# Exam Study Guide > A midterm or final exam study guide with a topic checklist, a 7-day countdown schedule, lecture-by-lecture concept summaries, labeled diagrams, practice questions, and an answer key. Source: https://buildpdfs.com/templates/exam-study-guide Category: Education A midterm or final exam study guide with a topic checklist, a 7-day countdown schedule, lecture-by-lecture concept summaries, labeled diagrams, practice questions, and an answer key. ## What's included - Cover with the exam date, location, and topics covered - 7-day countdown schedule before the exam - Lecture-by-lecture concept summaries pulled from notes or slides - Labeled diagrams for visual topics - Practice questions with a separate answer key - Built-from note listing the source lectures and files ## Sample content BIO 201 · Cell Biology Fall 2026 · Midterm 1 ### MidtermStudy Guide Cells, membranes, energy and division — Lectures 4–9 on 12 pages. Built from _PPTX_BIO 201 Lectures 4–9 _TXT_my-notes-final.txt **5**topics 1 cheat sheet _01_Cell structure & organelles _02_Membrane & transport _03_Cellular respiration _04_Photosynthesis _05_Cell cycle & mitosis **21**practice questions **7**labelled diagrams **1**answer key \+ checklist Exam day**Thu, Oct 23 · 10:00**Life Sciences 140 BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide Start here ### What’s inside ↓ 01 Cell structure & organellesLecture 4 · organelles, endomembrane system p.3 02 Plasma membrane & transportLecture 5 · fluid mosaic, diffusion, osmosis p.4 03 Cellular respirationLectures 6–7 · glycolysis to ATP synthase p.5 04 PhotosynthesisLecture 8 · light reactions, Calvin cycle p.7 05 Cell cycle & mitosisLecture 9 · interphase, PMAT, checkpoints p.8 ★ One-page cheat sheetEverything above, on one page p.9 ? Practice quiz16 multiple choice, 1 diagram, 4 short answer p.10 ✓ Answer key & exam-day checklistMark it yourself, then fix the gaps p.12 Exam at a glance Thu, October 23 10:00–11:50 AM Life Sciences Building, room 140 · bring a #2 pencil and your student ID · no calculators **40**multiple choice · 60% **1**diagram to label · 10% **4**short answer · 30% Where the marks are 15 20 25 20 20 Cell structure 15% Respiration 25% Membrane 20% Photosynthesis 20% Cell cycle 20% Prof. Okafor said in Lecture 9 “If you can draw the ATP flow and the cell-cycle wheel from memory, you are ready for half the paper.” #### How to use this guide 1 **Read one topic a day.** Cover the diagram labels and name them aloud. 2 **Rebuild the cheat sheet** (p.9) from memory. What you miss is your next study block. 3 **Take the quiz timed** — 30 minutes — then mark it with the key on p.12. #### Your 7-day countdown **Thu 16**Topic 01 · cell structure **Fri 17**Topic 02 · membrane & transport **Sat 18**Topic 03 · respiration (both pages) **Sun 19**Topic 04 · photosynthesis **Mon 20**Topic 05 · cell cycle **Tue 21**Cheat sheet from memory + quiz **Wed 22**Fix the misses. Sleep 8 hours. BIO 201 · Cell Biology · Midterm 1 02Contents BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide 01 Topic 1 · Lecture 4 ### Cell structure & organelles **15%**of the exam A eukaryotic cell divides its work between membrane-bound **organelles**. The nucleus keeps the DNA, the endomembrane system (ER → Golgi → vesicles) makes and ships proteins and lipids, and mitochondria make ATP. Prokaryotes have no nucleus and no membrane-bound organelles, but they do have ribosomes. Fig 1.1 · Animal cell, cut open. Plant cells add a cellulose cell wall, chloroplasts and a large central vacuole. ##### Key terms Organelle A structure with a specific job, often wrapped in its own membrane. Endomembrane system ER, Golgi, lysosomes and vesicles, linked by vesicle traffic. Ribosome Makes proteins. 