A level Biology: Biological Molecules
Find Biological Molecules exam questions from A level past papers and other useful resources below
Biological molecules is a key foundational module. Understanding different types of molecules and their general properties will help you enormously in making sense of other topics within A level Biology. Make your life easier by getting a good grasp of this content as early as possible in your studies.
To master this topic area, you will need to:
Understand some general concepts from chemistry, including hydrogen bonding, condensation reactions, and polymers. These concepts apply across many different types of molecules.
Be confident in identifying (and drawing) the four types of carbon-based biological molecules: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic acids. You will need to know what types of atoms they contain.
Understand how the structures and properties of these molecules relate to their function. Make sure you really understand the relationship between the molecule’s structure and its function; just memorising a list of facts won’t be enough.
Appreciate the roles of water and inorganic ions in biological processes.
Learn about some laboratory tests which are used to test for different biological molecules.
Why you should revise biomols during the year: it’s difficult to learn about the required chemistry without using familiar molecules as examples, but it’s hard to become familiar with molecules before you understand their chemistry. It’s really helpful to re-study this module as you progress through the course.
Good news: Biological Molecules content is nearly identical across A level exam boards, including for AQA and OCR A. So you can use resources from any board; they will be just as helpful.
Revision resources:
Self-marking multiple choice quiz for Proteins. Using OCR A past paper exam questions.
Self-marking multiple choice quiz for Food Tests and Chromatography. Using OCR A past paper exam questions.
Self-marking multiple choice quiz for Phospholipids, Lipids, and Cholesterol. Using OCR A past paper exam questions.
Self-marking multiple choice quiz for Carbohydrates, Ions and Elements. Using OCR A past paper exam questions.
Many topics in A level biology relate to how the human body gains and loses atoms. But have you ever stepped back and thought of how these processes all fit together? Having a wide overview can help make sense of individual topics.
OCR A Biological Molecules Quiz
Multiple Choice Quiz - OCR A Water Ions and Elements
3.1.5 - Nucleic Acids Structure and Replication
Can you
Draw the formation and hydrolysis of a phosphodiester bond
Name the parts of a nucleotide
Explain the similarities and differences between RNA and DNA
Explain why DNA is a good molecule for storing information ?
Can you describe semi-conservative replication ?
Practising recall and doing questions is so important for long term retention of information. Try this self marked quiz. OCR A Enzymes
Practising recall and doing questions is so important for long term retention of information. Try this self marked quiz. OCR A Biochemistry.
Enzymes - Questions (and answers) - for A-level Biology - With Videos and Powerpoints to help recap the theory.
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10 Basic points to remember for Biological Molecules
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Want more? Other A level biology topic resources can be found from the main Free Revision Resources page.
Most students revise by copying out textbooks that they didn't understand when they were taught the concepts. There are better ways of learning and revising.
Here is one way of revising Biological Molecules, print these on card then cut out and go through with a friend - then try making your own.
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