AQA GCSE BIOLOGY HIGHER TIER
PAPER 1H PRACTICE EXAMINATION
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ Homeostasis.
Answer: The regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism in
response to internal or external changes. E.g. the control of: blood glucose
concentration, body temperature, water and ion levels, etc.
◍ [B4.1] Eukaryote vs prokaryote.
Answer: Eukaryotes (animal/plant) have a *nucleus. Prokaryotes (bacteria)
have no nucleus; DNA is a single circular loop. Prokaryotes are smaller and
simpler*.
◍ Negative Feedback.
Answer: This is a type of control mechanism:1) a receptor detects a change
in a stimulus.2) the coordination centre compares the stimulus to a set
point.3) an effector then produces a response to correct any difference from
the set point.
◍ The Thermoregulatory Centre.
Answer: This is in the brain and it monitors and controls body temperature,
blood temperature via impulses from temperature receptors.
◍ Effects when Body Temperature is too High.
Answer: - Vasodilation.- Swear more.- Transfer of energy form the skin to
the environment.
◍ Effects when Body Temperature is too Low.
Answer: - Vasoconstriction- Stop sweating- Piloerection - Shiver
,◍ The Nervous System.
Answer: This enables humans to react to their surroundings and coordinate
their behaviour. It stimulates a reflex arc.
◍ Types of Neurones.
Answer: Sensory Neurone, Motor Neurone, Relay Neurone.
◍ Reflex Arc.
Answer: 1) the pain stimulus is detected by receptors.2) impulses from the
receptor pass along a sensory Neurone to the CNS.3) an impulse then passed
through a relay Neurone.4) a motor neurone carries an impulse to the
effector.5) the effector (muscle or gland) responds
◍ Synapse.
Answer: The connection between neurones. When an electrical impulse
reaches this, a chemical is released that diffused across the gap. This causes
an electrical impulse to be generated in the second one.
◍ [B4.1] Animal cell organelles.
Answer: *Nucleus (genes), cytoplasm (reactions), cell membrane (controls
entry/exit), mitochondria (respiration), ribosomes* (protein).
◍ Human Reaction Time Required Practical.
Answer: 1) the experimenter holds a meter rule from the end.2) the subject
had their finger and thumb a small distant apart either side of the ruler on the
50cm line.3) the experimenter lets go of the ruler and the subject has to trap
it.4) the distance the ruler travels from the 50cm line is noted.5) the
experiment is repeated on the subjects that have just drunk coffee and the
subjects that have not.
◍ Parts of the brain.
Answer: - Medulla- Cerebellum- Cerebral Cortex
◍ [B4.1] Plant cell extras.
Answer: *Cell wall (cellulose, strength), chloroplasts (photosynthesis),
vacuole* (sap; keeps cell turgid).
, ◍ Medulla.
Answer: controls automatic actions such as heartbeat and breathing.
◍ Cerebellum.
Answer: coordinates movement and balance
◍ [B4.1] Bacterial cells.
Answer: No nucleus; DNA on a *circular chromosome + plasmids. Cell
wall* (not cellulose). May have flagellum.
◍ cerebral cortex.
Answer: responsible for consciousness, intelligence, memory and language.
◍ Parts and Functions of the Eye.
Answer: - Retina - contains receptor cells that are sensitive to brightness and
colour of light.- Optic Nerve - carries impulses from the retina to the brain.-
Sclera - forms a tough outer layer.- Cornea - transport region.- Iris - controls
the size of the pupil and the amount of light reaching the retina.- Ciliary
Muscles & Suspensory Ligaments - change the shape of the lens to focus
light onto the retina.
◍ Accommodation.
Answer: The process of changing the shape of the lens to focus on near or
distant objects.
◍ [B4.1] Microscopy magnification.
Answer: *Magnification = Image size ÷ Real size*. Units: mm → µm
(×1000), µm → nm (×1000).
◍ Myopia.
Answer: Shortsightedness.
◍ [B4.1] Cell differentiation.
Answer: Cells become *specialised. Animals: mostly in embryo. Plants:
many cells can differentiate through life*.
◍ Hyperopia.
