IB DP Biology HL Paper 1 (Sample) 2023
Membrane transport and cellular respiration are often tested together because they share a common thread—energy and the movement of substances are locked together in real cells. This sample paper focuses on the cellular and molecular processes that keep organisms alive: how cells move nutrients and ions across membranes, how they convert glucose into usable ATP, and how DNA and proteins work together to build a functioning organism. You'll encounter a mix of recall questions, graph interpretation, and scenario-based reasoning in the style of IB HL Paper 1. This is ideal for Grade 12 students sitting the May/November exams and those revising cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics foundations. By the end, you'll spot the common ways the IB rewards precision in vocabulary—especially around active transport, aerobic respiration, and gene expression—and you'll gain confidence that you can explain WHY cells need these processes, not just recite them.
Questions in this quiz
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- Question 1
A plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution. Which of the following will occur?
- Question 2
Which of the following is the most accurate description of the sodium-potassium pump?
- Question 3
Facilitated diffusion differs from simple diffusion in that facilitated diffusion
- Question 4
A glucose molecule is completely oxidized during aerobic respiration. What is the maximum number of ATP molecules produced per glucose molecule?
- Question 5
Which of the following is produced during the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle)?
- Question 6
During oxidative phosphorylation, protons are pumped across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating a proton gradient. This gradient drives ATP synthase to produce ATP. Which statement is correct?
- Question 7
Anaerobic respiration in human muscle produces lactic acid. What is the primary role of this process during intense exercise?
- Question 8
Which of the following correctly pairs a stage of gene expression with its location in a eukaryotic cell?
- Question 9
A mutation changes the codon from AAA to AUA. The original codon codes for lysine (Lys), and the new codon codes for isoleucine (Ile). Which type of mutation is this?
- Question 10
True or False: During DNA replication, each strand of the original DNA molecule serves as a template, and the two new DNA molecules are composed of one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
- Question 11
A student observes that a plant gene is transcribed into mRNA but the mature mRNA is much shorter than the primary transcript (pre-mRNA). This is because
- Question 12
A tRNA molecule brings an amino acid to the ribosome during translation. The tRNA is correctly positioned when its anticodon is complementary to the
- Question 13
True or False: A nonsense mutation always results in a shorter, non-functional protein.
- Question 14
Which of the following is the correct sequence of events in the synthesis and secretion of a protein destined for export (e.g., a hormone)?