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Carbohydrates: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.1.2 Carbohydrates, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q07.2

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 07.2: In the storage tissues of plants, carbohydrates transported through the phloem can be converted into starch. Explain three features of starch that make it a goo

  2. Q04.1

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 04.1: Molasses is a solution obtained from sugar beet plants. The sugars present in molasses are sucrose, glucose and fructose. Give the number of different types of

  3. Q04.2

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 04.2: A student used the biochemical test for reducing sugars on a clear sample of molasses. Describe the biochemical test for a reducing sugar. Explain the result ex

  4. Q04.3

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 04.3: ‘Free sugar’ is the sugar in food and drinks released when food is crushed or when sugar is added to food at home or by manufacturers. Scientists recommend that

  5. Q02.1

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 02.1: Chitin is a polysaccharide. The chitin monomer is a β-glucose molecule with one OH group replaced by an NHCOCH3 group. NHCOCH3 can be represented by N(Ac). Figu

  6. Q03.1

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 03.1: Explain why GOS are described as polysaccharides. [2 marks]

  7. Q03.2

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 03.2: Give two differences between the structures of GOS and lactose. [2 marks] 1 2

  8. Q02.2

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 02.2: Scientists suggested that factors, other than antibiotic use, led to the increase in antibiotic-resistant C. difficile infections. One suggested factor is peopl

  9. Q09.2

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    6 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 09.2: Compare and contrast the structure of starch and the structure of cellulose. [6 marks]

  10. Q01.1

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    4 marks3.1.3 Lipids3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 01.1: Figure 1 shows the structure of some biological molecules. Figure 1 Complete Table 1 by writing the correct letter, A, B, C, D or E, in the box next to each sta

  11. Q02.1

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 02.1: What term is used to describe the different structures of α-glucose and β-glucose? [1 mark]

  12. Q02.2

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 02.2: A student investigated the difference in the reducing sugar content of two fruit juices. He performed a biochemical test on each fruit juice using Benedict’s so

  13. Q02.3

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 02.3: The student controlled variables in the test using Benedict’s solution. Give two variables the student controlled. [2 marks] 1 2

  14. Q02.4

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 02.4: Apples consist of flesh tissue which surrounds core tissue where the seeds are located. A student has an apple with a mass of 180 g The ratio of flesh tissue to

  15. Q02.5

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 02.5: Iodine solution stains fresh apple tissue black. When iodine solution is added to apples stored for a week, the stain is less black. The water potential of appl

  16. Q05.1

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    4 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 05.1: Describe how the structure of glycogen is related to its function. [4 marks]

  17. Q05.3

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 05.3: The student cut out a piece of agar from the clear area surrounding well D. He obtained a solution of the substances contained in this piece of agar. Describe a

  18. Q07.1

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 07.1: Alpha-gal is a disaccharide found in red meat. Alpha-gal is made of two galactose molecules. Galactose has the chemical formula C6H12O6 Give the chemical formul

  19. Q01.1

    November 2020 · AS Paper 1

    4 marks3.1.1 Monomers and polymers3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 1, question 01.1: Complete Table 1 by putting the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in the box next to each statement. Each letter may be used once, more than once, or not at all. [4

  20. Q01.2

    November 2020 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.2 Carbohydrates
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 1, question 01.2: Raffinose is a trisaccharide of three monosaccharides: galactose, glucose and fructose. The chemical formulae of these monosaccharides are: • galactose = C6H12O
All 25 questions on Carbohydrates, as a list
  1. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q07.2 (3 marks): In the storage tissues of plants, carbohydrates transported through the phloem can be converted into starch. Explain three features of starch that make it a goo
  2. June 2024, Paper 1, Q04.1 (1 mark): Molasses is a solution obtained from sugar beet plants. The sugars present in molasses are sucrose, glucose and fructose. Give the number of different types of
  3. June 2024, Paper 1, Q04.2 (3 marks): A student used the biochemical test for reducing sugars on a clear sample of molasses. Describe the biochemical test for a reducing sugar. Explain the result ex
  4. June 2024, Paper 1, Q04.3 (1 mark): ‘Free sugar’ is the sugar in food and drinks released when food is crushed or when sugar is added to food at home or by manufacturers. Scientists recommend that
  5. June 2023, Paper 1, Q02.1 (3 marks): Chitin is a polysaccharide. The chitin monomer is a β-glucose molecule with one OH group replaced by an NHCOCH3 group. NHCOCH3 can be represented by N(Ac). Figu
  6. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q03.1 (2 marks): Explain why GOS are described as polysaccharides. [2 marks]
  7. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q03.2 (2 marks): Give two differences between the structures of GOS and lactose. [2 marks] 1 2
  8. June 2022, Paper 1, Q02.2 (1 mark): Scientists suggested that factors, other than antibiotic use, led to the increase in antibiotic-resistant C. difficile infections. One suggested factor is peopl
  9. June 2022, Paper 1, Q09.2 (6 marks): Compare and contrast the structure of starch and the structure of cellulose. [6 marks]
  10. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q01.1 (4 marks): Figure 1 shows the structure of some biological molecules. Figure 1 Complete Table 1 by writing the correct letter, A, B, C, D or E, in the box next to each sta
  11. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q02.1 (1 mark): What term is used to describe the different structures of α-glucose and β-glucose? [1 mark]
  12. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q02.2 (1 mark): A student investigated the difference in the reducing sugar content of two fruit juices. He performed a biochemical test on each fruit juice using Benedict’s so
  13. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q02.3 (2 marks): The student controlled variables in the test using Benedict’s solution. Give two variables the student controlled. [2 marks] 1 2
  14. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q02.4 (2 marks): Apples consist of flesh tissue which surrounds core tissue where the seeds are located. A student has an apple with a mass of 180 g The ratio of flesh tissue to
  15. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q02.5 (2 marks): Iodine solution stains fresh apple tissue black. When iodine solution is added to apples stored for a week, the stain is less black. The water potential of appl
  16. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q05.1 (4 marks): Describe how the structure of glycogen is related to its function. [4 marks]
  17. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q05.3 (2 marks): The student cut out a piece of agar from the clear area surrounding well D. He obtained a solution of the substances contained in this piece of agar. Describe a
  18. November 2020, Paper 1, Q07.1 (2 marks): Alpha-gal is a disaccharide found in red meat. Alpha-gal is made of two galactose molecules. Galactose has the chemical formula C6H12O6 Give the chemical formul
  19. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q01.1 (4 marks): Complete Table 1 by putting the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in the box next to each statement. Each letter may be used once, more than once, or not at all. [4
  20. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q01.2 (1 mark): Raffinose is a trisaccharide of three monosaccharides: galactose, glucose and fructose. The chemical formulae of these monosaccharides are: • galactose = C6H12O
  21. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q01.3 (3 marks): A biochemical test for reducing sugar produces a negative result with raffinose solution. Describe a biochemical test to show that raffinose solution contains a
  22. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q10.1 (5 marks): Describe how the structures of starch and cellulose molecules are related to the functions. [5 mark
  23. Specimen, Paper 1, Q04.1 (2 marks): Starch and cellulose are two important plant polysaccharides. Figure 3 shows part of a starch molecule and part of a cellulose molecule. 4 Explain the differenc
  24. Specimen, Paper 1, Q04.2 (2 marks): 9
  25. Specimen, Paper 1, Q04.3 (3 marks): [ ] 0

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