Скачать или смотреть GCSE Biology AQA preparation part 1 UK ,Assessment objectives and command words to get maximum marks

In GCSE Biology, everything starts with the cell, but many students lose marks because they memorise definitions without understanding how structure links to function.
Therefore, today we’re going to master prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in a way that examiners can’t catch you out.
All cells have basic features like cytoplasm and a cell membrane, but not all cells are organised in the same way.
Therefore, AQA divides cells into prokaryotic and eukaryotic, and you must know the differences clearly for Paper 1.
Prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria, are very small and simple, but they do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles.
Therefore, their genetic material floats freely in the cytoplasm as a single circular loop of DNA, sometimes with plasmids.

Eukaryotic cells, like animal and plant cells, are larger and more complex, but their DNA is safely enclosed inside a nucleus.
Therefore, they can carry out specialised functions using organelles such as mitochondria, ribosomes, and in plants, chloroplasts.

Students often confuse bacterial cells with animal cells, but bacteria also have a cell wall, flagellum, and slime capsule, which animal cells do not.
Therefore, spotting these features quickly can help you identify cell types instantly in the exam.

AQA doesn’t just want you to label diagrams, but to explain how structure links to function.
Therefore, by the end of this session, you won’t just recognise prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells—you’ll be able to compare them, explain them, and score full marks.
Exam pattern:

Opening
In GCSE Biology, students often know the content, but still lose marks in the exam.
Therefore, today I’m going to show you how AQA actually marks your answers, so you can turn knowledge into guaranteed exam marks.
[Why Mark Schemes Matter] AQA

AQA doesn’t mark exams based on how long your answer is, but on whether you hit specific mark points.
Therefore, understanding the mark scheme language is just as important as revising the topic itself.
[Assessment Objectives Explained]

AQA GCSE Biology is marked using three assessment objectives, but most students only revise for memory recall.
Therefore, let’s break them down properly.
AO1 rewards scientific knowledge and key terms,
but AO2 tests whether you can apply that knowledge to unfamiliar situations.
Therefore, you must practise using facts in context, not just memorising definitions.
AO3 focuses on analysis, data, and practical skills,
but many students ignore this until it costs them marks.
Therefore, you should always practise explaining trends, variables, and conclusions.
[Paper Structure]
There are two papers, each worth 100 marks,
but both papers test how you think, not just what you remember.
Therefore, every answer must be precise, relevant, and exam-focused.
[Cell Biology Example – Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic]
Let’s apply this to Cell Biology, specifically prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Students often say bacteria are “simple,” but that alone scores zero marks.
Therefore, you must use the exact scientific language AQA expects.
A prokaryotic cell does not have a nucleus,
but its DNA is found as a single circular loop in the cytoplasm, often with plasmids.
Therefore, naming nucleus absent and circular DNA secures the marks.
Eukaryotic cells are larger and more complex,
but the key difference is that their DNA is enclosed in a nucleus.
Therefore, always compare cells using clear contrasts.
[Common Exam Trap]
Students often list features without explaining them,
but AQA awards marks for linked structure–function explanations.
Therefore, don’t just name mitochondria—say they are the site of aerobic respiration, releasing energy.