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Exam Review

Key Facts: Andalusia PAU Biology Exam

90 min

Exam Time Limit

Distrito Único Andaluz

0–10

Grading Scale

Junta de Andalucía

4.0

Min. Access Phase Score

Comisión Interuniversitaria

EUR 58.70

Base Registration Fee

Junta de Andalucía

5 Blocks

Curriculum Content Areas

2º Bachillerato Biology Syllabus

The Andalusia PAU Biology exam (Biología) is administered by the Distrito Único Andaluz and Comisión Interuniversitaria de Andalucía for students completing 2nd Bachillerato. The exam lasts 90 minutes and is graded on a 0–10 scale (minimum 4.0 required in the Access Phase). Note that local questions on this platform are an English-language MCQ study adaptation created to help students master the underlying 2nd Bachillerato curriculum.

Sample Andalusia PAU Biology Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Andalusia PAU Biology exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which physical property of water allows it to absorb or release large amounts of heat energy with minimal change in its own temperature?
A.High specific heat capacity
B.High surface tension
C.Low heat of vaporization
D.Maximum density at 0 °C
Explanation: Water has a high specific heat capacity because a significant amount of heat energy is required to break the extensive hydrogen-bonding network between water molecules before kinetic energy can increase. This buffers organisms and aquatic environments against rapid temperature fluctuations. Other options describe surface tension, latent heat of vaporization, or density anomalies.
2When a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water leaves the vacuole and cytoplasm, causing the plasma membrane to pull away from the rigid cell wall. What is this phenomenon called?
A.Plasmolysis
B.Turgor
C.Hemolysis
D.Crenation
Explanation: Plasmolysis occurs when plant cells lose water in a hypertonic environment, causing the protoplast to shrink away from the rigid cell wall. Turgor refers to the outward pressure against the cell wall in a hypotonic medium. Hemolysis and crenation apply to animal cells (specifically red blood cells).
3Which of the following monosaccharides is classified as a ketohexose?
A.D-Fructose
B.D-Glucose
C.D-Galactose
D.D-Ribose
Explanation: D-Fructose is a ketohexose because it contains six carbon atoms and a ketone functional group at carbon-2. D-Glucose and D-Galactose are aldohexoses, while D-Ribose is an aldopentose.
4What type of chemical reaction links two monosaccharides together to form a disaccharide, releasing a molecule of water?
A.Condensation (dehydration synthesis)
B.Hydrolysis
C.Oxidative decarboxylation
D.Phosphorylation
Explanation: Condensation or dehydration synthesis involves the covalent coupling of two hydroxyl groups from monosaccharides to form an O-glycosidic bond, releasing one molecule of water. Hydrolysis is the reverse cleavage reaction requiring water.
5Why do unsaturated fatty acids with cis double bonds generally have lower melting points than saturated fatty acids of equivalent chain length?
A.Cis double bonds introduce kinks that prevent tight molecular packing
B.Unsaturated fatty acids form stronger ester bonds with glycerol
C.Saturated fatty acids contain fewer hydrocarbon hydrogen atoms
D.Cis double bonds increase non-polar van der Waals interactions
Explanation: Cis double bonds create rigid bends (kinks) in the hydrocarbon tail of fatty acids. These kinks interfere with close, crystalline molecular packing, weakening intermolecular van der Waals forces and lowering the melting point.
6A peptide bond forms between which two functional groups of adjacent amino acids?
A.The carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another
B.The hydroxyl group of one amino acid and the phosphate group of another
C.The R-group side chains of two cysteine residues
D.The carbonyl oxygen and the alpha-carbon atom
Explanation: A peptide bond is a covalent amide linkage (-CO-NH-) formed by a condensation reaction between the alpha-carboxyl group of one amino acid and the alpha-amino group of the next amino acid.
7What structural feature of a protein remains intact when it undergoes reversible denaturation caused by mild heat or pH changes?
A.Primary structure
B.Secondary structure
C.Tertiary structure
D.Quaternary structure
Explanation: Denaturation disrupts non-covalent interactions (hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, hydrophobic interactions) and disulfide bridges, altering secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures. The primary structure (covalent peptide backbone) remains intact.
8According to Chargaff's rules for double-stranded DNA, which relationship between nitrogenous bases is always true?
A.A + G = T + C
B.A + T = G + C
C.A / G = 1.0
D.A + C = 100%
Explanation: Chargaff's rules state that in double-stranded DNA, Adenine equals Thymine (A = T) and Guanine equals Cytosine (G = C). Therefore, the sum of purines (A + G) equals the sum of pyrimidines (T + C).
9Why is water an excellent solvent for polar molecules and ionic salts?
A.Water molecules form hydration shells around charged ions due to dipoles
B.Water molecules form non-polar hydrophobic interactions with solutes
C.Water has a low dielectric constant that stabilizes ionic bonds
D.Water reacts chemically with solutes to form covalent hydrates
Explanation: Water is a polar molecule with a partial negative charge on oxygen and partial positive charges on hydrogen. It surrounds cations with oxygen atoms and anions with hydrogen atoms, forming hydration shells that screen electrostatic charges and dissolve polar/ionic substances.
10In human blood plasma, which buffer system plays the primary role in maintaining physiological pH around 7.4?
A.Carbonic acid / bicarbonate buffer system
B.Acetic acid / acetate buffer system
C.Ammonia / ammonium buffer system
D.Lactic acid / lactate buffer system
Explanation: The carbonic acid / bicarbonate system (H2CO3 / HCO3-) is the principal extracellular buffer in human blood. It regulates pH by equilibrating dissolved CO2 gas in lungs with bicarbonate ions excreted by kidneys.

