Required practicals
There are 10 required practicals
for Biology GCSE
● Cell Biology (3)
● Organisation (2)
● Infection & Response
● Bioenergetics (1)
● Homeostasis (2)
● Inheritance
● Ecology (2)
, Required practicals
The following slides are exam questions relating to the 3 required practicals
in Cell Biology
1. Microscopy - Use a light microscope to observe, draw and label a selection of
plant and animal cells. A magnification scale must be included.
2. Culturing microorganisms - Investigate the effect of antiseptics or antibiotics on
bacterial growth using agar plates and measuring zones of inhibition.
3. Osmosis - Investigate the effect of a range of concentrations of salt or sugar
solutions on the mass of plant tissue.
, Microscopy - Required practical 1
● Aim: To use a light microscope to observe, draw and label a selection of plant and animal
cells, including a magnification scale
● You will:
○ Use a light microscope to make observations of biological specimens and produce
labelled scientific drawings
○ Include a magnification scale
Key areas:
1. How to set up prepared slide for study
2. How to use/label a light microscope
3. Differences between light and electron microscopes
4. How to calculate Magnification
5. How to rearrange magnification formula
6. How to draw a scale bar
7. Structures a light microscope can observe
8. Sizes of cellular structures
, Preparing a microscope slide
1. Specimens must be prepared on a microscope slide to be observed under a light microscope
2. This must be done carefully to avoid damaging any biological specimen
3. The most common specimens to observe under a light microscope are cheek cells (animal cells) and onion
cells (plant cells)
4. Stains are used to highlight structures within cells – methylene blue is used to stain cheek cells, iodine for
onion cells
5. A thin layer of tissue is used to allow light to penetrate the specimen
There are 10 required practicals
for Biology GCSE
● Cell Biology (3)
● Organisation (2)
● Infection & Response
● Bioenergetics (1)
● Homeostasis (2)
● Inheritance
● Ecology (2)
, Required practicals
The following slides are exam questions relating to the 3 required practicals
in Cell Biology
1. Microscopy - Use a light microscope to observe, draw and label a selection of
plant and animal cells. A magnification scale must be included.
2. Culturing microorganisms - Investigate the effect of antiseptics or antibiotics on
bacterial growth using agar plates and measuring zones of inhibition.
3. Osmosis - Investigate the effect of a range of concentrations of salt or sugar
solutions on the mass of plant tissue.
, Microscopy - Required practical 1
● Aim: To use a light microscope to observe, draw and label a selection of plant and animal
cells, including a magnification scale
● You will:
○ Use a light microscope to make observations of biological specimens and produce
labelled scientific drawings
○ Include a magnification scale
Key areas:
1. How to set up prepared slide for study
2. How to use/label a light microscope
3. Differences between light and electron microscopes
4. How to calculate Magnification
5. How to rearrange magnification formula
6. How to draw a scale bar
7. Structures a light microscope can observe
8. Sizes of cellular structures
, Preparing a microscope slide
1. Specimens must be prepared on a microscope slide to be observed under a light microscope
2. This must be done carefully to avoid damaging any biological specimen
3. The most common specimens to observe under a light microscope are cheek cells (animal cells) and onion
cells (plant cells)
4. Stains are used to highlight structures within cells – methylene blue is used to stain cheek cells, iodine for
onion cells
5. A thin layer of tissue is used to allow light to penetrate the specimen
