Wayground
9(B) Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration - Printable Biology Worksheets - Wayground

9(B) Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration

20 questions

9th - 9th Grade

Biology

This Grade 9 biology worksheet helps students distinguish photosynthesis from cellular respiration using evidence from chemical formulas, cell organelles, reactants, products, and energy roles. Students classify each clue as photosynthesis or cellular respiration, including whether a substance such as water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose, or ATP is used or produced. The worksheet contains 20 items: 18 multiple-choice questions and 2 drag-and-drop activities. Use it to reinforce how the two processes differ and how their inputs, outputs, and locations identify each one. Students must connect chloroplasts with photosynthesis, mitochondria with cellular respiration, and sunlight with the energy-absorbing process rather than relying only on memorized process names. This free printable worksheet includes a complete answer key for efficient review, independent practice, homework, or formative assessment.

Worksheet settings

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

9(B) Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration

Total questions: 20

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which process does this chemical formula represent?

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

2.

Which process does this chemical formula represent?

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

3.

Which process occurs inside of chloroplasts?

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

4.

Which process occurs inside of mitochondria?

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

5.

Identify the process.

PRODUCT: ATP

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

6.

Identify the process.

PRODUCT: WATER (H2O)

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

7.

Identify the process.

REACTANT: WATER (H2O)

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

8.

Identify the process.

PRODUCT: CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

9.

Identify the process.

REACTANT: CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

10.

Identify the process.

REACTANT: OXYGEN (O2)

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

11.

Identify the process.

PRODUCT: OXYGEN (O2)

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

12.

Identify the process.

PRODUCT: GLUCOSE (C6H12O6)

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

13.

Identify the process.

REACTANT: GLUCOSE (C6H12O6)

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

14.

Identify the process.

REACTANT: SUNLIGHT

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

15.

What process absorbs energy?

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

16.

What process releases energy?

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

17.

_____ uses carbon dioxide and produces oxygen.

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

18.

_____ uses oxygen and produces carbon dioxide.

a)
Photosynthesis
b)

Cellular Respiration

19.

Photosynthesis

CO2 + H2O sunlight→sunlight\rightarrow C6H12O6 + O2

​ (a)   ​ (b)   ​ sunlight→sunlight\rightarrow (c)   ​ (d)  

Choose from the below words
Carbon dioxide
Water
Glucose
Oxygen
20.

Cellular Respiration

C6H12O6 + O2 →\rightarrow CO2 + H2O + ENERGY

​ (a)   + ​ (b)   ​ →\rightarrow (c)   ​ + (d)   +​ (e)  

Choose from the below words
Carbon dioxide
Water
Glucose
Oxygen
ATP
Answer Key

9(B) Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration

Total questions: 20

1.
a) Photosynthesis
2.
b)

Cellular Respiration

3.
a) Photosynthesis
4.
b)

Cellular Respiration

5.
b)

Cellular Respiration

6.
b)

Cellular Respiration

7.
a) Photosynthesis
8.
b)

Cellular Respiration

9.
a) Photosynthesis
10.
b)

Cellular Respiration

11.
a) Photosynthesis
12.
a) Photosynthesis
13.
b)

Cellular Respiration

14.
a) Photosynthesis
15.
a) Photosynthesis
16.
b)

Cellular Respiration

17.
a) Photosynthesis
18.
b)

Cellular Respiration

19.
Carbon dioxide, Water, Glucose, Oxygen
20.
Glucose, Oxygen, Carbon dioxide, Water, ATP

Browse by subjects

Browse by grades

Browse by format

FAQs

What does the Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration worksheet cover?

This Grade 9 biology worksheet asks students to identify photosynthesis or cellular respiration from chemical formulas, cell locations, reactants, products, and energy roles. Its 18 multiple-choice and 2 drag-and-drop items build classification skills by connecting chloroplasts, sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and glucose with photosynthesis, and mitochondria, ATP, and the listed cellular respiration clues with cellular respiration.

How can I use this worksheet to teach photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

Introduce the two processes with a comparison chart showing where each occurs and which substances it uses or produces. Then have students explain the evidence behind each classification—for example, why a chloroplast clue indicates photosynthesis or why glucose as a reactant indicates cellular respiration—before assigning the 18 multiple-choice and 2 drag-and-drop items for guided or independent practice.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this worksheet?

Watch for students reversing reactants and products, especially with water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and glucose. Students may also confuse chloroplasts with mitochondria, overlook sunlight as a photosynthesis clue, or select a process from a memorized formula without checking what the formula represents. Review each error by asking whether the clue identifies an input, an output, a cell structure, or an energy role.

How do I assign and grade this photosynthesis and cellular respiration worksheet?

Wayground provides this worksheet as a printable PDF and as a digital quiz, and it includes a complete answer key for all 20 items. Printable submissions can be graded by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app, while the digital quiz supports online completion and grading.

How can I differentiate this photosynthesis versus cellular respiration worksheet for my students?

Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing or choose a larger font size so the chemical formulas and reactant/product clues are easier to read. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language while students work through the multiple-choice and drag-and-drop comparisons.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to support mastery of essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

© 2026 Wayground Inc.

Accessibility and Inclusion