About the Andalusia PAU Biology Exam

The Andalusia PAU Biology exam (Biología 2º Bachillerato) evaluates secondary school graduates across Andalusia on core life science disciplines including biochemistry, cellular biology, energetics, molecular genetics, microbiology, and immunology. Please note: The official PAU exam features written structured/essay questions in Spanish; the 100 questions provided here are an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation designed for self-assessment and core concept mastery.

Exam sponsor: Distrito Único Andaluz / Comisión Interuniversitaria de Andalucía. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

90-minute written examination (traditionally open-ended/structured questions; local questions are an English-language MCQ study adaptation)

Time Limit

90 minutes (1.5 hours)

Passing Score

Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase to combine with Bachillerato GPA (60% Bachillerato + 40% PAU >= 5.0 to pass).

Exam / Certification Fees

EUR 58.70 base registration fee for PAU Access Phase (or ~14.70 € per subject in voluntary admission phase) set by Junta de Andalucía.

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: High (~85-95% PAU overall pass rate in Andalusia). This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25%

Biochemistry and Molecules of Life

Chemical composition of living matter, water properties, mineral salts, osmotic phenomena, pH buffers, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, lipids (saponifiable and non-saponifiable), proteins, amino acid structure, peptide bonds, levels of protein conformation, enzyme catalysts, and nucleic acid structure (DNA double helix and RNA types).

25%

Cell Biology and Cell Division

Cell theory, prokaryotic versus eukaryotic structural organization, plasma membrane fluid mosaic model, active and passive transport mechanisms, endomembrane system (ER, Golgi, lysosomes, peroxisomes), mitochondria, chloroplasts, cytoskeleton, nucleus, chromatin, mitosis phases, cytokinesis, and meiosis (crossing over and reductional division).

20%

Metabolism and Energy Transformation

Anabolism and catabolism concepts, ATP and electron carriers, enzyme kinetics and inhibition, glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, Krebs cycle, mitochondrial electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation, lactic and alcoholic fermentations, chloroplast light reactions (photolysis, photophosphorylation), and Calvin cycle carbon fixation.

15%

Genetics and Molecular Biology

Semi-conservative DNA replication mechanism and enzymes, transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, RNA splicing, genetic code characteristics, translation initiation, elongation and termination, gene/chromosomal/genomic mutations, and Mendelian inheritance principles.

15%

Microbiology and Immunology

Structure of bacteria, archaea, viruses (lytic vs lysogenic cycles), and prions; innate barriers and phagocytosis; adaptive cellular and humoral responses; antibody structure and classes (IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, IgD); MHC complexes; active vs passive immunity; vaccines; hypersensitivity; autoimmunity; and immunodeficiencies.

Preparing for the Andalusia PAU Biology Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase to combine with Bachillerato GPA (60% Bachillerato + 40% PAU >= 5.0 to pass).
  • Assessment: 90-minute written examination (traditionally open-ended/structured questions; local questions are an English-language MCQ study adaptation)
  • Time limit: 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
  • Exam / certification fees: EUR 58.70 base registration fee for PAU Access Phase (or ~14.70 € per subject in voluntary admission phase) set by Junta de Andalucía. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Andalusia PAU Biology: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master biomolecule structures, chemical linkages (glycosidic, ester, peptide, phosphodiester), and physical properties.
2Trace energy and carbon flow step-by-step through glycolysis, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and the Calvin cycle.
3Understand the mechanics of DNA replication, transcription, and translation, including enzyme roles and 5' to 3' polarity.
4Distinguish clearly between innate and adaptive immunity, humoral vs cellular responses, and primary vs secondary immune responses.
5Use diagrams and active recall to practice organelle functions, membrane transport, and stages of cell division.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the official Andalusia PAU Biology exam?

The official Andalusia PAU Biology exam is a 90-minute written examination administered in Spanish, consisting of structured and open-ended questions. Note that the 100 questions available on this site are an English-language multiple-choice practice adaptation developed to help students test their knowledge of the official curriculum.

What is the passing score for Andalusia PAU Biology?

The exam is graded on a 0–10 scale. In the Access Phase (Fase de Acceso), a minimum score of 4.0 is required to average with the Bachillerato GPA (which counts for 60% of the final university access score, while PAU counts for 40%, requiring a total average of >= 5.0).

What is the fee for taking the PAU exam in Andalusia?

The base registration fee for the PAU Access Phase in Andalusia is set by the Junta de Andalucía at EUR 58.70 (or approximately EUR 14.70 per subject in the voluntary admission phase), with fee waivers or reductions for large families (familia numerosa) or specific categories.

Who sets the curriculum for the Andalusia PAU Biology test?

The curriculum and exam criteria are established by the Distrito Único Andaluz and the Comisión Interuniversitaria de Andalucía based on the 2nd Bachillerato official biology syllabus.

Why are the practice questions here in English and in multiple-choice format?

These questions serve as an English-language MCQ study adaptation designed for international students, bilingual program candidates, and revision learners seeking to test core biology concepts tested on the Andalusian curriculum.