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Exam Review

Key Facts: Canary PAU Biology Exam

90 Minutes

Exam duration

COPAU / ULPGC / ULL

EUR 76.12

Base registration fee for Access Phase

Gobierno de Canarias

0–10 Scale

Grading scale for Bachillerato and PAU exams

Spanish Ministry of Education

5 Core Blocks

Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Metabolism, Genetics, Microbiology & Immunology

LOMLOE Biology Syllabus

100 Questions

Practice bank size in OpenExamPrep

OpenExamPrep

Canary Islands PAU Biology (ULPGC & ULL 2026) is a 90-minute university entrance exam assessing 2º Bachillerato Biology across 5 core subject blocks.

Sample Canary PAU Biology Practice Questions

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

1Which physicochemical property of water is primarily responsible for maintaining temperature stability in aquatic environments and preventing rapid thermal fluctuations in living organisms?
A.Low dielectric constant allowing nonpolar solute precipitation
B.Covalent interaction between hydrophobic hydrocarbon residues
C.High specific heat capacity resulting from extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonding
D.High density in the solid state compared to the liquid state
Explanation: Water possesses a high specific heat capacity (1 cal/g·°C or 4.184 J/g·°C) because a significant amount of thermal energy is absorbed to disrupt the extensive network of hydrogen bonds before water molecules increase their kinetic energy. This property buffers biological systems and aquatic ecosystems against sudden temperature changes.
2What happens to a red blood cell (erythrocyte) when placed in a hypertonic NaCl solution?
A.Water enters the cell by osmosis, causing it to swell and undergo osmotic lysis
B.Water leaves the cell by osmosis, causing it to shrink and become crenated
C.NaCl enters the cell via active transport until equilibrium is established
D.The cell membrane becomes impermeable and no net movement of water occurs
Explanation: In a hypertonic solution, the external solute concentration is higher than the intracellular osmolarity. Water moves out of the erythrocyte by osmosis down its water potential gradient, causing the cell to shrink and wrinkle, a process known as crenation (or plasmolysis in walled plant cells).
3Which monosaccharide is a ketohexose essential for carbohydrate metabolism and fruit sweetness?
A.D-Fructose
B.D-Galactose
C.D-Ribose
D.D-Glucose
Explanation: D-Fructose is a six-carbon monosaccharide (hexose) containing a ketone group at carbon 2, making it a ketohexose. It is abundant in fruits and honey and is phosphorylated during glycolysis by fructokinase or hexokinase.
4Which glycosidic bond joins the two monosaccharide units in sucrose (table sugar)?
A.alpha(1->4) glycosidic bond between two D-glucose molecules
B.beta(1->4) glycosidic bond between D-galactose and D-glucose
C.alpha(1->6) glycosidic bond at glycogen branch points
D.alpha(1)->beta(2) glycosidic bond joining the anomeric carbons of D-glucose and D-fructose
Explanation: Sucrose is a non-reducing disaccharide composed of alpha-D-glucopyranose and beta-D-fructofuranose linked by an alpha(1)->beta(2) glycosidic bond involving the anomeric carbons of both monosaccharides.
5Which polysaccharide serves as the primary energy storage molecule in animal cells?
A.Glycogen
B.Cellulose
C.Starch
D.Chitin
Explanation: Glycogen is a highly branched polymer of D-glucose linked by alpha(1->4) linear chains and alpha(1->6) branch points, stored mainly in the liver and skeletal muscle of animals for rapid glucose mobilization.
6How do double bonds in cis-unsaturated fatty acids affect lipid physical properties at room temperature?
A.They transform fatty acids into amphipathic steroids
B.They promote covalent cross-linking between adjacent acyl chains
C.They increase packing density and raise the melting point, making the lipid solid
D.They introduce kinks in the hydrocarbon chain, reducing intermolecular packing and lowering the melting point
Explanation: Cis double bonds create rigid bends (kinks) in the hydrocarbon chain of unsaturated fatty acids. These kinks prevent tight parallel packing of acyl chains, weakening Van der Waals interactions and resulting in lower melting points (liquid oils at room temperature).
7Why are glycerophospholipids described as amphipathic biomolecules?
A.They contain both hydrophilic polar head groups and hydrophobic nonpolar fatty acid tails
B.They dissolve completely in both water and organic solvents without forming aggregates
C.They consist entirely of nonpolar hydrocarbon chains linked by peptide bonds
D.They are composed of four condensed hydrocarbon rings with a terminal hydroxyl group
Explanation: Glycerophospholipids possess a polar, hydrophilic head (phosphate group attached to an alcohol like choline or ethanolamine) and two nonpolar, hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails (fatty acid chains). This dual nature drives spontaneous lipid bilayer self-assembly in aqueous environments.
8Which chemical bond connects fatty acid residues to glycerol in a triacylglycerol molecule?
A.Peptide bond
B.Phosphodiester bond
C.Glycosidic bond
D.Ester bond
Explanation: Triacylglycerols are formed through esterification reactions between the three hydroxyl groups (-OH) of glycerol and the carboxyl groups (-COOH) of three fatty acids, yielding three ester bonds and releasing three water molecules.
9What is the net electrical charge of an amino acid at its specific isoelectric point (pI)?
A.Negative (-1) due to complete dissociation of the amino group
B.Variable depending on atmospheric pressure
C.Positive (+2) due to double protonation of the alpha-carboxyl group
D.Zero (zwitterionic state with balanced positive and negative charges)
Explanation: At the isoelectric point (pI), an amino acid exists as a zwitterion where the amino group is protonated ($-NH_3^+$) and the carboxyl group is deprotonated ($-COO^-$). The positive and negative charges balance out, resulting in a net electrical charge of zero.
10Which chemical interactions stabilize the alpha-helix and beta-pleated sheet structures of proteins?
A.Disulfide bridges between cysteine side chains
B.Hydrogen bonds between carbonyl oxygens and amide hydrogens of the peptide backbone
C.Hydrophobic interactions between aromatic side chains in the core
D.Ionic bonds between lysine and glutamate residue side chains
Explanation: Secondary protein structures (alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets) are stabilized by hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl oxygen ($C=O$) of one peptide bond and the amino hydrogen ($N-H$) of another along the polypeptide backbone.

