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Cell structure: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.2.1 Cell structure, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q04.1

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 04.1: Name three structures that are found in some prokaryotic cells but are not found in all prokaryotic cells. [2 marks] 1 2 3

  2. Q04.2

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    4 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 04.2: Table 3 shows the resolution of three types of microscope. Table 3 Microscope Resolution / μm Optical 0.25 Scanning electron (SEM) 0.02 Transmission electron (T

  3. Q09.1

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 09.1: Scientists investigated chloroplasts taken from leaf cells of the species Nicotiana tabacum. The scientists took chloroplasts from leaf cells of a healthy plant

  4. Q09.2

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 09.2: Figure 12 shows images of chloroplasts from N. tabacum cells observed with an electron microscope. Figure 12 Identify the parts labelled Q and R. [1 mark] Q R

  5. Q02.1

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 02.1: Name the organelle labelled X and state its function. [2 marks] Name Function

  6. Q02.2

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    4 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 02.2: Pancreatic cells produce and secrete digestive enzymes. Explain why pancreatic cells contain large numbers of organelles Y and Z. [4 marks]

  7. Q05.1

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 05.1: Name the two types of molecule from which a ribosome is made. [1 mark] 1 2

  8. Q07.1

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 07.1: Figure 11 shows the structure of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Figure 11 Name three structures shown in Figure 11 that are not found in all bacteria. [2 marks]

  9. Q03.2

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 03.2: A scientist prepared alveolar tissue to view using an optical microscope. The scientist cut very thin slices of the alveolar tissue. Explain why the scientist u

  10. Q03.4

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 03.4: The magnification of the image in Figure 2 is × 40 Use this information and Table 2 to calculate the mean diameter, in μm, of the alveoli. Show your working. [2

  11. Q03.5

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 03.5: Give the uncertainty associated with taking a measurement using a ruler with 1 mm graduations. Calculate the percentage error for a measurement using the ruler

  12. Q10.1

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    6 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 10.1: Describe and explain how you would use cell fractionation and ultracentrifugation to obtain a sample of nuclei from muscle tissue. [6 marks]

  13. Q10.2

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    5 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 10.2: Describe the role of organelles in the production and release of enzymes by animal cells. Do not include details of transcription in your answer. [5 marks]

  14. Q02.1

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 02.1: Figure 2 shows an image of a red blood cell at a magnification of × 5500 Figure 2 Calculate the actual diameter in μm of the red blood cell between points P and

  15. Q02.2

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 02.2: A haemocytometer is a special microscope slide that can be used to determine the mean number of red blood cells in 0.004 mm3 of blood. • A researcher prepared a

  16. Q03.1

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    4 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 03.1: Describe how you would use cell fractionation and ultracentrifugation to obtain a sample of mitochondria from muscle tissue. [4 marks]

  17. Q05.4

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 05.4: A student used an optical microscope to observe a piece of tissue from the lower surface of an orchid leaf. The piece of leaf tissue observed was very thin. Exp

  18. Q05.5

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    3 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 05.5: The student produced a biological drawing of the leaf tissue they viewed through an optical microscope. Give three ways the student could ensure they produce a

  19. Q01.1

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 01.1: Give the three structural features found in all virus particles and describe the function of one of these features. [2 marks] 1 2 3 Function of one named featur

