PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

Free Practice Questions for GCE A/L Biology

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card
Exam pass rate: Approximately 60% to 65% of candidates obtain a passing grade of S or higher, with top percentiles qualifying for competitive medical and bioscience faculty admissions.
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Sri Lanka GCE Advanced Level

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

GCE A/L Accounting (Sri Lanka)

Practice Questions

GCE A/L Agricultural Science (Sri Lanka)

Practice Questions

GCE A/L Biosystems Technology (Sri Lanka)

Practice Questions

GCE A/L Business Studies (Sri Lanka)

Practice Questions

GCE A/L Chemistry (Sri Lanka)

Practice Questions

GCE A/L Combined Mathematics (Sri Lanka)

Practice Questions
Exam Review

Key Facts: GCE A/L Biology Exam

Subject 09

Official Department Subject Code

Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka

50 MCQs

Paper 1 Compulsory Item Count

Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka

5 Hours

Total Examination Time (P1 + P2)

Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka

Grade S

Minimum Passing Grade

University Grants Commission (UGC)

3 Media

Offered in Sinhala, Tamil, & English

Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka GCE A/L Biology (Subject Code 09) evaluates biological sciences for secondary exit and university admissions. Paper 1 contains 50 MCQs (2 hours) and Paper 2 contains structured and open essays (3 hours).