About the Canary PAU Biology Exam

The Canary Islands PAU Biology examination (Pruebas de Acceso a la Universidad 2026) is the official standardized assessment for 2º Bachillerato students seeking university entry in the Canary Islands (ULPGC and ULL). The exam evaluates student mastery across five key biological domains: Biochemistry & Biomolecules, Cell Biology & Cell Structure, Metabolism & Bioenergetics, Molecular & Mendelian Genetics, and Microbiology & Immunology. This practice bank provides 100 high-quality questions with comprehensive explanations for all options.

Exam sponsor: Canary Islands PAU Organising Commission (COPAU) / ULPGC & ULL. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Written 90-minute standardized exam evaluating Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Metabolism, Molecular & Mendelian Genetics, and Microbiology & Immunology.

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 76.12 base registration fee for PAU Access Phase (set by Gobierno de Canarias / COPAU).

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.

20%

Biochemistry & Biomolecules

Bioelements, water and inorganic salts, structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids.

20%

Cell Biology & Cell Structure

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic organization, cell membrane structure and transport mechanisms, endomembrane system, organelles, cell cycle, mitosis, and meiosis.

20%

Metabolism & Bioenergetics

Anabolism vs catabolism, enzymatic kinetics, glycolysis, fermentation, Krebs cycle, electron transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation, and photosynthesis.

20%

Molecular & Mendelian Genetics

DNA replication, transcription, RNA processing, translation, genetic code, gene expression regulation, mutations, recombinant DNA, and Mendelian inheritance.

20%

Microbiology & Immunology

Microorganism classification (viruses, bacteria, fungi), industrial biotechnology, innate and adaptive immunity, humoral vs cellular immune responses, antigens, antibodies, and vaccination.

Preparing for the Canary 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: Written 90-minute standardized exam evaluating Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Metabolism, Molecular & Mendelian Genetics, and Microbiology & Immunology.
  • Time limit: 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
  • Exam / certification fees: EUR 76.12 base registration fee for PAU Access Phase (set by Gobierno de Canarias / COPAU). 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

Canary PAU Biology: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master biomolecule bonds (glycosidic, ester, peptide, phosphodiester) and water's physicochemical properties (high specific heat, surface tension).
2Review organelle ultrastructure and membrane transport (facilitated diffusion, active transport, endocytosis).
3Trace metabolic pathways including cell locations, sub-products, and ATP yields (glycolysis in cytoplasm, Krebs cycle in mitochondrial matrix, Calvin cycle in stroma).
4Practice genetic problems (monohybrid/dihybrid crosses, sex-linked inheritance) and central dogma mechanisms (replication, transcription, translation).
5Differentiate innate vs adaptive immunity, humoral vs cellular responses, and primary vs secondary immune responses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this practice bank in the same format as the real Canary Islands PAU exam?

No, and it is important to know the difference. The official Canary Islands PAU paper is a 90-minute examination sat in Spanish and built around structured written questions, diagram and data interpretation, and justified extended answers. Under the 2026 PAU design rules agreed by COPAU and the CRUE, open and semi-constructed responses must account for at least 70% of every paper, so the real exam contains no multiple-choice section. This bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation of the same official 2º Bachillerato syllabus — not an official translation, not a past paper, and not a simulation of the exam format. Use it to drill the underlying knowledge and reasoning quickly, then practise labelling and interpreting diagrams and writing justified extended biological answers separately, because that is what the examiners actually mark.

What is the fee for the PAU Biology exam in the Canary Islands?

The base registration fee is EUR 76.12 for the Access Phase set by Gobierno de Canarias / COPAU for ULPGC and ULL.

What passing score is required on the PAU Biology paper?

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).

How long is the PAU Biology examination?

The exam duration is 90 minutes (1.5 hours).

Which universities administer the PAU in the Canary Islands?

The exam is coordinated by the Commission (COPAU) and administered by Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and Universidad de La Laguna (ULL).