80S in eukaryotes, 70S in prokaryotes. No membrane. Cytoskeleton Protein fibres that give shape and move things. Remember this **Rough ER** \= ribosomes = proteins for export or membranes. **Smooth ER** \= lipids, detox, Ca2+ storage. Liver cells are full of it. Mnemonic · secretion Really Good Vans Move Rough ER → Golgi → Vesicle → Membrane (exocytosis) Prokaryote vs eukaryote | | Prokaryote | Eukaryote | | ---------- | ------------------- | --------------- | | Nucleus | No · nucleoid | Yes | | Organelles | None with membranes | Many | | Ribosomes | 70S | 80S | | DNA | One circular | Several linear | | Size | 1–10 µm | 10–100 µm | | Example | _E. coli_ | You, oak, yeast | Concept map · how a secreted protein is made **Nucleus**gene → mRNA exits pore→ **Rough ER**ribosome builds protein vesicle→ **Golgi**modify, tag, sort vesicle→ **Plasma membrane**exocytosis → **Outside**e.g. insulin Topic 1 of 5 · Cell structure & organelles 03Lecture 4 BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide 02 Topic 2 · Lecture 5 ### Membrane & transport **20%**of the exam The membrane is a **fluid mosaic**: a phospholipid bilayer with proteins floating in it. Heads are hydrophilic and face water; tails are hydrophobic and hide inside. So it is selectively permeable: O2 and CO2 slip through; ions and polar molecules need a protein. #### →Four ways across, from free to costly Osmosis · where water goes Water moves toward the side with **more solute**. Plant cells do not burst in hypotonic water — the cell wall makes them firm (**turgid**). Remember this **Passive**: down the gradient, free. **Active**: against it, costs ATP. Na+/K+ pump: **3 out, 2 in**. Mnemonic · tonicity Hypo makes the cell swell like a hippo ##### Key terms Concentration gradient A difference in solute concentration between two regions. Osmosis Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane. Aquaporin Channel protein that lets water through fast. Topic 2 of 5 · Plasma membrane & transport 04Lecture 5 BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide 03 Topic 3 · Lectures 6–7 · part 1 of 2 ### Cellular respiration **25%**of the exam biggest topic Respiration takes the energy stored in glucose and saves it as **ATP**. It runs in four stages: one in the cytosol, three in the mitochondrion. Glucose is oxidised to CO2; O2 is reduced to water at the very end. C6H12O6 \+ 6 O2 → 6 CO2 \+ 6 H2O + \~30–32 ATP Fig 3.1 · Mitochondrion, cut lengthwise. Folding the inner membrane into cristae gives more surface for the electron transport chain. #### 4The four stages, in order 1 ##### Glycolysis Cytosol · no O₂ needed Glucose (6C) is split into 2 pyruvate (3C). Net 2 ATP · 2 NADH 2 ##### Pyruvate oxidation Matrix Each pyruvate loses a CO₂ and becomes acetyl-CoA. 2 NADH · 2 CO₂ 3 ##### Krebs cycle Matrix · 2 turns Acetyl-CoA joins oxaloacetate; the carbons leave as CO₂. 2 ATP · 6 NADH · 2 FADH₂ · 4 CO₂ 4 ##### Oxidative phosphorylation Inner membrane NADH and FADH₂ feed the ETC; ATP synthase uses the H⁺ gradient. ≈ 26–28 ATP · H₂O Mnemonic · the stages Get Paid, Keep Earning Glycolysis → Pyruvate oxidation → Krebs → Electron transport Mnemonic · Krebs intermediates Citrate Is Krebs’ Starting Substrate For Making Oxaloacetate citrate · isocitrate · α-ketoglutarate · succinyl-CoA · succinate · fumarate · malate · OAA Topic 3 of 5 · Cellular respiration · continued → 05Lectures 6–7 BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide 03 Topic 3 · part 2 of 2 ### Follow the ATP **\~32**ATP per glucose #### 1ATP yield, stage by stage #### 2Chemiosmosis: the H⁺ waterfall Complexes I, III and IV pump H⁺ out. H⁺ flows back through ATP synthase and turns its rotor to make ATP. No oxygen? Fermentation | | Lactic acid | Alcohol | | ------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------- | | Who | Muscle cells, bacteria | Yeast | | Makes | Lactate | Ethanol + CO₂ | | ATP | 2 per glucose (glycolysis only) | | | Purpose | Regenerate NAD⁺ so glycolysis keeps going | | Remember this **O2 is used only at Complex IV**, as the final electron acceptor. No O2 → the chain backs up → no gradient → almost no ATP. Exhaled CO2 comes from pyruvate ox. + Krebs. ##### Key terms NAD⁺ / NADH Electron carrier: oxidised / reduced form. Substrate-level phosph. Enzyme moves a phosphate straight onto ADP. Chemiosmosis ATP made by H⁺ flowing down its gradient. Concept map · where the energy goes **Glucose**energy in bonds oxidised→ **NADH, FADH₂**carry electrons ETC→ **H⁺ gradient**stored energy flows back→ **ATP synthase**rotary motor → **ATP**\~32 / glucose Topic 3 of 5 · Cellular respiration 06Lectures 6–7 BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide 04 Topic 4 · Lecture 8 ### Photosynthesis **20%**of the exam Chloroplasts turn light energy into chemical energy. The **light reactions** in the thylakoid membranes make ATP and NADPH and release O2. The **Calvin cycle** in the stroma spends that ATP and NADPH to build sugar from CO2. It is respiration run backwards. 