AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1 Revision Checklist

4.1 Cell biology

Cell structure, division, transport and the microscopy required practicals.

19 sub-topics · 3 required practicals.

• Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells — State key differences in size, nucleus, DNA and organelles, and give examples of each.
• Animal and plant cell structure — Label nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria, ribosomes, chloroplasts, permanent vacuole and cell wall.
• Bacterial cell structure — Identify cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, single loop of DNA and plasmids.
• Cell specialisation — Explain how sperm, nerve, muscle, root hair, xylem and phloem cells are adapted to function.
• Cell differentiation — Describe how cells differentiate in animals vs plants and link to stem cells.
• Microscopy — Compare light and electron microscopes; explain why electron microscopes have higher resolution.
• Microscopy calculations — Use magnification = image / actual; convert between mm, μm and nm using standard form.
• Required practical: using a light microscopeRequired practical — Prepare a slide, focus low → high power, draw and label observed cells with a scale bar.
• Culturing microorganisms (Biology only)Triple only — Aseptic technique, uncontaminated cultures, calculation of bacterial colony numbers using binary fission.
• Required practical: investigating antibacterialsRequired practicalTriple only — Use disks of antibiotic/antiseptic on lawn plates; measure zones of inhibition.
• Chromosomes — Describe chromosomes as DNA molecules in the nucleus carrying genes.
• Mitosis and the cell cycle — Sequence the stages of the cell cycle and state outcomes for growth, repair and asexual reproduction.
• Stem cells — Describe embryonic, adult and meristem stem cells, and uses including therapeutic cloning.
• Stem cell ethics and risks — Discuss ethical objections and risks (e.g. transfer of viral infection, rejection).
• Diffusion — Define diffusion and link rate to concentration gradient, temperature and surface area.
• Surface area : volume ratio — Calculate SA:V for simple shapes and explain why multicellular organisms need exchange surfaces.
• Osmosis — Define osmosis as net movement of water across a partially permeable membrane.
• Required practical: osmosis in potatoRequired practical — Mass change of potato cylinders in sucrose solutions; calculate percentage change and plot a graph.
• Active transport — Describe movement against a concentration gradient using energy from respiration (mineral uptake in roots, glucose in gut).

4.2 Organisation

Digestion, the circulatory and respiratory systems, non-communicable disease and plant transport.

16 sub-topics · 2 required practicals.

• Hierarchy of organisation — Cells → tissues → organs → organ systems; give an example for animals and plants.
• The digestive system — Label and state functions of mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas and liver.
• Enzymes — lock and key — Explain enzyme specificity using the lock-and-key model and the effect of denaturation.
• Effect of pH and temperature — Describe optimum pH/temperature curves and explain shape in terms of active site shape.
• Required practical: effect of pH on amylaseRequired practical — Use iodine to time starch breakdown across pH; plot rate vs pH and identify the optimum.
• Food tests — Benedict’s (sugar), iodine (starch), biuret (protein), ethanol/Sudan III (lipid) — state colour changes.
• Required practical: food testsRequired practical
• The heart and blood vessels — Label the four chambers, valves, major vessels and describe the double circulatory system.
• Arteries, veins and capillaries — Relate structure to function (wall thickness, lumen size, valves).
• Blood — Describe the role of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
• Coronary heart disease — Causes, consequences and treatments — stents, statins, biological/mechanical valves, transplants.
• Health and disease — Define health; discuss interaction between communicable, non-communicable and lifestyle factors.
• Risk factors for non-communicable disease — Diet, smoking, alcohol, obesity — link to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease.
• Cancer — Distinguish benign vs malignant tumours; discuss risk factors and genetic causes.
• Plant tissues — Identify epidermal, palisade and spongy mesophyll, xylem, phloem and meristem tissues.
• Transpiration and translocation — Compare movement of water in xylem with sugars in phloem; explain stomatal control.

4.3 Infection and response

Pathogens, the immune system, vaccines, drug development and plant disease.

13 sub-topics · 1 Higher-only.

• Pathogens — Define pathogen; classify viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists with examples.
• Spread and prevention of disease — Describe how pathogens are spread and how spread can be reduced.
• Viral diseases — Measles, HIV, TMV — symptoms, transmission and prevention.
• Bacterial diseases — Salmonella and gonorrhoea — symptoms and how spread is controlled.
• Fungal diseases — Rose black spot — symptoms in plants and control measures.
• Protist diseases — Malaria — life cycle involving mosquito vector and prevention strategies.
• Human defence systems — Skin, nose, trachea/bronchi (mucus and cilia), stomach acid — physical and chemical barriers.
• The immune response — Explain phagocytosis, antibody production and antitoxin production.
• Vaccination — Describe how vaccination produces memory lymphocytes; discuss herd immunity.
• Antibiotics and painkillers — Distinguish antibiotics (kill bacteria) from painkillers (treat symptoms); explain resistance.
• Discovery and development of drugs — Traditional sources (digitalis, aspirin, penicillin); preclinical and clinical trials, placebo, double blind.
• Monoclonal antibodiesHigher — Production from mouse lymphocytes + tumour cells; uses in pregnancy tests, diagnosis and treatment.
• Plant disease and defences (Biology only)Triple only — Symptoms, detection and physical/chemical/mechanical adaptations of plants.

4.4 Bioenergetics

Photosynthesis, respiration and metabolism.

10 sub-topics · 1 required practical · 1 Higher-only.

• Photosynthesis equation — Write the word and symbol equation; identify it as endothermic.
• Rate of photosynthesis — limiting factors — Effect of light intensity, CO₂, temperature and chlorophyll on rate; interpret graphs.
• Inverse square law (Higher)Higher — Apply 1/d² to light intensity and rate of photosynthesis.
• Required practical: light on photosynthesisRequired practical — Pondweed/oxygen bubbles vs distance from lamp; control variables and plot rate.
• Uses of glucose from photosynthesis — Respiration, starch, fats/oils, cellulose, amino acids; state where nitrate ions are required.
• Aerobic respiration — Equation; describe it as exothermic and occurring continuously in mitochondria.
• Anaerobic respiration in humans — Glucose → lactic acid; explain oxygen debt and recovery.
• Anaerobic respiration in plants & yeast — Glucose → ethanol + CO₂; industrial uses (bread, brewing).
• Response to exercise — Explain increased breathing rate, depth and heart rate; effect on muscle glycogen.
• Metabolism — Define metabolism; give examples of synthesis and breakdown reactions in the body.

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