Animal and Plant Cells
Master Animal and Plant Cells for GCSE Biology with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA, Edexcel and OCR. An easy exam mark comes from naming the three structures found in plant cells but not animal cells: the cell wall, permanent vacuole and chloroplasts.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
Animal and plant cells are both eukaryotic, so they share several structures — but plant cells have three additional features that animal cells lack.
Both have a nucleus containing the genetic material, cytoplasm where reactions happen, a cell membrane controlling what enters and leaves, mitochondria releasing energy by respiration, and ribosomes where proteins are made.
Plant cells additionally have a cell wall made of cellulose for strength, a permanent vacuole containing cell sap, and usually chloroplasts containing chlorophyll for photosynthesis. Not every plant cell has chloroplasts — root cells do not, because they receive no light.
Revision notes
Structures in both
The nucleus controls the cell and contains the genetic material. The cytoplasm is where most chemical reactions occur. The cell membrane controls what enters and leaves.
Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration, releasing energy. Ribosomes are where protein synthesis takes place.
Extra structures in plant cells
The cell wall is made of cellulose and gives strength and support. The permanent vacuole contains cell sap and helps keep the cell rigid.
Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and are the site of photosynthesis.
Why root cells have no chloroplasts
Chloroplasts absorb light for photosynthesis, and root cells are underground where there is no light.
This is a common exam question, and the answer must refer to the absence of light rather than simply saying roots do not photosynthesise.
Key points
- Both cell types have a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes.
- Plant cells also have a cell wall made of cellulose.
- Plant cells have a permanent vacuole containing cell sap.
- Plant cells usually have chloroplasts for photosynthesis.
- Root cells have no chloroplasts because there is no light underground.
- Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration.
Worked examples
Example 1
Name three structures found in a plant cell but not in an animal cell. [3 marks]
Model answer
Cell wall (1 mark), permanent vacuole (1 mark) and chloroplasts (1 mark).
Example 2
Explain why root hair cells do not contain chloroplasts. [2 marks]
Model answer
Chloroplasts are needed for photosynthesis, which requires light (1 mark). Root hair cells are underground where there is no light, so chloroplasts would serve no purpose (1 mark).
Example 3
Describe the function of mitochondria and explain why muscle cells contain many of them. [3 marks]
Model answer
Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration, which releases energy (1 mark). Muscle cells need a great deal of energy to contract (1 mark), so they contain many mitochondria to release enough energy to meet that demand (1 mark).
Common mistakes
Saying animal cells have a cell wall.
Only plant cells (and bacteria and fungi) have cell walls. Animal cells have only a membrane.
Confusing the cell wall with the cell membrane.
The wall is rigid cellulose for support; the membrane is partially permeable and controls what enters and leaves.
Saying every plant cell has chloroplasts.
Root cells do not, because they receive no light.
Describing the vacuole as containing water only.
It contains cell sap, which is a solution of sugars and salts as well as water.
Exam tips
- Learn the shared structures and the plant-only extras as two separate lists.
- Say cellulose when naming what the cell wall is made of.
- Link the number of mitochondria to a cell's energy demand.
- Refer to light when explaining why root cells lack chloroplasts.
Key terms
- Cell wall
- A rigid layer of cellulose surrounding a plant cell, giving support.
- Vacuole
- A permanent sac in a plant cell containing cell sap.
- Chloroplast
- The organelle containing chlorophyll where photosynthesis occurs.
- Mitochondria
- Organelles where aerobic respiration releases energy.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.