  20. Q01.2

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.1 Cell structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 01.2: Explain why viruses are described as acellular and non-living. [2 marks]
All 76 questions on Cell structure, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q04.1 (2 marks): Name three structures that are found in some prokaryotic cells but are not found in all prokaryotic cells. [2 marks] 1 2 3
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q04.2 (4 marks): Table 3 shows the resolution of three types of microscope. Table 3 Microscope Resolution / μm Optical 0.25 Scanning electron (SEM) 0.02 Transmission electron (T
  3. June 2025, Paper 1, Q09.1 (1 mark): Scientists investigated chloroplasts taken from leaf cells of the species Nicotiana tabacum. The scientists took chloroplasts from leaf cells of a healthy plant
  4. June 2025, Paper 1, Q09.2 (1 mark): Figure 12 shows images of chloroplasts from N. tabacum cells observed with an electron microscope. Figure 12 Identify the parts labelled Q and R. [1 mark] Q R
  5. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q02.1 (2 marks): Name the organelle labelled X and state its function. [2 marks] Name Function
  6. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q02.2 (4 marks): Pancreatic cells produce and secrete digestive enzymes. Explain why pancreatic cells contain large numbers of organelles Y and Z. [4 marks]
  7. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q05.1 (1 mark): Name the two types of molecule from which a ribosome is made. [1 mark] 1 2
  8. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q07.1 (2 marks): Figure 11 shows the structure of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Figure 11 Name three structures shown in Figure 11 that are not found in all bacteria. [2 marks]
  9. June 2024, Paper 1, Q03.2 (2 marks): A scientist prepared alveolar tissue to view using an optical microscope. The scientist cut very thin slices of the alveolar tissue. Explain why the scientist u
  10. June 2024, Paper 1, Q03.4 (2 marks): The magnification of the image in Figure 2 is × 40 Use this information and Table 2 to calculate the mean diameter, in μm, of the alveoli. Show your working. [2
  11. June 2024, Paper 1, Q03.5 (2 marks): Give the uncertainty associated with taking a measurement using a ruler with 1 mm graduations. Calculate the percentage error for a measurement using the ruler
  12. June 2024, Paper 1, Q10.1 (6 marks): Describe and explain how you would use cell fractionation and ultracentrifugation to obtain a sample of nuclei from muscle tissue. [6 marks]
  13. June 2024, Paper 1, Q10.2 (5 marks): Describe the role of organelles in the production and release of enzymes by animal cells. Do not include details of transcription in your answer. [5 marks]
  14. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q02.1 (2 marks): Figure 2 shows an image of a red blood cell at a magnification of × 5500 Figure 2 Calculate the actual diameter in μm of the red blood cell between points P and
  15. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q02.2 (2 marks): A haemocytometer is a special microscope slide that can be used to determine the mean number of red blood cells in 0.004 mm3 of blood. • A researcher prepared a
  16. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q03.1 (4 marks): Describe how you would use cell fractionation and ultracentrifugation to obtain a sample of mitochondria from muscle tissue. [4 marks]
  17. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q05.4 (2 marks): A student used an optical microscope to observe a piece of tissue from the lower surface of an orchid leaf. The piece of leaf tissue observed was very thin. Exp
  18. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q05.5 (3 marks): The student produced a biological drawing of the leaf tissue they viewed through an optical microscope. Give three ways the student could ensure they produce a
  19. June 2023, Paper 1, Q01.1 (2 marks): Give the three structural features found in all virus particles and describe the function of one of these features. [2 marks] 1 2 3 Function of one named featur
  20. June 2023, Paper 1, Q01.2 (2 marks): Explain why viruses are described as acellular and non-living. [2 marks]
  21. June 2023, Paper 1, Q01.3 (1 mark): Give one reason why antibiotics are not effective against viruses. [1 mark]
  22. June 2023, Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): The human disease, malaria, is caused by infection with a single-celled eukaryotic organism. Figure 2 shows a diagram of Plasmodium vivax, one of the species th
  23. June 2023, Paper 1, Q03.2 (2 marks): Describe two functions of the Golgi apparatus in a eukaryotic cell. [2 marks] 1 2
  24. June 2023, Paper 1, Q06.4 (2 marks): Figure 6 shows an image from an optical microscope of a single bacterial cell. Figure 6 This bacterial cell is 2.3 μm long (excluding the flagellum). Calculate
