← Combined Science syllabus

Northern IrelandCombined Science

B1 Cells, Living Processes and Biodiversity

8 dot points across 8 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What are the parts of animal and plant cells, how are cells specialised, and how do we measure them under a microscope?

Animal and plant cell structures and their functions, examples of specialised cells and their adaptations, the levels of organisation from cell to organism, and using a light microscope including magnification calculations.
A focused CCEA GCSE Double Award Science (Biology Unit B1) answer on cell structure, covering the parts of animal and plant cells and their functions, specialised cells and their adaptations, levels of organisation, and using a light microscope with magnification calculations.
8 min answer →

How does the nervous system coordinate the body, and how does the eye detect light?

The central nervous system, sensory, relay and motor neurones, the reflex arc as a fast automatic response, the structure and function of the eye, and how the eye focuses light and adjusts to light intensity.
A focused CCEA GCSE Double Award Science (Biology Unit B1) answer on coordination, covering the central nervous system, sensory, relay and motor neurones, the reflex arc, the structure of the eye, and how the eye focuses and adjusts to light intensity.
8 min answer →

How do organisms interact in an ecosystem, and how does energy and carbon move through it?

The terms population, community, habitat and ecosystem, producers, consumers and decomposers, food chains and food webs, the flow of energy through trophic levels and why it is lost, pyramids of numbers and biomass, and the carbon and nitrogen cycles.
A focused CCEA GCSE Double Award Science (Biology Unit B1) answer on ecology, covering the terms population, community, habitat and ecosystem, food chains and webs, energy flow and loss between trophic levels, pyramids of numbers and biomass, and the carbon and nitrogen cycles.
8 min answer →

What are enzymes, how does temperature and pH affect them, and how do they digest our food?

Enzymes as biological catalysts, the lock and key model and the active site, how temperature and pH affect enzyme activity including denaturing, the organs of the digestive system, the enzymes amylase, protease and lipase, the role of bile, and absorption in the villi.
A focused CCEA GCSE Double Award Science (Biology Unit B1) answer on enzymes and digestion, covering enzymes as biological catalysts, the lock and key model, the effects of temperature and pH, the digestive organs, the enzymes amylase, protease and lipase, bile, and absorption in the villi.
8 min answer →

What makes a balanced diet, and how do we test food for the main nutrients?

The components of a balanced diet and their sources and functions, the consequences of an unbalanced diet, and the chemical food tests for starch, reducing sugar, protein and fat.
A focused CCEA GCSE Double Award Science (Biology Unit B1) answer on nutrition, covering the components of a balanced diet and their functions, the effects of an unbalanced diet, and the food tests for starch, reducing sugar, protein and fat with their colour changes.
7 min answer →

How do plants make food by photosynthesis, and how is the leaf adapted to do it?

The word and symbol equations for photosynthesis, the role of chlorophyll and chloroplasts, the limiting factors of light, carbon dioxide and temperature, the structure of a leaf and how its tissues and stomata are adapted for photosynthesis and gas exchange.
A focused CCEA GCSE Double Award Science (Biology Unit B1) answer on photosynthesis, covering the word and symbol equations, chlorophyll and chloroplasts, the three limiting factors, the structure of the leaf, and how stomata and guard cells control gas exchange.
8 min answer →

How do we measure organisms in a habitat, and how do humans affect biodiversity?

Using quadrats and transects to sample organisms, the meaning of biodiversity, the causes and effects of pollution including the use of indicator species, the consequences of habitat destruction and deforestation, and conservation measures.
A focused CCEA GCSE Double Award Science (Biology Unit B1) answer on ecology fieldwork and human impact, covering quadrats and transects, biodiversity, pollution and indicator species, habitat destruction and deforestation, and conservation measures.
8 min answer →

How do we breathe, how do gases exchange in the lungs, and what is respiration?

The structure of the human respiratory system, the mechanism of breathing in and out, gas exchange in the alveoli and their adaptations, the difference between breathing and respiration, and aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
A focused CCEA GCSE Double Award Science (Biology Unit B1) answer on breathing and respiration, covering the respiratory system, the mechanism of breathing, gas exchange in the alveoli, the difference between breathing and respiration, and aerobic and anaerobic respiration with their equations.
8 min answer →