Sample GCE A/L Biology Practice Questions

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

1At what temperature does pure liquid water reach its maximum density, allowing ice to float on top of water bodies and insulate aquatic organisms beneath?
A.4 °C
B.0 °C
C.-4 °C
D.100 °C
Explanation: Pure liquid water reaches its maximum density at approximately 4 °C (3.98 °C). As water cools below 4 °C towards freezing at 0 °C, hydrogen bonds organize into an open hexagonal crystalline lattice that occupies greater volume, rendering solid ice less dense than cold liquid water. Consequently, ice forms at the surface of lakes and rivers, acting as an insulating layer that protects the underlying aquatic ecosystem from freezing solid.
2During a standard biochemical reduction test for simple sugars, which chemical transformation produces the characteristic brick-red precipitate when glucose is boiled with Benedict's reagent?
A.Copper(I) ions are oxidized to copper(II) hydroxide
B.Soluble copper(II) ions are reduced to insoluble copper(I) oxide
C.Sulfate anions are reduced to elemental sulfur precipitate
D.Aldehyde groups on glucose are reduced to primary alcohols
Explanation: Benedict's reagent contains copper(II) sulfate in an alkaline medium stabilized with sodium citrate. When heated with a reducing sugar possessing a free or potentially free carbonyl group (such as the aldehyde group of glucose), the sugar acts as a reducing agent and is oxidized to a carboxylic acid, while blue cupric ions (Cu2+) are reduced to insoluble cuprous oxide (Cu2O), yielding a brick-red precipitate.
3Which type of glycosidic linkage connects the repeating D-glucose monomers in cellulose, imparting high tensile strength to plant cell walls?
A.alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds
B.alpha-1,6-glycosidic bonds
C.beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds
D.beta-1,6-glycosidic bonds
Explanation: Cellulose consists of unbranched chains of beta-D-glucose units joined by beta-1,4-glycosidic linkages. Because of the beta configuration at the anomeric carbon, every successive glucose residue is rotated 180 degrees relative to its neighbor, producing linear ribbon-like chains that aggregate via extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonds into rigid microfibrils. In contrast, starch and glycogen are polymers of alpha-D-glucose with helical geometries.
4What is the theoretical resolving power limit of a standard biological light microscope operating under optimal illumination with visible light?
A.2.0 micrometers
B.0.02 micrometers (20 nm)
C.0.2 nanometers
D.0.2 micrometers (200 nm)
Explanation: Resolution represents the minimum distance between two distinct points at which they can still be distinguished as separate entities. According to Abbe's diffraction equation, the resolving limit is directly proportional to the wavelength of light and inversely proportional to the numerical aperture of the objective lens. For visible light (average wavelength ~500 nm), the practical resolution limit of a compound light microscope is approximately 0.2 micrometers (200 nm).
5Which organelle is enclosed by a single membrane, contains diverse hydrolytic enzymes functioning at an acidic pH, and originates by budding from the Golgi apparatus?
A.Lysosome
B.Peroxisome
C.Mitochondrion
D.Centrosome
Explanation: Lysosomes are membrane-delimited digestive vesicles that bud from the trans-Golgi network carrying newly synthesized acid hydrolases. These enzymes (including proteases, nucleases, lipases, and phosphatases) require an acidic luminal pH of approximately 4.5–5.0 maintained by active vacuolar H+-ATPase proton pumps. Lysosomes digest endocytosed extracellular materials and participate in autophagy by degrading damaged intracellular organelles.
6Which specific chemical bond is solely responsible for stabilizing secondary structures, such as alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets, in a protein?
A.Disulfide bridges formed covalently between side-chain cysteine residues
B.Hydrogen bonds formed between carbonyl oxygens and amide hydrogens of the polypeptide backbone
C.Hydrophobic interactions occurring between non-polar aliphatic amino acid R-groups
D.Ionic salt bridges formed between positively and negatively charged side chains
Explanation: Protein secondary structure refers to regular local folding patterns of the polypeptide backbone without regard to side-chain conformations. These conformations (alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets) are held exclusively by recurring hydrogen bonds between the electronegative carbonyl oxygen (C=O) of one peptide unit and the amide hydrogen (N-H) of another. R-group interactions (disulfide bridges, salt bridges, and hydrophobic forces) stabilize the tertiary and quaternary structural tiers.
7According to the fluid mosaic model of biological membranes, how does cholesterol modulate plasma membrane fluidity across varying temperatures in animal cells?
A.It promotes crystalline gel formation at high temperatures and stimulates endocytosis at low temperatures
B.It dissolves saturated phospholipids at low temperatures and hydrolyzes unsaturated fatty acids at high temperatures
C.It restrains phospholipid movement at warm temperatures and prevents tight fatty acid packing at low temperatures
D.It accelerates phospholipid flip-flop diffusion between inner and outer leaflets during chilling
Explanation: Cholesterol is an amphipathic sterol intercalated between phospholipid molecules in animal cell membranes that acts as a bidirectional fluidity buffer. At moderate to high temperatures (such as physiological 37 °C), its rigid steroid ring system limits phospholipid lateral movement, reducing excessive fluidity. At low temperatures, cholesterol prevents the hydrocarbon chains of phospholipids from packing closely together in crystalline arrays, thereby preventing membrane solidification.
8What is the stoichiometric ion exchange mediated by the plasma membrane Na+/K+ ATPase per single molecule of ATP hydrolyzed?
A.Two Na+ ions pumped out and three K+ ions pumped into the cytoplasm
B.Three Na+ ions pumped into the cytoplasm and two K+ ions pumped out
C.One Na+ ion pumped out and one K+ ion pumped into the cytoplasm
D.Three Na+ ions pumped out and two K+ ions pumped into the cytoplasm
Explanation: The Na+/K+ ATPase is a primary active transport transmembrane pump driven by the hydrolysis of one ATP molecule. During each transport cycle, three Na+ ions are bound intracellularly and pumped out of the cell against their concentration gradient, while two K+ ions are bound extracellularly and transported into the cytoplasm. This unequal transfer of cations contributes directly to the negative resting membrane potential (electrogenic pump action).
9A plant cell with a solute potential of -0.8 MPa and a turgor pressure of +0.3 MPa is placed in an open container containing a solution with a solute potential of -0.7 MPa. What will be the direction of net water movement?
A.Water moves out of the cell into the external solution because the cell has a higher water potential
B.Water moves into the cell because the external solution has a higher solute concentration
C.Water moves into the cell because the cell has a lower water potential than the external solution
D.There is no net movement of water because dynamic equilibrium is established instantly
Explanation: Water potential is defined by the formula: Psi_w = Psi_s + Psi_p. For the plant cell, Psi_w = -0.8 MPa + 0.3 MPa = -0.5 MPa. In an open container, pressure potential is 0 MPa, so the solution's water potential is Psi_w = -0.7 MPa + 0 = -0.7 MPa. Because water moves down a water potential gradient from higher (less negative) to lower (more negative) water potential, net water flows out of the cell (-0.5 MPa) into the surrounding solution (-0.7 MPa).
10During which subphase of the eukaryotic cell cycle does semiconservative replication of genomic DNA take place alongside centrosome duplication?
A.G1 phase
B.S phase
C.G2 phase
D.Cytokinesis
Explanation: The eukaryotic cell cycle comprises interphase (G1, S, and G2 phases) and the M phase (mitosis and cytokinesis). Genomic DNA synthesis occurs exclusively during the synthesis (S) phase, during which the cell's nuclear DNA content doubles from 2C to 4C while the ploidy level remains 2n. Centrosome duplication also initiates and completes during this phase to establish the two poles needed for the mitotic spindle.

