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Edexcel A-level Biology A questions by topic

Our topic questions for Edexcel A-level Biology A (9BN0), sorted under the sections of Pearson Edexcel’s Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) specification in the order it prints them. Every question is original, with a point-by-point mark scheme, and every set has a printable PDF.

Other specifications: AQA A-level Biology · OCR A-level Biology A · Cambridge A-level Biology · Edexcel A-level Biology B · every topic, by unit

1 Lifestyle, Health and Risk197 questions12 topics

• The heart and cardiac cycle15 questions · 50 marks · 1.1, 1.4 · PDF, 71 KB
• Surface area to volume ratio: why size limits diffusion15 questions · 48 marks · 1.1 · PDF, 76 KB
• Water and inorganic ions15 questions · 46 marks · 1.2 · PDF, 51 KB
• Blood vessels, tissue fluid and lymph15 questions · 51 marks · 1.3 · PDF, 74 KB
• Cholesterol, atheroma and what a risk factor means15 questions · 59 marks · 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.15 and 2 more · PDF, 75 KB
• Diet, energy and how to read a health claim20 questions · 73 marks · 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10 and 2 more · PDF, 82 KB
• Variables and controls: what an experiment can show20 questions · 64 marks · 1.8, 1.9, 1.17 · PDF, 61 KB
• Handling data: units, scales, rates and uncertainty15 questions · 49 marks · 1.8 · PDF, 75 KB
• Averages, spread and the null hypothesis15 questions · 50 marks · 1.9 · PDF, 54 KB
• Regulation of blood glucose and diabetes mellitus15 questions · 57 marks · 1.11 · PDF, 74 KB
• Carbohydrate structure and function22 questions · 73 marks · 1.12, 1.13 · PDF, 80 KB
• Lipids: triglycerides, phospholipids and ester bonds15 questions · 44 marks · 1.14 · PDF, 53 KB

2 Genes and Health281 questions17 topics

• Surface area to volume ratio: why size limits diffusion15 questions · 48 marks · 2.1 · PDF, 76 KB
• Gas exchange in mammals: lungs and ventilation26 questions · 96 marks · 2.1 · PDF, 86 KB
• Diffusion and osmosis15 questions · 51 marks · 2.1, 2.3, 2.4 · PDF, 55 KB
• Membrane structure and the fluid mosaic model15 questions · 48 marks · 2.2 · PDF, 51 KB
• Active transport, co-transport and bulk transport15 questions · 48 marks · 2.4 · PDF, 77 KB
• DNA and RNA structure15 questions · 48 marks · 2.5 · PDF, 72 KB
• The genetic code and transcription15 questions · 49 marks · 2.6, 2.7, 2.8 · PDF, 54 KB
• Translation and protein synthesis15 questions · 51 marks · 2.6 · PDF, 76 KB
• Protein structure and function15 questions · 49 marks · 2.9 · PDF, 54 KB
• Haemoglobin and oxygen dissociation curves15 questions · 51 marks · 2.9 · PDF, 51 KB
• Enzyme action and specificity15 questions · 48 marks · 2.10 · PDF, 74 KB
• Cofactors, coenzymes and where enzymes work15 questions · 45 marks · 2.10 · PDF, 73 KB
• Factors affecting enzyme rate: temperature, pH and concentration18 questions · 60 marks · 2.10 · PDF, 57 KB
• DNA replication15 questions · 48 marks · 2.11, 2.12 · PDF, 75 KB
• Mutation, gene expression and cancer21 questions · 75 marks · 2.12, 2.14 · PDF, 82 KB
• Genome analysis, genetic screening and gene therapy15 questions · 53 marks · 2.12, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 · PDF, 53 KB
• Monohybrid inheritance and genetic diagrams21 questions · 74 marks · 2.13 · PDF, 55 KB