6 CO2 \+ 6 H2O + light → C6H12O6 \+ 6 O2 #### 2Two stages, one loop Photosynthesis vs respiration | | Photosynth. | Respiration | | ------- | -------------------------------- | --------------- | | Where | Chloroplast | Cytosol + mito. | | Energy | Stored | Released | | Uses | CO₂ + H₂O | Glucose + O₂ | | Makes | Glucose + O₂ | CO₂ + H₂O | | Carrier | NADPH | NADH, FADH₂ | | Both | ETC + H⁺ gradient + ATP synthase | | Remember this **O2 comes from water** (split at PSII), not CO2. Chlorophyll absorbs **red + blue**, reflects green. Mnemonic Light Loads, Calvin Cashes in ##### Key terms Rubisco Enzyme that fixes CO₂ onto RuBP. Most common protein on Earth. Photosystem Chlorophyll + proteins that catch light and excite electrons. G3P 3-carbon sugar made by Calvin. 2 G3P → 1 glucose. Per glucose 6 turns: 6 CO₂, 18 ATP, 12 NADPH. Topic 4 of 5 · Photosynthesis 07Lecture 8 BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide 05 Topic 5 · Lecture 9 ### Cell cycle & mitosis **20%**of the exam A cell spends most of its life in **interphase**, growing and copying its DNA. Then **mitosis** splits the copied chromosomes evenly, and **cytokinesis** splits the cytoplasm. Result: two identical diploid daughter cells. Checkpoints stop the cycle if something is wrong. #### ✓Three checkpoints * **G1 checkpoint** (restriction point) — is the cell big enough, is the DNA intact? If not, it rests in G0. * **G2/M checkpoint** — was all the DNA copied correctly? * **Spindle checkpoint** (in metaphase) — is every chromosome attached to the spindle? **Cyclins** switch on **CDKs** to push the cell past each checkpoint. **p53** stops the cycle when DNA is damaged. Cancer = checkpoints that no longer work. Remember this Human cell after S phase: still **46 chromosomes**, but **92 chromatids**. Count the centromeres, not the arms. #### 5Mitosis, step by step ##### Prophase Chromosomes condense; spindle forms; nuclear envelope breaks down. ##### Metaphase Chromosomes line up on the middle plate. Spindle checkpoint. ##### Anaphase Sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles. ##### Telophase Two new nuclear envelopes form; chromosomes unwind. ##### Cytokinesis Cleavage furrow (animal) or cell plate (plant) splits the cell. Mnemonic · the phases I Prefer My Avocado Toast Interphase → Prophase → Metaphase → Anaphase → Telophase Phase tricks **M**etaphase = **M**iddle **A**naphase = **A**part **T**elophase = **T**wo nuclei Mitosis → 2 identical diploid (2n) cells. Meiosis (4 haploid cells) is Lecture 10 — not on this exam. ##### Key terms Sister chromatids Two identical copies joined at the centromere. Kinetochore Protein on the centromere where spindle fibres attach. Topic 5 of 5 · Cell cycle & mitosis 08Lecture 9 BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide Cheat sheet ### The whole midterm on one page. rewrite this from memory the night before ✎ ##### _01_Cell structure * **Nucleus** DNA · **nucleolus** makes ribosomes * **Rough ER** proteins · **smooth ER** lipids, detox * **Golgi** modifies, sorts, ships · **lysosome** digests * **Mitochondria** ATP · **chloroplasts** (plants) sugar * Prokaryotes: no nucleus, 70S ribosomes * Plants add cell wall, chloroplasts, big vacuole RER → Golgi → vesicle → membrane ##### _02_Membrane & transport * Fluid mosaic: bilayer + proteins + cholesterol * O₂, CO₂ diffuse freely; ions need proteins * **Passive** (down gradient, no ATP): simple, facilitated, osmosis * **Active** (against, ATP): Na⁺/K⁺ pump = 3 out, 2 in * Hypertonic shrinks · hypotonic swells * Bulk: endocytosis in, exocytosis out Water follows solute ##### _03_Cellular respiration * **Glycolysis** · cytosol · 2 ATP, 2 NADH * **Pyruvate ox.