D1.2.5—Translation
Translation decodes mRNA at ribosomes so codons specify the amino acid order of a growing polypeptide chain during protein synthesis.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Objective
- D1.2.5
- Level
- SL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing5%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2025
Most common paperPaper2
Typical marks1–8
Common command terms
- Outline
- Explain
- Describe
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Naming RNA polymerase as the enzyme for translation instead of locating translation at ribosomes.
Recent exam appearances
May 2025Paper1A ["SL"] · TZ16[ 1 ]D1.2.5—Translation
May 2024Paper2 ["SL"] · TZ17(a)[ 3 ]D1.2.5—Translation
May 2022Paper2 ["SL"] · TZ26(a)[ 5 ]D1.2.5—Translation
November 2018Paper1 ["SL"] · TZ08[ 1 ]D1.2.5—Translation
November 2015Paper2 ["SL"] · TZ06(b)[ 8 ]D1.2.5—Translation
Practice this objective
Coverage 2012–2025 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
Concept essentials
- Translation occurs on ribosomes in the cytoplasm or on rough endoplasmic reticulum.
- mRNA codons determine the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide.
- tRNA anticodons pair with codons while tRNA carries specific amino acids.
- Peptide bonds join amino acids as the ribosome moves along mRNA.