Biology AQA AS and A2 Level GCE

Sample Model Answers

This document is designed as a free download for prospective purchasers of our model answers for Biology A Level
papers (AQA board). As such it gives a flavour of the kinds of question that can be expected and a suggested way of
answering them, with the emphasis on brevity and use of appropriate A Level scientific terminology.

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These model answers have been produced to aid students in wording their answers to longer questions that require
Quality of Written Communication (QWC). Also, they give suggested ways to show calculations in numerical
questions which require students to ‘show your working.’ The aim with these model answers is to use a writing style
that is in keeping with the scientific literature; also it must be concise yet detailed enough to cover all the available
marks. All suggested answers are shown below in this handwriting font.

These model answers have not been produced by AQA, or in conjunction with AQA. They do not constitute the only
correct answers. They should only be used for revision purposes in conjunction with AQA’s published past papers,
mark schemes and examiners’ reports, a link to which is provided above.

Mr P Chatterton BSc (Hons), MBA, PGCE

October 2014

Approximate
Question question
Suggested Model Answer Comments / Hints
unit / topic wording* and
marks available
How does a
The enzyme glucose oxidase has an
glucose biosensor active site that will bind specifically to
3 marks, 3 sentences. Lots of
AS Unit 1 / work, using the glucose. The tertiary structure of the enzyme use of keywords (tertiary,
enzyme enzyme glucose creates a specific 3-D shape that forms a active site, complementary,
action oxidase? complementary fit to the glucose molecule, E-S complex) – if you know
them, use them.
forming an enzyme-substrate complex. Only
3 marks glucose will fit into that active site.
Such a change could result in a
change in the primary structure (amino acid
How would a sequence) of the resulting polypeptide. This
change in the would alter its tertiary structure because
base sequence of different hydrogen bonds would form on Don’t repeat the
AS Unit 2 / DNA result in an question stem “Such a
account of different R groups.
mutations enzyme that does change …”
The result would be that the enzyme’s
not function?
active site would be non-functional or
3 marks possibly non-existent, so no substrate could
bind to the enzyme and form an enzyme-
substrate complex.

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 Biology AQA AS and A2 Level GCE
Sample Model Answers

Approximate
Question question
Suggested Model Answer Comments / Hints
unit / topic wording* and
marks available
When light energy is absorbed by
Describe how chlorophyll, a pair of electrons I the With average sized
light energy chlorophyll molecule become excited to a handwriting, this
generates ATP in higher energy level. These electrons are then answer would fill 10 of
A2 Unit 4 / the light- passed down a series of electron transfer the 15 lines provided.
photo- dependent stage You don’t have to fill all
proteins that are situated in the thylakoid
synthesis of the lines. If you use
photosynthesis. membrane of the chloroplast. At each stage, keywords and short
some of the electrons’ energy is released in a sentences, ‘less is
5 marks redox reaction, such as the phosphorylation of more’.
ADP + Pi to form ATP.
[students evaluate a graph]
There is some positive correlation
Use a graph to
evaluate [a between the blood glucose measure and the
semi-quantitative urine glucose measure. “Evaluate” questions –
particular] urine
However, there is some overlap, for example in present arguments on
A2 Unit 5 / test as a way of
both sides of an
homeostasis measuring blood blood levels of 12-14 mmoldm-3 when the
argument, then draw a
glucose urine test = 0, so this suggests the accuracy conclusion.
of the urine test is a little suspect. A more
3 marks quantitative urine test would give the doctors
more objective information.

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