  25. June 2023, Paper 3, Q03.1 (1 mark): Below are four statements about the structure of prokaryotic cells. 1. No prokaryotic cell has DNA that is associated with proteins. 2. No prokaryotic cell has
  26. June 2023, Paper 3, Q04.1 (2 marks): Suggest how SCFR is destroyed by a lysosome. [2 marks] After a heart attack, cardiomyocytes (cardiac muscle cells) die, and become infarcted tissue. Infarcted t
  27. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q02.1 (2 marks): Describe how the appearance of the area containing DNA in a TEM image of a eukaryotic cell would differ from that shown in Figure 1. [2 marks]
  28. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q04.2 (2 marks): State one feature that shows the images in Figure 5 were taken with an electron microscope and not an optical microscope. Explain your answer. [2 marks]
  29. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q06.1 (1 mark): Which components are found in a human papilloma virus? Tick () one box. [1 mark] Capsid and attachment protein Capsid, attachment protein and reverse transcrip
  30. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q01.1 (1 mark): Which statement about the function of ribosomes is correct? Tick () one box. [1 mark] Site of transcription, catalyse the joining of amino acids by hydrolysis
  31. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q01.3 (3 marks): Scientists investigated the structure of the endoplasmic reticulum. Table 1 shows some of the scientists’ results. Table 1 Type of endoplasmic reticulum Percent
  32. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q10.2 (4 marks): Outline the similarities in, and the differences between, the structures of chloroplasts and mitochondria. [4 marks]
  33. June 2022, Paper 1, Q01.1 (4 marks): Describe the structure and function of the nucleus. [4 marks]
  34. June 2022, Paper 1, Q01.2 (1 mark): Name the main polymer that forms the following cell walls. [1 mark] Plant cell wall Fungal cell wall
  35. June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): Give two features of all prokaryotic cells that are not features of eukaryotic cells. [1 mark] 1 2
  36. June 2022, Paper 1, Q07.2 (2 marks): The scientists broke open the cells to produce a suspension of cell contents. Describe how the scientists would remove large organelles from this suspension of
  37. June 2022, Paper 1, Q07.3 (3 marks): Explain the position of the bands of ribosomes in tubes A and B in Figure 10. [3 marks] A B
  38. June 2022, Paper 1, Q08.1 (2 marks): To observe the fish gills with the optical microscope, the scientists used two different stains. The first stain binds to DNA; the second stain binds to the red
  39. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q02.1 (2 marks): Give the two types of molecule from which a ribosome is made. [2 marks] 1 2
  40. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): Figure 2 is an image of a bacterium obtained using a scanning electron microscope. Figure 2 Name the structure labelled X. [1 mark]
  41. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q03.2 (2 marks): Figure 2 is different from an image of this bacterium obtained using a transmission electron microscope. Describe and explain one difference between these image
  42. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q03.3 (1 mark): The resolution of an image obtained using an electron microscope is higher than the resolution of an image obtained using an optical microscope. Explain why. [1
  43. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q03.4 (2 marks): A student determined the size of a cell structure from a photograph obtained using a microscope. He used a ruler and a calculator and gave the answer in μm Desc
  44. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q03.5 (2 marks): Name two structures found in all bacteria that are not found in plant cells. [2 marks] 1 2
  45. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q03.6 (2 marks): Name two features of HIV particles that are not found in bacteria. Do not include attachment protein in your answer. [2 marks] 1 2
  46. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q07.1 (3 marks): In the box below: • produce a scientific drawing of the arrangement of tissues shown in Figure 8 • label one of the tissues in your drawing Do not draw individu
  47. November 2021, Paper 1, Q05.1 (4 marks): Describe how a sample of chloroplasts could be isolated from leaves. [4 marks]
  48. November 2021, Paper 1, Q05.4 (3 marks): The scientists also observed the chloroplasts from the samples of leaves using an electron microscope. Figure 6 shows a chloroplast from a control plant (image
  49. November 2021, Paper 1, Q10.3 (5 marks): Contrast the structure of the two cells visible in the electron micrographs shown in Figure 14. [5 marks]
  50. November 2021, Paper 2, Q07.1 (2 marks): HBV infects a liver cell. The liver cell is 25 µm in diameter. Use Figure 7 to calculate how many times larger in diameter this cell is than HBV. You should use
