Building Your Biology Glossary: Key Terms You Must Know
Building Your Biology Glossary: Key Terms You Must Know
Created:Updated: 14-September-2025
A strong Biology glossary helps you decode exam questions and write precise answers across the AQA A Level Biology 7402 course.
Clear definitions reduce cognitive load so you can focus on applying concepts to data, practicals, and extended responses.
Your glossary should grow topic by topic as you work through the specification and past papers.
Why building a glossary boosts your marks
Examiners reward accurate scientific language in AO1 knowledge and AO2 application, so precise terms can lift an answer into a higher band.
Using agreed definitions avoids vague phrasing and helps you meet the command words in structured and essay questions.
What to include in your Biology glossary
Start with high-frequency concepts such as diffusion, osmosis, active transport, mitosis, meiosis, enzyme, substrate, allele, gene, species, biodiversity, homeostasis, antigen, antibody, and genotype.
Add process definitions like transcription, translation, photolysis, chemiosmosis, glycolysis, and synaptic transmission with a one-sentence explanation.
Include quantitative terms such as mean, median, standard deviation, uncertainty, null hypothesis, p value, correlation, and sampling bias to support data analysis questions.
How to build and maintain your glossary
Skim each topic in the specification and list unfamiliar words before you study the lesson.
Draft each definition in your own words then verify it against a trusted source such as your textbook, mark schemes, or the AQA Biology 7402 specification.
Organise entries alphabetically and tag them by topic so you can filter quickly during revision.
Add a second line with one example or diagram reference to move the term from recall to application.
Techniques to memorise definitions
Use active recall with flash cards and test both directions so you can move from term to definition and from definition to term.
Link terms to labelled diagrams of cells, chloroplasts, enzymes, and circuits of homeostasis to strengthen dual coding.
Build small mind maps that connect near-synonyms and common confusions such as gene versus allele and correlation versus causation.
Create brief mnemonics for sequences like the stages of mitosis or the order of the electron transport chain to improve retrieval speed.
How to use your glossary in exam answers
Weave precise terms into the first sentence of your explanation to frame the mechanism clearly for the examiner.
Quote quantitative definitions when interpreting graphs and always state the biological significance of any trend you describe.
Review mark schemes after each past paper and add any new phrasing that recurs across years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Biology terms should I learn first?
Begin with core cellular processes, genetics, enzymes, energy transfer, immunity, and homeostasis because these terms reappear across papers and topics.
Should I copy definitions or write my own?
Write your own in simple language then check against trusted sources so you understand the meaning and can adapt it to different questions.
How often should I review my glossary?
Review little and often using spaced repetition and shuffle cards between topics to strengthen long-term recall.
Do examiners require exact wording?
They expect scientific accuracy and clarity rather than a memorised sentence, so cover the essential components of the definition without waffle.
Where can I find reliable term lists?
Use your course materials, past paper mark schemes, and the AQA specification overview to prioritise high-value vocabulary.