GCSE BIOLOGY (9–1): HIGHER TIER
CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ Animal cells.
Answer: Have a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria and
ribosomes.
◍ TOPIC ONE: CELL BIOLOGY.
Answer: TOPIC ONE: CELL BIOLOGY
◍ Eukaryotes.
Answer: Plants, Animals, Fungi, ProtistsDNA in nucleus
◍ Prokaryotes.
Answer: BacteriaLoose DNA or DNA in plasmid (Ring of DNA)
◍ Chloroplast.
Answer: Site of photosynthesis
◍ Mitochondria.
Answer: Where energy is released during aerobic respiration
◍ Cell membrane.
Answer: Controls what enters and exits the cell
◍ Ribosomes.
Answer: Where protein synthesis occurs
◍ Plant cells.
Answer: Have all animal cell parts plus a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large
permanent vacuole.
◍ Nucleus.
, Answer: Controls cell's activities and contains DNA
◍ Cytoplasm.
Answer: Where chemical reactions take place
◍ Permanent vacuole.
Answer: Contains cell sap to help keep the cell turgid
◍ Prokaryotic cells.
Answer: Do not have a nucleus but have a single circular strand of DNA,
plasmids, cell wall (not cellulose), and flagella sometimes.
◍ Cell wall.
Answer: Provides support and gives cell its shape
◍ Root hair cell adaptation.
Answer: Large surface area due to root hairs to increase water and mineral
absorption.
◍ Sperm Cell Adaptations.
Answer: Have flagellum to swim to ovumHave many mitochondria to
provide energy for swimmingEnzymes in head to digest outer layer of ovum
◍ Nerve Cell Adaptations.
Answer: Axon - Carries electrical impulses around bodyMyelin - Insulates
axon & speeds up nerve impulsesDendrites - Increase surface area so other
nerve cells can connect easilyEnd of axon has synapses so impulses can pass
from one cell to another
◍ Muscle Cell Adaptations.
Answer: Have many mitochondria to provide energy for contracting
◍ Root Hair Cell Adaptations.
Answer: Hairs increase surface area to absorb water + minerals fasterDo not
have chloroplasts as undergroundLots of mitochondria for energy for active
transport
◍ Thin cell wall.
Answer: Allows easy movement of water into the cell.
, ◍ Xylem Cell Adaptations.
Answer: Transpiration StreamTransports unidirectionallyTransports Water +
Minerals (Magnesium used to make chlorophyll)Thick walls for
structureMade of dead cells
◍ Xylem vessels proximity.
Answer: Close to xylem vessels for fast transport.
◍ Phloem Cell Adaptations.
Answer: TranslocationTransports bidirectionallyTransports dissolved sugars
◍ Microscopes Required Practical.
Answer: 1. Place slide on stage and use clips to hold in place2. Select lowest
power objective lens3. Turn coarse focusing dial until it almost touches the
slide4. Look through eyepiece and turn coarse focusing dial until cells come
into focus5. Then use fine focusing dial to clearly focus cells6. Total
magnification = Mag of Eyepiece x Mag of Objective lens7. Draw image in
microscope on paper, including magnification scale
◍ Mitochondria in root hair cells.
Answer: Contains many mitochondria to provide energy for active transport.
◍ Light Microscopes.
Answer: Limited MagnificationLimited ResolutionLess Expensive
◍ Electron Microscopes.
Answer: Greater MagnificationGreater ResolutionMore expensive
◍ Bacterial Division - Binary Fission.
Answer: 1 = No. Rounds of Division2 = Do 2^No. Rounds of Division3 =
Convert to Standard Form
◍ Nucleus.
Answer: Contains genetic material (DNA) and controls cell activities.
◍ Cytoplasm.
Answer: Gel-like substance where chemical reactions occur.
CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ Animal cells.
Answer: Have a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria and
ribosomes.
◍ TOPIC ONE: CELL BIOLOGY.
Answer: TOPIC ONE: CELL BIOLOGY
◍ Eukaryotes.
Answer: Plants, Animals, Fungi, ProtistsDNA in nucleus
◍ Prokaryotes.
Answer: BacteriaLoose DNA or DNA in plasmid (Ring of DNA)
◍ Chloroplast.
Answer: Site of photosynthesis
◍ Mitochondria.
Answer: Where energy is released during aerobic respiration
◍ Cell membrane.
Answer: Controls what enters and exits the cell
◍ Ribosomes.
Answer: Where protein synthesis occurs
◍ Plant cells.
Answer: Have all animal cell parts plus a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large
permanent vacuole.
◍ Nucleus.
, Answer: Controls cell's activities and contains DNA
◍ Cytoplasm.
Answer: Where chemical reactions take place
◍ Permanent vacuole.
Answer: Contains cell sap to help keep the cell turgid
◍ Prokaryotic cells.
Answer: Do not have a nucleus but have a single circular strand of DNA,
plasmids, cell wall (not cellulose), and flagella sometimes.
◍ Cell wall.
Answer: Provides support and gives cell its shape
◍ Root hair cell adaptation.
Answer: Large surface area due to root hairs to increase water and mineral
absorption.
◍ Sperm Cell Adaptations.
Answer: Have flagellum to swim to ovumHave many mitochondria to
provide energy for swimmingEnzymes in head to digest outer layer of ovum
◍ Nerve Cell Adaptations.
Answer: Axon - Carries electrical impulses around bodyMyelin - Insulates
axon & speeds up nerve impulsesDendrites - Increase surface area so other
nerve cells can connect easilyEnd of axon has synapses so impulses can pass
from one cell to another
◍ Muscle Cell Adaptations.
Answer: Have many mitochondria to provide energy for contracting
◍ Root Hair Cell Adaptations.
Answer: Hairs increase surface area to absorb water + minerals fasterDo not
have chloroplasts as undergroundLots of mitochondria for energy for active
transport
◍ Thin cell wall.
Answer: Allows easy movement of water into the cell.
, ◍ Xylem Cell Adaptations.
Answer: Transpiration StreamTransports unidirectionallyTransports Water +
Minerals (Magnesium used to make chlorophyll)Thick walls for
structureMade of dead cells
◍ Xylem vessels proximity.
Answer: Close to xylem vessels for fast transport.
◍ Phloem Cell Adaptations.
Answer: TranslocationTransports bidirectionallyTransports dissolved sugars
◍ Microscopes Required Practical.
Answer: 1. Place slide on stage and use clips to hold in place2. Select lowest
power objective lens3. Turn coarse focusing dial until it almost touches the
slide4. Look through eyepiece and turn coarse focusing dial until cells come
into focus5. Then use fine focusing dial to clearly focus cells6. Total
magnification = Mag of Eyepiece x Mag of Objective lens7. Draw image in
microscope on paper, including magnification scale
◍ Mitochondria in root hair cells.
Answer: Contains many mitochondria to provide energy for active transport.
◍ Light Microscopes.
Answer: Limited MagnificationLimited ResolutionLess Expensive
◍ Electron Microscopes.
Answer: Greater MagnificationGreater ResolutionMore expensive
◍ Bacterial Division - Binary Fission.
Answer: 1 = No. Rounds of Division2 = Do 2^No. Rounds of Division3 =
Convert to Standard Form
◍ Nucleus.
Answer: Contains genetic material (DNA) and controls cell activities.
◍ Cytoplasm.
Answer: Gel-like substance where chemical reactions occur.