3 Voice of the Genome221 questions13 topics

• Eukaryotic cell structure and organelles20 questions · 61 marks · 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5 · PDF, 55 KB
• Prokaryotic cells and viruses21 questions · 64 marks · 3.1, 3.4 · PDF, 80 KB
• Cofactors, coenzymes and where enzymes work15 questions · 45 marks · 3.3 · PDF, 73 KB
• Microscopy, magnification and resolution15 questions · 48 marks · 3.5 · PDF, 49 KB
• Gametes, fertilisation and early development15 questions · 46 marks · 3.6, 3.7 · PDF, 52 KB
• Dihybrid inheritance, linkage, epistasis and the chi-squared test15 questions · 49 marks · 3.8 · PDF, 77 KB
• Monohybrid inheritance and genetic diagrams21 questions · 74 marks · 3.8 · PDF, 55 KB
• Meiosis and the sources of genetic variation18 questions · 59 marks · 3.9 · PDF, 58 KB
• The cell cycle and mitosis17 questions · 57 marks · 3.10 · PDF, 55 KB
• Stem cells and cell potency15 questions · 51 marks · 3.11 · PDF, 53 KB
• Cell specialisation and biological organisation18 questions · 58 marks · 3.11, 3.12, 3.13 · PDF, 56 KB
• Control of gene expression15 questions · 53 marks · 3.12, 3.14 · PDF, 52 KB
• Continuous and discontinuous variation16 questions · 52 marks · 3.14, 3.15 · PDF, 54 KB

4 Biodiversity and Natural Resources420 questions23 topics

• Measuring biodiversity15 questions · 52 marks · 4.1, 4.2 · PDF, 72 KB
• The carbon cycle and climate change26 questions · 90 marks · 4.1 · PDF, 66 KB
• Conservation in situ and ex situ15 questions · 55 marks · 4.1, 4.16 · PDF, 54 KB
• Populations and their limits15 questions · 54 marks · 4.3, 4.14 · PDF, 54 KB
• Natural selection: variation, selection and allele frequency15 questions · 49 marks · 4.3, 4.4 · PDF, 56 KB
• Evidence for evolution, resistance and genetic drift25 questions · 85 marks · 4.4 · PDF, 68 KB
• Population genetics and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium15 questions · 50 marks · 4.5 · PDF, 56 KB
• Speciation and reproductive isolation15 questions · 53 marks · 4.5 · PDF, 80 KB
• Classification, phylogeny and molecular evidence15 questions · 50 marks · 4.6 · PDF, 53 KB
• The five kingdoms, species concepts and viruses16 questions · 57 marks · 4.6 · PDF, 54 KB
• Eukaryotic cell structure and organelles20 questions · 61 marks · 4.7, 4.8 · PDF, 55 KB
• Microscopy, magnification and resolution15 questions · 48 marks · 4.8 · PDF, 49 KB
• Carbohydrate structure and function22 questions · 73 marks · 4.9, 4.10, 4.15 · PDF, 80 KB
• Xylem and the transpiration stream23 questions · 73 marks · 4.10, 4.11, 4.12 · PDF, 84 KB
• Phloem translocation and the mass-flow hypothesis15 questions · 48 marks · 4.11 · PDF, 75 KB
• Cell specialisation and biological organisation18 questions · 58 marks · 4.11 · PDF, 56 KB
• Water and inorganic ions15 questions · 46 marks · 4.12 · PDF, 51 KB
• Nutrient cycles: nitrogen, phosphorus and eutrophication15 questions · 53 marks · 4.12 · PDF, 54 KB
• Diet, energy and how to read a health claim20 questions · 73 marks · 4.13 · PDF, 82 KB
• Antibodies, vaccination and the four kinds of immunity19 questions · 67 marks · 4.13 · PDF, 79 KB
• Mutation, gene expression and cancer21 questions · 75 marks · 4.13 · PDF, 82 KB
• Industrial biotechnology and fermentation24 questions · 84 marks · 4.14 · PDF, 88 KB
• Prokaryotic cells and viruses21 questions · 64 marks · 4.14 · PDF, 80 KB

