AQA GCSE Biology Foundation (8461), Foundation tier · Homeostasis and response › The human nervous system
Practise The brain. 5 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
Mixing up cerebellum and cerebral cortex because the names look alike.
Saying the medulla controls conscious actions. It controls unconscious ones, such as heart rate.
In evaluate questions, giving only risks or only benefits, or leaving out a conclusion.
More tips
Memory tricks
Cerebral Cortex = Clever and Conscious: thinking, memory, language.
Cerebellum = balance: picture a tightrope walker.
Medulla = the automatic 'maintenance' part: heart and breathing keep going without you thinking.
Exam technique
Practise labelling a simple brain diagram until it is automatic: these are quick marks.
For 'suggest' questions about damage, state the region's function first, then the effect in context.
In 'evaluate' questions, give both sides and finish with a justified conclusion.
What each grade needs
What you need to be able to do, from the first marks up to the top grade.
Grade 3
Label the three main brain regionsIdentify the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and medulla on a diagram of the brain.
Grade 4
State the function of each regionCerebral cortex: consciousness, intelligence, memory, language. Cerebellum: coordinates muscles. Medulla: unconscious activities.
Quick recall
Cover the answers and test yourself. The app has these as flashcards that come back just before you'd forget them.
Which part of the brain is responsible for the coordination of muscular activity?
Cerebellum
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy4 marks
The brain controls complex behaviour. It is made of billions of interconnected neurones and has different regions that carry out different functions.
(a) Which part of the brain controls unconscious activities such as the heartbeat and breathing? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
Cerebellum
Cerebral cortex
Medulla
Spinal cord
(b) Which part of the brain is responsible for the coordination of muscular activity?[1]
(c) Give two functions of the cerebral cortex.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: Medulla
(b)Answer: Cerebellum
cerebellum
(c)
consciousness
intelligence
memory
language
Question 2Medium5 marks
A patient had a stroke that affected a small area of their cerebellum. During an examination, the patient found it difficult to touch their nose accurately with their finger when their eyes were closed, and their walking was unsteady.
(a) Explain why damage to the cerebellum could cause these symptoms.[2]
(b) The patient’s memory and speech were not affected. Explain why, in terms of the regions of the brain involved.[2]
(c) Suggest one everyday activity, other than walking, that this patient might find more difficult.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
the cerebellum coordinates muscular activity and balance
with this region damaged, the precise, coordinated muscle movements needed for accurate finger movements and steady walking are affected
(b)
memory and speech are mainly controlled by the cerebral cortex, not the cerebellum
because this stroke affected only the cerebellum, the regions responsible for memory and speech were not damaged
(c)
writing
catching or throwing a ball
any other activity needing fine or well-coordinated movement