KS3 Biology · Years 7 to 9
Cells & life processes
What living things are and what they are made of: the seven life processes, the light microscope and how to make a slide, the parts of animal and plant cells, diffusion, specialised cells and single-celled organisms.
- 6 topics
- 11 min of notes
- 6 homework sheets
- Test paper
The topics, in order
Each has its revision notes, key words, a common misconception and quick questions; the homework sheets are free to print.
- 1Life processesMRS GREN: the seven life processes2 min read5 questionsHomework sheet
- 2MicroscopesThe light microscope and how to focus it2 min read5 questionsHomework sheet
- 3Living, dead or never aliveLiving, dead or never alive1 min read5 questionsHomework sheet
- 4Making slidesMaking a slide, stains and magnification2 min read5 questionsHomework sheet
- 5Cell partsAnimal and plant cells: the parts and their jobs1 min read5 questionsHomework sheet
- 6Cells at workDiffusion, specialised cells, unicellular life3 min read5 questionsHomework sheet
Test the whole unit
When the topics are revised, one paper covers them all, marked the way an exam would be.
Test paper
KS3 Cells & life processes Test Paper with Mark Scheme
A 40-mark KS3 biology test paper on cells and life processes for Years 7 to 9: 22 questions in 40 minutes, with a microscope and two cells to label, a diffusion diagram, specialised cells and a magnification calculation. Plain-English mark scheme included.
- 40 marks, 22 questions
- 40 minutes
- Mark scheme included, 12 pages
Did you know?
- A human cheek cell is about 60 micrometres wide. Roughly 17 of them fit across one millimetre.
- Robert Hooke’s 1665 book Micrographia had a huge fold-out drawing of a flea. Samuel Pepys sat up until two in the morning reading it.
- Yeast in bread dough respires and makes carbon dioxide. That is why bread has holes.
- Electron microscopes can magnify more than a million times. A school microscope manages about 400.
Watch the trailer · 1:06New from Cartana · Beta test 1–31 December
Revision that feels like an adventure
Cartana is our KS3 learning adventure: sail between islands, answer quick-fire questions and battle bosses. It starts with science, with maths on the way, and launches in 2027. This December a small group of testers gets to play it first.
In the Cartana adventure, cells & life processes is the island Cytopia.
- Play the game before its official release
- Help us build it with your feedback
- Earn exclusive in-game items in return