OCR Gateway Science Biology A (J247)
GCSE Biology
Topic worksheet
B1 Cell-level systems
Original exam-style worksheet — not an official exam paper
Time guide: 50–60 minutes · Questions: 32 · Total marks: 104
Written in OCR Gateway A style. Use the data sheet where a calculation needs a formula.
Answer all questions. Show working. Answers are in a separate file on the Worksheets page — do not look at them until you have finished.
1. State what is meant by a eukaryotic cell. [1]
2. State what is meant by a prokaryotic cell. [1]
3. State what is meant by the nucleus. [1]
4. State what is meant by the cell membrane. [1]
5. State what is meant by a chloroplast. [1]
6. State what is meant by diffusion. [1]
7. State what is meant by osmosis. [1]
8. State what is meant by active transport. [1]
9. State what is meant by mitosis. [1]
10. State what is meant by a stem cell. [1]
11. Grace is asked about a eukaryotic cell in a OCR Biology paper.
(a) Describe a eukaryotic cell. [2]
(b) Explain why a eukaryotic cell is important in this topic. [3]
12. Grace is asked about a prokaryotic cell in a OCR Biology paper.
(a) Describe a prokaryotic cell. [2]
(b) Explain why a prokaryotic cell is important in this topic. [3]
13. Grace is asked about the nucleus in a OCR Biology paper.
(a) Describe the nucleus. [2]
(b) Explain why the nucleus is important in this topic. [3]
14. Grace is asked about the cell membrane in a OCR Biology paper.
(a) Describe the cell membrane. [2]
(b) Explain why the cell membrane is important in this topic. [3]
15. Grace is asked about a chloroplast in a OCR Biology paper.
(a) Describe a chloroplast. [2]
(b) Explain why a chloroplast is important in this topic. [3]
16. Grace is asked about diffusion in a OCR Biology paper.
(a) Describe diffusion. [2]
(b) Explain why diffusion is important in this topic. [3]
17. A cell image is 10 mm across. The actual cell is 0.02 mm. Calculate the magnification. [3]
18. Magnification is ×500. The image is 20 mm. Calculate the actual size in µm. [3]
19. A cube cell of side 4 mm has what surface area to volume ratio? [3]
20. A microscope uses a ×10 eyepiece and a ×60 objective. What is the total magnification? [3]
21. Grace counts 24 cells in a 0.004 mm³ haemocytometer square. Estimate the number of cells in 1 mm³. [3]
22. A cell divides by mitosis every 2 hours. Starting from 1 cell, how many cells after 8 hours? [3]
23. Grace carries out the microscopy required practical to view onion epidermis. This is a typical OCR required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
24. Grace carries out the osmosis required practical with potato cylinders. This is a typical OCR required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
25. Grace carries out an investigation of diffusion in agar cubes with indicator. This is a typical OCR required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
26. Grace carries out preparing a cheek-cell slide. This is a typical OCR required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
27. Compare diffusion with active transport. [4]
28. Compare animal cells with plant cells. [4]
29. Compare mitosis with meiosis. [4]
30. Compare embryonic stem cells with adult stem cells. [4]
31. Apply your knowledge of osmosis to this situation: water leaves the cells [3]
32. Apply your knowledge of active transport to this situation: soil concentration is lower than inside the cell [3]