** · matrix · 2 NADH, 2 CO₂ * **Krebs** · matrix · 2 ATP, 6 NADH, 2 FADH₂ * **ETC** · inner membrane · O₂ final acceptor * No O₂ → fermentation, 2 ATP only * ATP synthase runs on the H⁺ gradient C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + \~32 ATP ##### _04_Photosynthesis * **Light reactions** · thylakoid · make ATP, NADPH, O₂ * O₂ comes from splitting H₂O at PSII * **Calvin** · stroma · rubisco fixes CO₂ → G3P * 6 turns / glucose = 18 ATP + 12 NADPH * Chlorophyll absorbs red + blue * Same toolkit as mito: ETC + ATP synthase 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ ##### _05_Cell cycle & mitosis * G1 grow → S copy DNA → G2 prepare → M divide * **P** condense · **M** middle · **A** apart · **T** two nuclei * Checkpoints: G1, G2/M, spindle * Cyclins + CDKs drive it; p53 stops it * Result: 2 identical diploid cells * Cytokinesis: furrow (animal), plate (plant) I Prefer My Avocado Toast ##### _#_Numbers to know **\~32**ATP per glucose, aerobic **2**ATP per glucose, fermentation **3 : 2**Na⁺ out : K⁺ in per ATP **46 / 92**chromosomes / chromatids in G2 **2.5 · 1.5**ATP per NADH · FADH₂ **6**Calvin turns per glucose Top 5 traps **1**O₂ is used at the END of respiration, not the start **2**Photosynthesis O₂ comes from H₂O, not CO₂ **3**Water moves toward MORE solute **4**S phase doubles chromatids, not chromosomes **5**Glycolysis needs no O₂ and no mitochondria Cheat sheet · all five topics 09Review BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide Practice quiz · 30 min ? Practice quiz · part A ### Test yourself Your score**\_\_\_\_ / 32** PART AMultiple choice _· 1 point each · fill in one bubble_ 1 Which organelle modifies, sorts and packages proteins for secretion? Rough ER Golgi apparatus Lysosome Smooth ER 2 A cell that makes large amounts of steroid hormones will have a lot of: Rough ER Smooth ER Lysosomes Centrioles 3 Which structure is found in BOTH prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? Nucleus Mitochondria Ribosomes Endoplasmic reticulum 4 Which molecule crosses a phospholipid bilayer most easily without a protein? Na⁺ Glucose O₂ Cl⁻ 5 A red blood cell (≈0.9% salt inside) is put in 3% salt water. The cell will: Swell and burst Shrink Stay the same Pump water in with ATP 6 For each ATP used, the Na⁺/K⁺ pump moves: 3 Na⁺ out, 2 K⁺ in 2 Na⁺ out, 3 K⁺ in 3 Na⁺ in, 2 K⁺ out 1 Na⁺ out, 1 K⁺ in 7 Facilitated diffusion is different from active transport because it: Needs ATP Moves solutes down their gradient Uses no proteins Only moves water 8 Where does glycolysis take place? Mitochondrial matrix Inner mitochondrial membrane Cytosol Intermembrane space 9 The final electron acceptor of the electron transport chain is: NAD⁺ O₂ CO₂ Pyruvate 10 Most of the ATP made from one glucose comes from: Glycolysis The Krebs cycle Fermentation Oxidative phosphorylation 11 The O₂ released by photosynthesis comes from: CO₂ Glucose H₂O RuBP 12 The Calvin cycle uses which products of the light reactions? O₂ and glucose ATP and NADPH CO₂ and H₂O ADP and NADP⁺ 13 In which phase are sister chromatids pulled to opposite poles? Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase 14 A human cell in G2 contains: 46 chromosomes, 46 chromatids 46 chromosomes, 92 chromatids 92 chromosomes, 92 chromatids 23 chromosomes, 46 chromatids 15 Which enzyme fixes CO₂ in the Calvin cycle? ATP synthase Rubisco Hexokinase DNA polymerase 16 Muscle cells that run low on O₂ regenerate NAD⁺ by: Lactic acid fermentation Alcohol fermentation The Krebs cycle Photosystem II Practice quiz · part A of 2 · answers on page 12 10Quiz BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide Practice quiz · 30 min ? Practice quiz · parts B & C ### Draw it, explain it **16**points PART BDiagram _· Q17 · 1 point per sketch · name the phase of mitosis_ A B C D PART CShort answer _· write in full sentences_ 18 Cyanide blocks Complex IV. Explain why a cell poisoned with cyanide makes almost no ATP, even though glycolysis can still run.3 pts 19 A plant cell and an animal cell are