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Lipids: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.1.3 Lipids, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q03.2

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 03.2: Describe the biochemical test used to confirm the presence of lipid in a sample. [2 marks]

  2. Q03.3

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 03.3: Figure 5 shows two types of fatty acids. Figure 5 State which fatty acid in Figure 5 is unsaturated and explain your answer. [1 mark] Unsaturated fatty acid Exp

  3. Q03.4

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    5 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 03.4: Cholesterol is a type of lipid transported in the blood. High blood cholesterol concentrations can lead to cardiovascular disease. Scientists studied the effect

  4. Q01.1

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 01.1: Figure 1 shows the structure of a fatty acid molecule and the structure of a glycerol molecule. Figure 1 On Figure 1, draw a circle around the part of the fatty

  5. Q01.2

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 01.2: Name the fatty acid shown in Table 1 that is a saturated fatty acid. [1 mark]

  6. Q01.3

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 01.3: The melting point is the temperature at which a solid changes state to be a liquid. Use Table 1 to describe the relationship between fatty acid structure and fa

  7. Q03.1

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 03.1: Figure 2 shows a fatty acid that contains 20 carbon atoms and four double bonds. Figure 2 On Figure 2, draw a box around the R group of the fatty acid. [1 mark]

  8. Q03.2

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 03.2: Figure 3 shows a triglyceride. Figure 3 Describe two differences between the structure of the triglyceride shown in Figure 3 and a phospholipid. [2 marks] 1 2

  9. Q03.3

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 03.3: Explain why phospholipids can form a bilayer but triglycerides cannot. [3 marks]

  10. Q03.4

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 03.4: Figure 4 shows two fatty acids, A and B. Figure 4 A B Scientists fed rats a diet with added fish oil for 4 months. They obtained samples of red blood cells from

  11. 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

  12. Q08.1

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 08.1: Describe how a triglyceride molecule is formed. [3 marks]

  13. Q08.2

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 08.2: Table 5 shows some properties of four fatty acids. Table 5 Fatty acid Number of carbon atoms in the R group Number of double bonds in the R group Caprylic acid

  14. Q08.3

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 08.3: The scientists used a data logger to measure the length of the root rather than a ruler. Suggest one reason why they used a data logger and explain why this was

  15. Q08.4

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    4 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 08.4: It is known that: • during respiration saturated fatty acids yield more energy than unsaturated fatty acids • saturated fatty acids have higher melting points t

  16. Q01.1

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 01.1: The general structure of a fatty acid is RCOOH. Name the group represented by COOH. [1 mark]

  17. Q01.2

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 01.2: Figure 1 shows the structure of a fatty acid R group. Figure 1 Name the type of R group shown in Figure 1. Explain your answer. [2 marks] Type of R group Explan

  18. Q01.3

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 01.3: Describe how you would test for the presence of a lipid in a liquid sample of food. [2 marks]

  19. Q02.2

    November 2020 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 1, question 02.2: Describe how an ester bond is formed in a phospholipid molecule. [2 marks]

  20. Q05.1

    June 2016 · AS Paper 2

    3.1.3 Lipids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2016 AS Paper 2, question 05.1: Phospholipids are one of the storage molecules found in cherry seeds. Name the type of reaction used to break down phospholipids to release phosphate. [1 mar
All 20 questions on Lipids, as a list
  1. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q03.2 (2 marks): Describe the biochemical test used to confirm the presence of lipid in a sample. [2 marks]
  2. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q03.3 (1 mark): Figure 5 shows two types of fatty acids. Figure 5 State which fatty acid in Figure 5 is unsaturated and explain your answer. [1 mark] Unsaturated fatty acid Exp
  3. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q03.4 (5 marks): Cholesterol is a type of lipid transported in the blood. High blood cholesterol concentrations can lead to cardiovascular disease. Scientists studied the effect
  4. June 2024, Paper 1, Q01.1 (3 marks): Figure 1 shows the structure of a fatty acid molecule and the structure of a glycerol molecule. Figure 1 On Figure 1, draw a circle around the part of the fatty
  5. June 2024, Paper 1, Q01.2 (1 mark): Name the fatty acid shown in Table 1 that is a saturated fatty acid. [1 mark]
  6. June 2024, Paper 1, Q01.3 (1 mark): The melting point is the temperature at which a solid changes state to be a liquid. Use Table 1 to describe the relationship between fatty acid structure and fa
  7. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): Figure 2 shows a fatty acid that contains 20 carbon atoms and four double bonds. Figure 2 On Figure 2, draw a box around the R group of the fatty acid. [1 mark]
  8. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q03.2 (2 marks): Figure 3 shows a triglyceride. Figure 3 Describe two differences between the structure of the triglyceride shown in Figure 3 and a phospholipid. [2 marks] 1 2
  9. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q03.3 (3 marks): Explain why phospholipids can form a bilayer but triglycerides cannot. [3 marks]
  10. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q03.4 (3 marks): Figure 4 shows two fatty acids, A and B. Figure 4 A B Scientists fed rats a diet with added fish oil for 4 months. They obtained samples of red blood cells from
  11. 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
  12. November 2021, Paper 1, Q08.1 (3 marks): Describe how a triglyceride molecule is formed. [3 marks]
  13. November 2021, Paper 1, Q08.2 (1 mark): Table 5 shows some properties of four fatty acids. Table 5 Fatty acid Number of carbon atoms in the R group Number of double bonds in the R group Caprylic acid
  14. November 2021, Paper 1, Q08.3 (1 mark): The scientists used a data logger to measure the length of the root rather than a ruler. Suggest one reason why they used a data logger and explain why this was
  15. November 2021, Paper 1, Q08.4 (4 marks): It is known that: • during respiration saturated fatty acids yield more energy than unsaturated fatty acids • saturated fatty acids have higher melting points t
  16. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q01.1 (1 mark): The general structure of a fatty acid is RCOOH. Name the group represented by COOH. [1 mark]
  17. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q01.2 (2 marks): Figure 1 shows the structure of a fatty acid R group. Figure 1 Name the type of R group shown in Figure 1. Explain your answer. [2 marks] Type of R group Explan
  18. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q01.3 (2 marks): Describe how you would test for the presence of a lipid in a liquid sample of food. [2 marks]
  19. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q02.2 (2 marks): Describe how an ester bond is formed in a phospholipid molecule. [2 marks]
  20. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q05.1: Phospholipids are one of the storage molecules found in cherry seeds. Name the type of reaction used to break down phospholipids to release phosphate. [1 mar

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