  51. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q02.1 (2 marks): Name structures A and B. [2 marks] A B
  52. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q03.1 (2 marks): Explain why it is not possible to determine the identity of the structures labelled X using an optical microscope. [2 marks]
  53. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q03.2 (3 marks): U. marinum cells ingest bacteria and digest them in the cytoplasm. Describe the role of one named organelle in digesting these bacteria. [3 marks]
  54. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q03.3 (2 marks): Calculate the actual length of the cell shown between Y and Z in Figure 3. The magnification of the image is × 900 Give your answer in μm and to 2 significant f
  55. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q09.1 (1 mark): Kidney cells produce a glycoprotein called erythropoietin (EPO) (line 1). Identify two organelles in kidney cells that enable the production of EPO. [1 mark] 1
  56. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q04.1 (2 marks): Give two structures found in all prokaryotic cells and in all eukaryotic cells. [2 marks] 1 2
  57. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q04.3 (2 marks): What can you conclude from Figure 6 about a structural difference between the plasmids and the circular DNA? Explain your answer. [2 marks]
  58. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q04.1 (4 marks): Eukaryotic cells produce and release proteins. Outline the role of organelles in the production, transport and release of proteins from eukaryotic cells. Do not
  59. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q04.2 (1 mark): Suggest why a nucleus is not visible in Figure 3. [1 mark]
  60. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q04.3 (1 mark): Name the organelles labelled S and T in Figure 3. [1 mark] Organelle S Organelle T
  61. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q04.4 (1 mark): Give one advantage of viewing a biological specimen using a transmission electron microscope compared with using a scanning electron microscope. [1 mark]
  62. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q04.5 (2 marks): The cells in Figure 4 are part of a continuous layer of cells forming the upper surface of a leaf. The shaded area of cell U is 150 µm2 The total area of the up
  63. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q05.3 (2 marks): Two solutions often used to stain tissues are haematoxylin solution and iodine solution. • Haematoxylin solution stains DNA a blue colour. • Iodine solution sta
  64. June 2017, Paper 3, Q02.1 (1 mark): Using Figure 2 and your own knowledge, put a tick () in the box next to the only correct statement about the structures of the bacteriophage and the bacterium.
  65. June 2017, Paper 3, Q02.2 (2 marks): Using the scales in Figure 2, calculate how many times longer the bacterium is than the bacteriophage. Use the distance between the points labelled A and B on e
  66. June 2017, Paper 3, Q02.3 (1 mark): Scientists investigated the use of bacteriophages to treat lung infections caused by bacteria. They infected the lungs of mice with a pathogenic species of bact
  67. June 2017, Paper 3, Q02.4 (2 marks): With some samples, the scientists decided they needed to carry out a series of dilutions of the sample before counting the bacteria. Use evidence from Figure 3
  68. June 2017, Paper 3, Q02.5 (3 marks): Using only Figure 3, what can you conclude from these data about the effectiveness of the bacteriophage in treating this lung infection in mice? Do not consider
  69. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q07.1 (3 marks): Describe how you would use cell fractionation techniques to obtain a sample of chloroplasts from leaf tissue. Do not include in your answer information about an
  70. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q07.2 (3 marks): Table 3 shows features of a mitochondrion and a chloroplast. Complete Table 3 with ticks where a feature is present. [3 marks] Table 3 Feature Mitochondrion Chl
  71. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q07.3 (1 mark): Give the function of a mitochondrion. [1 mark]
  72. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q07.4 (2 marks): Scientists investigated the effect of an exercise programme on the number and size of mitochondria in skeletal muscle. They took samples of muscle from a large
  73. Specimen, Paper 3, Q02.1 (4 marks): [ ] This source has been removed due to third-party copyright restrictions.
  74. Specimen, Paper 3, Q02.2 (2 marks): Name of W Function of W Name of Z Function of Z
  75. Specimen, Paper 3, Q02.3 (2 marks): A transmission electron microscope was used to produce the image in Figure 1. Explain why. [2 marks] 0 2 . 3
  76. Specimen, Paper 3, Q02.4 (1 mark): Answer =

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