both put in distilled water. Describe what happens to each and why they end up different.3 pts 20 Trace a secreted protein (such as insulin) from its gene to the outside of the cell. Name four structures in order.4 pts 21 Give two ways photosynthesis and cellular respiration mirror each other.2 pts Practice quiz · part B & C · answers on page 12 11Quiz BIO 201 · Midterm Study Guide Answer key ✓ Mark it, then fix it ### Answer key & exam day **26+**\= ready PART AMultiple choice 1**B** 2**B** 3**C** 4**C** 5**B** 6**A** 7**B** 8**C** 9**B** 10**D** 11**C** 12**B** 13**C** 14**B** 15**B** 16**A** **2 ·** Steroids are lipids, and lipids are made in the smooth ER. **4 ·** O₂ is small and non-polar. Ions and glucose need a channel or carrier. **5 ·** The outside is hypertonic, so water leaves and the cell shrinks. **10 ·** ATP synthase makes ≈ 26–28 of the \~32 ATP. **14 ·** S phase doubles the chromatids, not the chromosome count. **Part B (Q17) ·** A anaphase · B prophase · C telophase · D metaphase. PART CModel answers **18 ·** Electrons cannot pass to O₂, so the chain stops and no more H⁺ is pumped. The H⁺ gradient runs down and ATP synthase stops. NADH cannot give up its electrons, so the Krebs cycle stops too. Glycolysis alone gives only 2 ATP per glucose — far too little. **19 ·** Water moves in by osmosis in both cells, because the inside has more solute. The animal cell swells and can burst (lysis). The plant cell swells until its cell wall pushes back — it becomes turgid but does not burst. **20 ·** Nucleus (gene → mRNA) → ribosome on rough ER (protein made, enters ER) → Golgi apparatus (modified and packaged) → vesicle → plasma membrane (exocytosis). **21 ·** Any two: the overall equations are reverses of each other; both use an ETC, an H⁺ gradient and ATP synthase; the products of one are the reactants of the other. EXAM DAYChecklist ##### The night before * Rewrite the cheat sheet from memory * Redo every quiz question you missed * Pack ID, two #2 pencils, eraser, water * Sleep — memory sets overnight ##### The morning of * Eat breakfast (your brain runs on glucose) * Draw the ATP flow and cell-cycle wheel once * Be at LSB 140 by 9:45 ##### In the room * Do the diagram first — 10% in 5 minutes * Underline “NOT” and “EXCEPT” in questions * Leave 10 minutes to check bubbles **26–32** Ready. Re-read the cheat sheet once and sleep. **18–25** Close. Re-do the topic page for every miss. **0–17** Rebuild. One topic per day, then retake the quiz. **Missed one? Re-read:** Q1–3, 20 → p.3 · Q4–7, 19 → p.4 · Q8–10, 16, 18 → p.5–6 · Q11–12, 15, 21 → p.7 · Q13–14, 17 → p.8 Good luck — you have done the work. 12Answer key ## Frequently asked questions ### What should an exam study guide include? An exam study guide should include the exam date and format, a list of topics with their source lectures, concept summaries, diagrams for visual topics, practice questions, and an answer key. This template has each part. ### How far in advance should I start an exam study guide? Start at least a week before the exam. A 7-day countdown gives time to cover every topic once and leaves the last day or two for practice questions and weak spots. This template includes a 7-day countdown schedule. ### How do I turn lecture notes into a study guide? Group your notes by topic, write a short summary for each one in your own words, pull out any diagram you need to label from memory, and write practice questions for each topic. Upload your notes or slides and the AI does this for you. ### Is this exam study guide template free? Yes. You can customize the exam study guide template for free and download it as a print-ready PDF for any subject or exam. ## Related reading - [How to use the Cornell note-taking method](https://buildpdfs.com/guides/how-to-use-cornell-notes) - [Course materials as PDF: formats and when to use each](https://buildpdfs.com/guides/course-materials-pdf) - [How to design a professional PDF](https://buildpdfs.com/guides/how-to-design-a-professional-pdf) [Use this template](https://buildpdfs.com/signup?templateId=exam-study-guide) — free, no credit card required.