About the GCE A/L Biology Exam

The Sri Lanka General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) Biology examination (Subject Code 09) is the premier secondary school biological science qualification administered nationwide by the Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka. Biology is the foundational requirement for candidates in the Biological Science stream aspiring to enter state university faculties of medicine, dental sciences, veterinary medicine, allied health sciences, agriculture, and biological sciences. The examination rigorously assesses theoretical knowledge, experimental principles, biochemical pathways, physiological systems, and environmental concepts compiled in the official National Institute of Education (NIE) Resource Books. Performance in Biology directly contributes to the university admission Z-score, where fractional differences determine admission into high-demand professional faculties. This practice bank offers 100 questions to support independent study across all core syllabus domains.

Exam sponsor: Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka (doenets.lk). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Paper 1 consists of 50 compulsory multiple-choice questions administered over 2 hours on an OMR answer sheet. Paper 2 (3 hours) consists of Part A (four compulsory structured essay questions) and Part B (six essay questions, of which candidates choose four).

Time Limit

Paper I: 2 hours; Paper II: 3 hours plus 10 minutes' reading time (total 5 hours 10 minutes)

Passing Score

Grade S or higher

Exam / Certification Fees

Free for school candidates; nominal fee for private candidates

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Approximately 60% to 65% of candidates obtain a passing grade of S or higher, with top percentiles qualifying for competitive medical and bioscience faculty admissions.. 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.

15%

Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Chemical properties of water, structural and functional classification of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Cell ultrastructure, organelle compartmentalization, light and electron microscopy, membrane transport mechanisms, cell cycle stages, mitotic and meiotic divisions, and enzyme kinetics.

20%

Plant Form, Physiology, and Reproduction

Anatomy of primary and secondary plant tissues, water absorption, Casparian strip filtration, transpiration-cohesion-tension mechanism, phloem translocation via Munch's pressure-flow hypothesis, light-dependent and light-independent photosynthetic pathways (C3, C4, CAM), essential mineral nutrition, plant growth regulators, and angiosperm reproduction.

25%

Animal Form and Human Physiology

Nutritional processing and enzymatic digestion, respiratory mechanics and gas transport, cardiac cycle and circulatory dynamics, innate and adaptive immunity, nephron ultrafiltration and osmoregulation, neuronal action potentials and synaptic transmission, endocrine regulatory axes, and human reproduction.

20%

Genetics, Evolution, and Molecular Biology

Mendelian inheritance, dihybrid ratios, sex-linked inheritance, molecular mechanisms of DNA replication, transcription, RNA processing, translation, gene mutations, recombinant DNA vectors, PCR amplification, gel electrophoresis, and evolutionary speciation mechanisms.

20%

Ecology, Environmental Biology, and Microbiology

Ecosystem trophic dynamics, biogeochemical nutrient cycles, major biomes and climatic zones of Sri Lanka, endemic biodiversity hotspots, IUCN conservation categories, bacterial cell structures, microbial growth kinetics, industrial fermentations, and water quality testing.

Preparing for the GCE A/L Biology Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade S or higher
  • Assessment: Paper 1 consists of 50 compulsory multiple-choice questions administered over 2 hours on an OMR answer sheet. Paper 2 (3 hours) consists of Part A (four compulsory structured essay questions) and Part B (six essay questions, of which candidates choose four).
  • Time limit: Paper I: 2 hours; Paper II: 3 hours plus 10 minutes' reading time (total 5 hours 10 minutes)
  • Exam / certification fees: Free for school candidates; nominal fee for private candidates 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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure of the Sri Lanka GCE A/L Biology examination?

The examination comprises two written papers. Paper 1 contains 50 compulsory multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to be answered in 2 hours on an OMR sheet. Paper 2 spans 3 hours and is divided into Part A (four compulsory structured essay questions) and Part B (six essay questions, of which candidates must answer four).

How does GCE A/L Biology affect university admission in Sri Lanka?

Biology is a compulsory subject for Biological Science stream candidates. The raw marks from Biology, Chemistry, and either Physics or Agricultural Science are standardized into a national Z-score by the University Grants Commission (UGC). This Z-score determines merit ranking and district quota placement for admission to state faculties of Medicine, Dental Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, and Agriculture.

What official resource materials define the syllabus content?

The Department of Examinations sets the examination directly from the G.C.E. Advanced Level Biology Resource Books (Units 1 to 10) compiled and published by the National Institute of Education (NIE), Sri Lanka. Candidates are advised to master the specific terminology, physiological mechanisms, and experimental procedures detailed in these official publications.

In which languages can candidates sit the GCE A/L Biology exam?

Candidates may take the examination in Sinhala, Tamil, or English medium. The examination questions and marking schemes are strictly synchronized across all three media to ensure absolute equity in assessment standards.

Are calculators or reference sheets permitted during the examination?

No. Electronic calculators, mathematical tables, and personal reference sheets are strictly prohibited in the examination hall. All numerical calculations in genetics, magnification, or physiological rates must be performed manually.