Practise for the national exam the way it really feels. This paper follows the structure, question types, marks and timing of the NESA Senior 3 (O-Level) Biology exam.
These questions simulate the national exam. They are original Ganzaa questions written in the same format as the NESA papers — not the official NESA papers, and not endorsed by NESA. The official papers stay free on our past papers page.
10 versions of every question, so each attempt is a fresh paper with the same structure.
180 minutes, 100 marks, the same sections and question types as the national exam.
Your score, the correct answer to every question and a clear explanation of why.
Section A
Attempt all questions. (55 marks)
Section B
Attempt any three questions. (30 marks)
Answer any 3 of 4
Section C
This section is compulsory. (15 marks)
A taste of the paper. Every exam you sit has different questions in this style.
Sample 1 · Importance of plants
Why are the trees of Nyungwe Forest important to the people living around it?
Answer: A. They photosynthesise, release oxygen and protect the soil from erosion.
Green plants carry out photosynthesis: they make food, give out oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Their roots and leaf cover also hold the soil and reduce erosion, so the most complete answer is the one that lists these roles.
Sample 2 · Classification of animals
Which feature is found in ALL insects but not in spiders?
Answer: B. Three pairs of jointed legs
Insects have three pairs (six) of legs. Spiders (arachnids) have four pairs. Both are arthropods, so both have a chitin exoskeleton and segmented bodies.
Sample 3 · Magnification
A student uses an eyepiece lens of magnification ×15 and an objective lens of magnification ×10. What is the total magnification?
Answer: C. ×150
Total magnification = eyepiece × objective = 15 × 10 = ×150.
