPE Biology paper looks like

Paper 01 (Multiple Choice)
45 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each. About 1 hour 30 minutes. Tests knowledge across all three Modules of the Unit.
Paper 02 (Essay / Structured)
Extended essay and structured questions, one per Module. Around 2 hours 30 minutes. Tests developed argument, application and use of examples.
Paper 03 (Internal Assessment)
School-Based Assessment for school candidates (Paper 03/1) or an alternative written paper for private candidates (Paper 03/2). Coursework/research component worth a significant share of the Unit grade.
Total written exam time: ~4 hours across Paper 01 and Paper 02, plus the Internal Assessment.
Grading: Unit grades: I (highest) to VII (lowest), with a Grade Point Average and per-Module profile. Grades I–V are the pass range for most purposes.

Mini practice paper: 8 questions

Mixed-difficulty questions from across the Biology syllabus. Tap "Show answer" after each to check yourself.

Q1 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the role of a glycoprotein in the cell surface membrane?

  1. To synthesise ATP for active transport
  2. To store calcium ions
  3. To form the hydrophobic core
  4. To act as a receptor or as an antigen for cell recognition
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — To act as a receptor or as an antigen for cell recognition
Award 1 mark. It also helps cells adhere to one another.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3

Which term describes a protein that spans the entire width of the bilayer?

  1. An extrinsic protein
  2. A peripheral protein
  3. An intrinsic protein
  4. A glycolipid
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — An intrinsic protein
Award 1 mark. Channel and carrier proteins are intrinsic, which is what allows them to move substances right across the membrane.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3

Which level of protein structure is the sequence of amino acids in the chain?

  1. Quaternary structure
  2. Tertiary structure
  3. Secondary structure
  4. Primary structure
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — Primary structure
Award 1 mark. It is determined by the base sequence of the gene and it determines every level of folding above it.
Q4 · Difficulty 1/3

Which bond joins glycerol to a fatty acid in a triglyceride?

  1. A glycosidic bond
  2. An ester bond
  3. A peptide bond
  4. A hydrogen bond
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — An ester bond
Award 1 mark. Three form in each triglyceride, one to each fatty acid, and three molecules of water are released.
Q5 · Difficulty 1/3

Which process requires ATP?

  1. Active transport
  2. Simple diffusion
  3. Facilitated diffusion
  4. Osmosis
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — Active transport
Award 1 mark. It is the only one of the four that moves substances against their concentration gradient.
Q6 · Difficulty 1/3

Which two functional groups are present in every amino acid?

  1. A hydroxyl group and a phosphate group
  2. An amino group and a carboxyl group
  3. A carbonyl group and a hydroxyl group
  4. An amino group and a phosphate group
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — An amino group and a carboxyl group
Award 1 mark. Having a reactive group at each end is what allows a long chain to form.
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3

The folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane are called:

  1. Thylakoids
  2. Grana
  3. Villi
  4. Cristae
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — Cristae
Award 1 mark. They increase the surface area available for the electron transport chain.
Q8 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the temporary structure formed when a substrate binds to an enzyme called?

  1. A cofactor complex
  2. An enzyme-substrate complex
  3. An allosteric complex
  4. A prosthetic group
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — An enzyme-substrate complex
Award 1 mark. Naming it explicitly is worth a mark in most rate explanations.
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CXC CAPE Biology FAQ

What does the CXC CAPE Biology exam look like?
The CXC CAPE Biology exam is structured across 3 components. Paper 01 (Multiple Choice): 45 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each. About 1 hour 30 minutes. Tests knowledge across all three Modules of the Unit. Paper 02 (Essay / Structured): Extended essay and structured questions, one per Module. Around 2 hours 30 minutes. Tests developed argument, application and use of examples. Paper 03 (Internal Assessment): School-Based Assessment for school candidates (Paper 03/1) or an alternative written paper for private candidates (Paper 03/2). Coursework/research component worth a significant share of the Unit grade. Total written exam time: ~4 hours across Paper 01 and Paper 02, plus the Internal Assessment.
Can I download a free CXC CAPE Biology past paper?
Real CXC CAPE past papers are published directly by CXC CAPE on their official website. Kramizo doesn't redistribute copyrighted past papers, but we do generate free AI-written practice papers in the exact same style — same command words, same difficulty tier, same mark conventions. Use this practice paper as warm-up, then time yourself on official past papers before exam day.
How is CXC CAPE Biology graded?
Unit grades: I (highest) to VII (lowest), with a Grade Point Average and per-Module profile. Grades I–V are the pass range for most purposes. Kramizo's practice questions are tagged with difficulty 1-3 mapping roughly to the lower, middle, and top grade boundaries you'll encounter in the real exam.