5 On the Wild Side (A-level only)406 questions22 topics

• Populations and their limits15 questions · 54 marks · 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 · PDF, 54 KB
• Succession and environmental change28 questions · 99 marks · 5.2, 5.4 · PDF, 93 KB
• Chloroplast structure and the light-dependent reactions18 questions · 60 marks · 5.5, 5.7, 5.9 · PDF, 58 KB
• The Calvin cycle26 questions · 96 marks · 5.5, 5.8 · PDF, 62 KB
• Glycolysis, ATP and the link reaction15 questions · 47 marks · 5.6 · PDF, 55 KB
• The Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation15 questions · 54 marks · 5.6 · PDF, 56 KB
• Limiting factors and primary productivity25 questions · 96 marks · 5.10, 5.11 · PDF, 87 KB
• The carbon cycle and climate change26 questions · 90 marks · 5.12, 5.13, 5.14, 5.15 and 4 more · PDF, 66 KB
• Handling data: units, scales, rates and uncertainty15 questions · 49 marks · 5.14 · PDF, 75 KB
• Variables and controls: what an experiment can show20 questions · 64 marks · 5.14, 5.20 · PDF, 61 KB
• Factors affecting enzyme rate: temperature, pH and concentration18 questions · 60 marks · 5.16 · PDF, 57 KB
• Thermoregulation in endotherms and ectotherms15 questions · 50 marks · 5.16 · PDF, 54 KB
• Natural selection: variation, selection and allele frequency15 questions · 49 marks · 5.17 · PDF, 56 KB
• Evidence for evolution, resistance and genetic drift25 questions · 85 marks · 5.17, 5.18 · PDF, 68 KB
• Population genetics and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium15 questions · 50 marks · 5.17 · PDF, 56 KB
• Genome analysis, genetic screening and gene therapy15 questions · 53 marks · 5.18 · PDF, 53 KB
• Classification, phylogeny and molecular evidence15 questions · 50 marks · 5.18 · PDF, 53 KB
• Speciation and reproductive isolation15 questions · 53 marks · 5.19 · PDF, 80 KB
• Cholesterol, atheroma and what a risk factor means15 questions · 59 marks · 5.20 · PDF, 75 KB
• Diet, energy and how to read a health claim20 questions · 73 marks · 5.20 · PDF, 82 KB
• Managing ecosystems sustainably20 questions · 73 marks · 5.21, 5.22 · PDF, 58 KB
• Conservation in situ and ex situ15 questions · 55 marks · 5.22 · PDF, 54 KB

6 Immunity, Infection and Forensics (A-level only)273 questions14 topics

• Succession and environmental change28 questions · 99 marks · 6.1 · PDF, 93 KB
• Muscles and movement: the sliding-filament model15 questions · 53 marks · 6.1 · PDF, 53 KB
• The carbon cycle and climate change26 questions · 90 marks · 6.1, 6.2 · PDF, 66 KB
• Nutrient cycles: nitrogen, phosphorus and eutrophication15 questions · 53 marks · 6.2 · PDF, 54 KB
• Genome analysis, genetic screening and gene therapy15 questions · 53 marks · 6.3 · PDF, 53 KB
• Recombinant DNA technology22 questions · 80 marks · 6.3, 6.4 · PDF, 63 KB
• Prokaryotic cells and viruses21 questions · 64 marks · 6.5, 6.6 · PDF, 80 KB
• Infectious disease: transmission and control19 questions · 68 marks · 6.6, 6.11, 6.13 · PDF, 59 KB
• Pathogens and non-specific defences21 questions · 71 marks · 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.11 · PDF, 59 KB
• The specific immune response17 questions · 61 marks · 6.8, 6.9 · PDF, 53 KB
• Antibodies, vaccination and the four kinds of immunity19 questions · 67 marks · 6.8, 6.12, 6.13 · PDF, 79 KB
• The genetic code and transcription15 questions · 49 marks · 6.10 · PDF, 54 KB
• Control of gene expression15 questions · 53 marks · 6.10 · PDF, 52 KB
• Evidence for evolution, resistance and genetic drift25 questions · 85 marks · 6.13, 6.14, 6.15 · PDF, 68 KB

