D1.2.1—Transcription
Transcription produces an RNA copy of gene information when RNA polymerase uses one DNA strand as a complementary template for mRNA synthesis.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Objective
- D1.2.1
- Level
- HL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing10%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2024
Most common paperPaper2
Typical marks1–6
Common command terms
- State
- Outline
- Explain
- Describe
- Distinguish
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Confusing transcription with translation by naming ribosomes or amino acids instead of RNA polymerase and mRNA.
Recent exam appearances
May 2024Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ27(a)[ 4 ]D1.2.1—Transcription
November 2022Paper1 ["HL"] · TZ026[ 1 ]D1.2.1—Transcription
November 2021Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ06(b)[ 7 ]D1.2.1—Transcription
November 2017Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ07(b)[ 4 ]D1.2.1—Transcription
May 2017Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ21(f)(i)[ 1 ]D1.2.1—Transcription
Practice this objective
Coverage 2012–2024 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
Concept essentials
- Transcription copies one DNA strand into an RNA molecule.
- RNA polymerase binds DNA, separates the strands and joins RNA nucleotides.
- The antisense strand provides the template for complementary RNA base pairing.
- Eukaryotic transcription occurs in the nucleus and can be followed by RNA processing.