Answer: Long sightedness.
PAPER 1H PRACTICE EXAMINATION
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ Homeostasis.
Answer: The regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism in
response to internal or external changes. E.g. the control of: blood glucose
concentration, body temperature, water and ion levels, etc.
◍ [B4.1] Eukaryote vs prokaryote.
Answer: Eukaryotes (animal/plant) have a *nucleus. Prokaryotes (bacteria)
have no nucleus; DNA is a single circular loop. Prokaryotes are smaller and
simpler*.
◍ Negative Feedback.
Answer: This is a type of control mechanism:1) a receptor detects a change
in a stimulus.2) the coordination centre compares the stimulus to a set
point.3) an effector then produces a response to correct any difference from
the set point.
◍ The Thermoregulatory Centre.
Answer: This is in the brain and it monitors and controls body temperature,
blood temperature via impulses from temperature receptors.
◍ Effects when Body Temperature is too High.
Answer: - Vasodilation.- Swear more.- Transfer of energy form the skin to
the environment.
◍ Effects when Body Temperature is too Low.
Answer: - Vasoconstriction- Stop sweating- Piloerection - Shiver
,◍ The Nervous System.
Answer: This enables humans to react to their surroundings and coordinate
their behaviour. It stimulates a reflex arc.
◍ Types of Neurones.
Answer: Sensory Neurone, Motor Neurone, Relay Neurone.
◍ Reflex Arc.
Answer: 1) the pain stimulus is detected by receptors.2) impulses from the
receptor pass along a sensory Neurone to the CNS.3) an impulse then passed
through a relay Neurone.4) a motor neurone carries an impulse to the
effector.5) the effector (muscle or gland) responds
◍ Synapse.
Answer: The connection between neurones. When an electrical impulse
reaches this, a chemical is released that diffused across the gap. This causes
an electrical impulse to be generated in the second one.
◍ [B4.1] Animal cell organelles.
Answer: *Nucleus (genes), cytoplasm (reactions), cell membrane (controls
entry/exit), mitochondria (respiration), ribosomes* (protein).
◍ Human Reaction Time Required Practical.
Answer: 1) the experimenter holds a meter rule from the end.2) the subject
had their finger and thumb a small distant apart either side of the ruler on the
50cm line.3) the experimenter lets go of the ruler and the subject has to trap
it.4) the distance the ruler travels from the 50cm line is noted.5) the
experiment is repeated on the subjects that have just drunk coffee and the
subjects that have not.
◍ Parts of the brain.
Answer: - Medulla- Cerebellum- Cerebral Cortex
◍ [B4.1] Plant cell extras.
Answer: *Cell wall (cellulose, strength), chloroplasts (photosynthesis),
vacuole* (sap; keeps cell turgid).
, ◍ Medulla.
Answer: controls automatic actions such as heartbeat and breathing.
◍ Cerebellum.
Answer: coordinates movement and balance
◍ [B4.1] Bacterial cells.
Answer: No nucleus; DNA on a *circular chromosome + plasmids. Cell
wall* (not cellulose). May have flagellum.
◍ cerebral cortex.
Answer: responsible for consciousness, intelligence, memory and language.
◍ Parts and Functions of the Eye.
Answer: - Retina - contains receptor cells that are sensitive to brightness and
colour of light.- Optic Nerve - carries impulses from the retina to the brain.-
Sclera - forms a tough outer layer.- Cornea - transport region.- Iris - controls
the size of the pupil and the amount of light reaching the retina.- Ciliary
Muscles & Suspensory Ligaments - change the shape of the lens to focus
light onto the retina.
◍ Accommodation.
Answer: The process of changing the shape of the lens to focus on near or
distant objects.
◍ [B4.1] Microscopy magnification.
Answer: *Magnification = Image size ÷ Real size*. Units: mm → µm
(×1000), µm → nm (×1000).
◍ Myopia.
Answer: Shortsightedness.
◍ [B4.1] Cell differentiation.
Answer: Cells become *specialised. Animals: mostly in embryo. Plants:
many cells can differentiate through life*.
◍ Hyperopia.
Answer: Long sightedness.