7 Run for your Life (A-level only)252 questions15 topics

• Muscles and movement: the sliding-filament model15 questions · 53 marks · 7.1, 7.2, 7.10 · PDF, 53 KB
• Gas exchange in mammals: lungs and ventilation26 questions · 96 marks · 7.1, 7.9 · PDF, 86 KB
• Glycolysis, ATP and the link reaction15 questions · 47 marks · 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 · PDF, 55 KB
• The Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation15 questions · 54 marks · 7.3, 7.5, 7.6 · PDF, 56 KB
• Anaerobic respiration and the respiratory quotient18 questions · 63 marks · 7.4, 7.7 · PDF, 55 KB
• The heart and cardiac cycle15 questions · 50 marks · 7.8, 7.9 · PDF, 71 KB
• Organisation of the nervous system19 questions · 64 marks · 7.9, 7.12 · PDF, 57 KB
• Hormonal communication and negative feedback15 questions · 48 marks · 7.11, 7.12, 7.16 · PDF, 54 KB
• Thermoregulation in endotherms and ectotherms15 questions · 50 marks · 7.12 · PDF, 54 KB
• Cholesterol, atheroma and what a risk factor means15 questions · 59 marks · 7.13 · PDF, 75 KB
• Diet, energy and how to read a health claim20 questions · 73 marks · 7.13 · PDF, 82 KB
• Regulation of blood glucose and diabetes mellitus15 questions · 57 marks · 7.13 · PDF, 74 KB
• Variables and controls: what an experiment can show20 questions · 64 marks · 7.13 · PDF, 61 KB
• Exercise, sports medicine and performance-enhancing drugs14 questions · 50 marks · 7.13, 7.14, 7.15 · PDF, 49 KB
• Control of gene expression15 questions · 53 marks · 7.16 · PDF, 52 KB

8 Grey Matter (A-level only)267 questions15 topics

• Organisation of the nervous system19 questions · 64 marks · 8.1, 8.2, 8.7, 8.8 · PDF, 57 KB
• The action potential and its propagation16 questions · 56 marks · 8.1, 8.3 · PDF, 74 KB
• Receptors: transduction and the reflex arc21 questions · 76 marks · 8.2, 8.5 · PDF, 64 KB
• The synapse: transmission, and why it runs one way19 questions · 65 marks · 8.4, 8.14, 8.15 · PDF, 58 KB
• Plant responses: tropisms, auxins and the classic experiments23 questions · 77 marks · 8.6 · PDF, 65 KB
• Control of gene expression15 questions · 53 marks · 8.6 · PDF, 52 KB
• Hormonal communication and negative feedback15 questions · 48 marks · 8.7 · PDF, 54 KB
• Brain imaging, development and learning15 questions · 55 marks · 8.9, 8.10, 8.11, 8.12 and 2 more · PDF, 50 KB
• Stem cells and cell potency15 questions · 51 marks · 8.14 · PDF, 53 KB
• Genome analysis, genetic screening and gene therapy15 questions · 53 marks · 8.16 · PDF, 53 KB
• Pharming, recombinant medicines and synthetic biology17 questions · 57 marks · 8.17, 8.18 · PDF, 56 KB
• Recombinant DNA technology22 questions · 80 marks · 8.17, 8.18 · PDF, 63 KB
• Industrial biotechnology and fermentation24 questions · 84 marks · 8.17 · PDF, 88 KB
• Cloning in plants and animals15 questions · 51 marks · 8.18 · PDF, 54 KB
• Continuous and discontinuous variation16 questions · 52 marks · 8.19 · PDF, 54 KB

A topic is listed under every section its lesson teaches, so some appear more than once. The codes beside each one are the specification headings it covers in that section.

The sections and codes are Pearson Edexcel’s, so check the current specification when a mark depends on one. The 8BN0/9BN0 route map lists every heading, with the lessons that teach it.