Biology
About 6 min · Mathematics and Science (Paper II) · English
Time worked out from the lesson's 404 words at 150 words a minute, plus a minute for each question.
Biology is part of the Science section in AP TET Paper II, covering content taught in classes 6-8. This topic tests both your subject knowledge and your ability to explain life science concepts to upper primary students. Questions may focus on life processes (nutrition, respiration, reproduction), plant and animal classification, human body systems, and environmental concepts.
Key ideas
- Life processes are the defining characteristics of living organisms: The seven life processes (nutrition, respiration, transportation, excretion, growth, reproduction, response to stimuli) distinguish living from non-living matter.
- Photosynthesis is the foundation of most food chains: Green plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The equation: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.
- Respiration releases energy stored in food: Both plants and animals respire. Aerobic respiration uses oxygen; anaerobic respiration occurs without oxygen (fermentation in yeast, lactic acid in muscles).
- Classification organises biodiversity systematically: The five-kingdom classification (Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia) helps students understand evolutionary relationships and diversity.
- Human body systems work in coordination: Digestive, respiratory, circulatory, excretory, nervous and reproductive systems function interdependently to maintain life.
Watch out for
- Confusing photosynthesis with respiration → Photosynthesis occurs only in green plants and only in light; respiration occurs in all living cells, all the time. Plants do both simultaneously during daytime.
- Thinking plants only release oxygen → Plants release oxygen during photosynthesis but consume oxygen during respiration. Net oxygen release happens because photosynthesis rate exceeds respiration rate in light.
- Mixing up arteries and veins by oxygen content → Arteries carry blood away from heart; veins carry blood toward heart. Pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood; pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood. Direction matters, not oxygen content.
Quick reference
- Photosynthesis = CO₂ + H₂O + Light → Glucose + O₂ (in chloroplasts)
- Respiration = Glucose + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + Energy (in mitochondria)
- Blood flow: RA → RV → Lungs → LA → LV → Body → RA
- Five kingdoms: Monera (bacteria), Protista (amoeba), Fungi (mushroom), Plantae, Animalia
- Trophic levels: Producer (1st) → Herbivore (2nd) → Carnivore (3rd) → Top carnivore (4th)
Check yourself: 3 questions
1. Which part of the plant is primarily responsible for absorbing water and minerals from the soil?
2. In which of the following groups are all organisms warm-blooded?
3. During photosynthesis, plants convert light energy into chemical energy. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for photosynthesis?
This lesson is cut from the topic's note, not rewritten. Fact-checked on 18 Oct 2026: an AI-assisted check of this note against cited sources; the errors it found were corrected that day. Some errors may remain. The questions are from Shishya's validated question bank.
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