EDEXCEL A-LEVEL BIOLOGY
Questions That
SEEM Easy
But Are
TRICKY
& Exactly How To Answer Them
✦ 30 Tricky Topics ✦ Model Answers ✦ Examiner Tips ✦ Mark Scheme Logic
MASTER THE EXAM — NOT JUST THE CONTENT
Covers Units 1 – 6 | All Specification Points | Exam-Ready Language
Perfect for Year 12 & Year 13 revision
■
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: Why These Questions Trip Everyone Up ..... 4
How to Use This Book ................................... 5
Chapter 1 — Cell Biology ............................... 6
✦ Cell Structure: Where is ATP Made? ................ 6
✦ Cell Membranes: Fluid Mosaic Model ................ 7
✦ Osmosis and Plant Cells ........................... 8
✦ Eukaryotes vs Prokaryotes ......................... 9
Chapter 2 — Biological Molecules ....................... 10
✦ Enzyme Denaturation at High Temperature ........... 10
✦ Competitive Inhibition and Substrate Concentration ..... 11
✦ DNA Structure and Base Pairing .................... 12
✦ Carbohydrates: Glycosidic Bonds ................... 13
✦ Lipids: Energy Storage ............................ 14
Chapter 3 — Exchange and Transport ..................... 15
✦ Alveoli Adaptations ............................... 15
✦ The Left Ventricle ................................ 16
✦ Haemoglobin and the Sigmoid Curve ................. 17
✦ Blood Clotting Sequence ........................... 18
✦ Water Movement in the Xylem ....................... 19
Chapter 4 — Photosynthesis & Respiration ............... 20
✦ Location of the Light-Dependent Reaction .......... 20
✦ RuBP When CO2 Is Removed .......................... 21
✦ Which Stage Produces the Most ATP? ................ 22
✦ Limiting Factors .................................. 23
Chapter 5 — Genetics ................................... 24
✦ Semi-Conservative Replication ..................... 24
✦ Template vs Coding Strand ......................... 25
✦ Silent Mutations .................................. 26
✦ Role of tRNA in Translation ....................... 27
✦ Epigenetics ....................................... 28
✦ Crossing Over vs Independent Assortment ........... 29
✦ Monohybrid Crosses ................................ 30
Chapter 6 — Ecology & Evolution ........................ 31
✦ Natural Selection and Antibiotic Resistance ....... 31
Page 2
, ✦ Hardy-Weinberg Calculations ....................... 32
✦ Allopatric vs Sympatric Speciation ................ 33
✦ Species vs Genus .................................. 34
✦ Biodiversity Indices .............................. 35
✦ Antigens vs Antibodies ............................ 36
Exam Technique: Killer Phrases That Score .............. 37
Quick Reference: Common Traps Summary .................. 38
Page 3
Questions That
SEEM Easy
But Are
TRICKY
& Exactly How To Answer Them
✦ 30 Tricky Topics ✦ Model Answers ✦ Examiner Tips ✦ Mark Scheme Logic
MASTER THE EXAM — NOT JUST THE CONTENT
Covers Units 1 – 6 | All Specification Points | Exam-Ready Language
Perfect for Year 12 & Year 13 revision
■
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: Why These Questions Trip Everyone Up ..... 4
How to Use This Book ................................... 5
Chapter 1 — Cell Biology ............................... 6
✦ Cell Structure: Where is ATP Made? ................ 6
✦ Cell Membranes: Fluid Mosaic Model ................ 7
✦ Osmosis and Plant Cells ........................... 8
✦ Eukaryotes vs Prokaryotes ......................... 9
Chapter 2 — Biological Molecules ....................... 10
✦ Enzyme Denaturation at High Temperature ........... 10
✦ Competitive Inhibition and Substrate Concentration ..... 11
✦ DNA Structure and Base Pairing .................... 12
✦ Carbohydrates: Glycosidic Bonds ................... 13
✦ Lipids: Energy Storage ............................ 14
Chapter 3 — Exchange and Transport ..................... 15
✦ Alveoli Adaptations ............................... 15
✦ The Left Ventricle ................................ 16
✦ Haemoglobin and the Sigmoid Curve ................. 17
✦ Blood Clotting Sequence ........................... 18
✦ Water Movement in the Xylem ....................... 19
Chapter 4 — Photosynthesis & Respiration ............... 20
✦ Location of the Light-Dependent Reaction .......... 20
✦ RuBP When CO2 Is Removed .......................... 21
✦ Which Stage Produces the Most ATP? ................ 22
✦ Limiting Factors .................................. 23
Chapter 5 — Genetics ................................... 24
✦ Semi-Conservative Replication ..................... 24
✦ Template vs Coding Strand ......................... 25
✦ Silent Mutations .................................. 26
✦ Role of tRNA in Translation ....................... 27
✦ Epigenetics ....................................... 28
✦ Crossing Over vs Independent Assortment ........... 29
✦ Monohybrid Crosses ................................ 30
Chapter 6 — Ecology & Evolution ........................ 31
✦ Natural Selection and Antibiotic Resistance ....... 31
Page 2
, ✦ Hardy-Weinberg Calculations ....................... 32
✦ Allopatric vs Sympatric Speciation ................ 33
✦ Species vs Genus .................................. 34
✦ Biodiversity Indices .............................. 35
✦ Antigens vs Antibodies ............................ 36
Exam Technique: Killer Phrases That Score .............. 37
Quick Reference: Common Traps Summary .................. 38
Page 3
