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8 Dec 2025
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Complete GCSE AQA Biology Paper 1 Practical Guide
J
Jacob
@bleple
1 / 5
Using Microscopes
Microscopes are your gateway to seeing the invisible world of cells! The basic setup includes a stage with clips to hold your slide, three objective lenses (4x, 10x, and 40x), and an eyepiece lens with 10x magnification.
Here's the foolproof method: Start by placing your slide on the stage and securing it with clips. Always begin with the lowest magnification objective lens to get your bearings.
Lower the lens almost to the slide using the coarse focussing dial - but watch from the side to avoid crashes! Look through the eyepiece and slowly raise the lens until your cells come into focus, then use the fine focussing dial for crystal-clear detail.
Top Tip: Calculate total magnification by multiplying eyepiece magnification × objective lens magnification. So 10x eyepiece × 40x objective = 400x total!
Effects of Osmosis on Plant Tissue
Osmosis is water's natural tendency to move from weak to strong solutions through cell membranes. This potato experiment brilliantly demonstrates how cells respond to different environments.
You'll create three identical potato cylinders using a cork borer and scalpel (aim for 3cm length). Measure their initial length and mass carefully - accuracy matters here!
Place each cylinder in different solutions: distilled water, 0.25 sugar solution, and 0.5 sugar solution. After leaving them overnight, gently roll them on paper towels and remeasure. Calculate percentage change using the formula: (change ÷ original) × 100.
Key Insight: Potatoes gain mass in water (cells swell), lose mass in concentrated sugar (cells shrink), and stay unchanged when internal and external concentrations match perfectly.
Food Tests
Testing for carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids is like being a food detective! Start by grinding your sample with distilled water to create a paste, then filter it to remove chunks.
For starch, add orange iodine solution - it turns blue-black if starch is present. The sugar test uses Benedict's solution in hot water for five minutes, changing from blue (no sugar) through green and yellow to red (loads of sugar).
Protein testing involves Biuret solution, which stays blue without protein but turns lilac when protein's detected. For lipids, skip the filtering step and add ethanol plus water - the mixture turns cloudy white if fats are present.
Remember: Only the sugar test needs heating, and lipid samples shouldn't be filtered as fats stick to filter paper!
Effect of pH on Amylase
Amylase is the enzyme that chops starch into simple sugars, and pH dramatically affects how well it works. You'll use iodine drops on a spotting tile as your starch detector - blue-black means starch is still there.
Set up three test tubes: starch solution, amylase solution, and pH buffer solution. Warm them all in a 30°C water bath for 10 minutes, then combine and start timing immediately.
Every 30 seconds, test a drop with iodine until it stays orange (meaning all starch is gone). The reaction time tells you how efficiently the enzyme worked at that pH.
Accuracy Tip: Take samples more frequently than every 30 seconds for precise timing, and get multiple people to judge colour changes as they can be gradual.
Photosynthesis Investigation
This experiment reveals how light intensity affects photosynthesis rate using the inverse square law - as distance doubles, light intensity drops by a factor of four!
Place your boiling tube 10cm from an LED light (they don't produce heat like normal bulbs). Fill it with sodium hydrogen carbonate solution to provide carbon dioxide, then add pondweed with the cut end upwards.
Count oxygen bubbles produced per minute at different distances, repeating each measurement three times for reliability. You'll notice that doubling the distance quarters the bubble count - that's the inverse square law in action!
Pro Method: Use a funnel and measuring cylinder over the pondweed to measure actual gas volume rather than counting bubbles, which can vary dramatically in size.
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Complete GCSE AQA Biology Paper 1 Practical Guide
J
Jacob
@bleple
Biology practicals are crucial skills you'll need to master for your exams and coursework. These five key experiments cover everything from using microscopes to testing food samples and understanding how living organisms work.
Using Microscopes
Microscopes are your gateway to seeing the invisible world of cells! The basic setup includes a stage with clips to hold your slide, three objective lenses (4x, 10x, and 40x), and an eyepiece lens with 10x magnification.
Here's the foolproof method: Start by placing your slide on the stage and securing it with clips. Always begin with the lowest magnification objective lens to get your bearings.
Lower the lens almost to the slide using the coarse focussing dial - but watch from the side to avoid crashes! Look through the eyepiece and slowly raise the lens until your cells come into focus, then use the fine focussing dial for crystal-clear detail.
Top Tip: Calculate total magnification by multiplying eyepiece magnification × objective lens magnification. So 10x eyepiece × 40x objective = 400x total!
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Effects of Osmosis on Plant Tissue
Osmosis is water's natural tendency to move from weak to strong solutions through cell membranes. This potato experiment brilliantly demonstrates how cells respond to different environments.
You'll create three identical potato cylinders using a cork borer and scalpel (aim for 3cm length). Measure their initial length and mass carefully - accuracy matters here!
Place each cylinder in different solutions: distilled water, 0.25 sugar solution, and 0.5 sugar solution. After leaving them overnight, gently roll them on paper towels and remeasure. Calculate percentage change using the formula: (change ÷ original) × 100.
Key Insight: Potatoes gain mass in water (cells swell), lose mass in concentrated sugar (cells shrink), and stay unchanged when internal and external concentrations match perfectly.
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By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Food Tests
Testing for carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids is like being a food detective! Start by grinding your sample with distilled water to create a paste, then filter it to remove chunks.
For starch, add orange iodine solution - it turns blue-black if starch is present. The sugar test uses Benedict's solution in hot water for five minutes, changing from blue (no sugar) through green and yellow to red (loads of sugar).
Protein testing involves Biuret solution, which stays blue without protein but turns lilac when protein's detected. For lipids, skip the filtering step and add ethanol plus water - the mixture turns cloudy white if fats are present.
Remember: Only the sugar test needs heating, and lipid samples shouldn't be filtered as fats stick to filter paper!
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Effect of pH on Amylase
Amylase is the enzyme that chops starch into simple sugars, and pH dramatically affects how well it works. You'll use iodine drops on a spotting tile as your starch detector - blue-black means starch is still there.
Set up three test tubes: starch solution, amylase solution, and pH buffer solution. Warm them all in a 30°C water bath for 10 minutes, then combine and start timing immediately.
Every 30 seconds, test a drop with iodine until it stays orange (meaning all starch is gone). The reaction time tells you how efficiently the enzyme worked at that pH.
Accuracy Tip: Take samples more frequently than every 30 seconds for precise timing, and get multiple people to judge colour changes as they can be gradual.
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Improve your grades
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Photosynthesis Investigation
This experiment reveals how light intensity affects photosynthesis rate using the inverse square law - as distance doubles, light intensity drops by a factor of four!
Place your boiling tube 10cm from an LED light (they don't produce heat like normal bulbs). Fill it with sodium hydrogen carbonate solution to provide carbon dioxide, then add pondweed with the cut end upwards.
Count oxygen bubbles produced per minute at different distances, repeating each measurement three times for reliability. You'll notice that doubling the distance quarters the bubble count - that's the inverse square law in action!
Pro Method: Use a funnel and measuring cylinder over the pondweed to measure actual gas volume rather than counting bubbles, which can vary dramatically in size.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
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Is Knowunity really free of charge?
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
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4.8/5
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user