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Exam Review

Key Facts: Galicia PAU Biology Exam

90 min

Exam Time Limit

Comisión Interuniversitaria de Galicia

0–10

Grading Scale

CIUG Regulations

4.0

Min. Access Phase Score

CIUG Admission Rules

EUR 63.67

Ordinary Registration Fee

CIUG Official Rates

5 Blocks

Curriculum Content Areas

2º Bachillerato Biology Syllabus

The Galicia PAU Biology exam (Biología / Bioloxía) is administered by the Comisión Interuniversitaria de Galicia (CIUG) 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 Galicia PAU Biology Practice Questions

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

1Which property of liquid water explains its high specific heat capacity and high heat of vaporization?
A.Covalent peptide bonds
B.Intermolecular hydrogen bonding network
C.Ionic cross-linking
D.Van der Waals dispersion forces
Explanation: Water molecules form a dense network of hydrogen bonds between partial negative oxygen and partial positive hydrogen atoms. Breaking these bonds requires substantial energy input, resulting in a high specific heat capacity and high heat of vaporization that help regulate thermal homeostasis in living organisms.
2When human red blood cells are placed in a hypertonic sodium chloride solution, what phenomenon occurs?
A.Turgor pressure expansion
B.Cellular crenation due to osmotic efflux of water
C.Osmotic lysis due to rapid water entry
D.Plasmolysis of the cell wall
Explanation: In a hypertonic environment, water moves out of the cell across the semipermeable plasma membrane by osmosis toward the higher solute concentration. This water loss causes the erythrocyte to shrink and form spikes, a process called crenation.
3Which extracellular buffer system is primarily responsible for maintaining human arterial blood pH near 7.40?
A.Phosphate buffer system (HPO4^2- / H2PO4-)
B.Bicarbonate buffer system (HCO3- / H2CO3)
C.Histidine protein buffer system
D.Ammonium buffer system (NH4+ / NH3)
Explanation: The carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system is the primary extracellular buffer in blood plasma. Carbon dioxide produced by cellular respiration reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which dissociates into bicarbonate ions and protons to cushion against pH alterations.
4Which structural feature distinguishes alpha-D-glucose from beta-D-glucose in aqueous solution?
A.The orientation of the hydroxyl group on the anomeric carbon C1
B.The carbon position of the carbonyl group in open-chain form
C.The presence of an amino group at carbon C2
D.The molecular formula and total molecular weight
Explanation: Alpha-D-glucose and beta-D-glucose are anomers that differ in the stereochemical configuration at carbon C1 (the anomeric carbon). In the Haworth projection of alpha-D-glucose, the hydroxyl group at C1 is trans to the CH2OH group (pointing down), whereas in beta-D-glucose it is cis (pointing up).
5Which polysaccharide functions as the primary energy storage molecule in animal liver and muscle tissues?
A.Amylose
B.Cellulose
C.Glycogen
D.Chitin
Explanation: Glycogen is a highly branched polymer of alpha-D-glucose linked by alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds with alpha-1,6-glycosidic branch points occurring every 8 to 12 glucose residues. This architecture allows rapid enzymatic mobilization of glucose in liver and muscle cells.
6What type of chemical linkage connects glycerol to fatty acids in a triglyceride molecule?
A.Ester bond
B.Glycosidic bond
C.Phosphodiester bond
D.Peptide bond
Explanation: Triglycerides consist of one glycerol backbone molecule esterified to three fatty acid molecules. The reaction between a carboxyl group of a fatty acid and a hydroxyl group of glycerol produces an ester bond along with the release of a water molecule.
7Which lipid class is amphipathic and forms the lipid bilayer matrix of biological membranes?
A.Triacylglycerols
B.Phospholipids
C.Waxes
D.Steroid esters
Explanation: Phospholipids possess a hydrophilic polar head group (glycerol, phosphate, and an alcohol moiety) and two hydrophobic nonpolar fatty acid tails. This amphipathic nature causes them to spontaneously assemble into lipid bilayers in aqueous environments.
8Which level of protein structure is held together predominantly by hydrogen bonds between backbone peptide carbonyl oxygens and amide hydrogens?
A.Primary structure
B.Secondary structure
C.Tertiary structure
D.Quaternary structure
Explanation: Secondary structure refers to localized repeating conformations of the polypeptide backbone, such as alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets. These structures are stabilized by periodic hydrogen bonds between peptide backbone carbonyl oxygens and amide nitrogens.
9What is the zwitterionic form of an amino acid at its isoelectric point (pI)?
A.A net positively charged cation with protonated carboxyl and amino groups
B.A net negatively charged anion with deprotonated carboxyl and amino groups
C.A dipolar ion with a negatively charged carboxylate group and a positively charged amino group
D.An uncharged molecule with no ionized functional groups
Explanation: At its isoelectric point (pI), an amino acid exists as a zwitterion: the alpha-carboxyl group is deprotonated (-COO-) and the alpha-amino group is protonated (-NH3+), yielding a molecule with equal positive and negative charges and a net electrical charge of zero.
10How does a competitive enzyme inhibitor affect the kinetic parameters Vmax and Km?
A.Vmax decreases while Km remains unchanged
B.Km increases while Vmax remains unchanged
C.Both Vmax and Km decrease proportionally
D.Both Vmax and Km increase
Explanation: A competitive inhibitor binds reversibly to the active site of the free enzyme, competing directly with the substrate. Increasing substrate concentration can outcompete the inhibitor, so the maximum reaction velocity (Vmax) is unchanged, but a higher substrate concentration is needed to reach half-Vmax, increasing the apparent Km.

About the Galicia PAU Biology Exam

The Galicia PAU Biology exam (Biología / Bioloxía 2º Bachillerato) evaluates secondary school graduates across Galicia 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 or Galician; the 100 questions provided here are an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation designed for self-assessment and core concept mastery.

Exam sponsor: Comisión Interuniversitaria de Galicia (CIUG). 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 in Spanish or Galician; 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 63.67 ordinary registration fee for PAU (50% discount EUR 31.84 for general large family status; full exemption for special large family, disability, or terrorism victims).

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%

Biomolecules and Chemical Basis 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).

20%

Cytology 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%

Cell Metabolism: Bioenergetics & Enzymes

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.

20%

Molecular Genetics and Mendelian Inheritance

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.

20%

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 Galicia 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 in Spanish or Galician; local questions are an English-language MCQ study adaptation)
  • Time limit: 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
  • Exam / certification fees: EUR 63.67 ordinary registration fee for PAU (50% discount EUR 31.84 for general large family status; full exemption for special large family, disability, or terrorism victims). 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

Galicia PAU Biology: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master biomolecule structures, chemical linkages (glycosidic, ester, peptide, phosphodiester), and physical properties of water.
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 mechanisms, and phases of cell division.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The official Galicia PAU Biology exam is a 90-minute written examination administered by CIUG in Spanish or Galician, 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 Galicia 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 Galicia?

The ordinary registration fee for PAU in Galicia set by CIUG is EUR 63.67. A 50% discount (EUR 31.84) applies for general large family status, and full exemption is granted for special large family status, recognized disability, or victims of terrorism.

Who sets the curriculum for the Galicia PAU Biology test?

The curriculum and examination guidelines are set by the Comisión Interuniversitaria de Galicia (CIUG) in accordance with the 2nd Bachillerato Biology syllabus established for secondary schools in Galicia.

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 Galician curriculum.