May/June 2025

The diagram illustrates the changes that occur to a seed after it has been planted in soil and given water. Which characteristics of living things are shown by the sequence in the diagram?

Characteristics of living organisms

What substance does the DCPIP test detect?

Biological molecules

The graph shows how the activity of three digestive enzymes changes at different pH values. Which statement is correct?

Enzymes

A student made a diagram to represent the substances consumed and formed during photosynthesis in a leaf. 1 + 2 are taken in by the leaf. 3 + 4 are made by the leaf. Which row correctly labels the diagram?

Photosynthesis

The diagram shows a cross-section of part of a leaf. What are the names of regions 1, 2 and 3?

Leaf structure

Why does iron make up an important part of the human diet?

Diet

The diagram illustrates the digestive system. In which part does egestion occur?

Digestive system

The diagram illustrates four distinct kinds of teeth in the upper and lower jaws of a human mouth. Which letters identify the types of teeth shown in the diagram?

Physical digestion

Which row identifies an enzyme together with the correct place where it is produced and the products formed during digestion?

Chemical digestion

The roots of a plant are cut off, and the stem is placed in a beaker containing a red dye. After a few hours, in which region of the stem would the red dye appear?

Xylem and phloem

The diagram illustrates the blood vessels linking the lungs, heart and kidneys in a human. The arrows show the direction in which blood flows. Which blood vessel has been labelled correctly?

Blood vessels

Which row gives the correct description of each part of the binominal system name for humans?

Concept and uses of classification systems

Which statements show the difference in composition between inspired air and expired air?

Gas exchange in humans

The diagram shows apparatus used to investigate seed germination. Which other substances need to be present in the test-tube for the seeds to germinate?

Sexual reproduction in plants

What product is formed during anaerobic respiration in yeast cells?

Anaerobic respiration

Which organ excretes urea?

Excretion in humans

Which type of pathogen transmission occurs via direct contact?

Diseases and immunity

The diagram illustrates a reflex arc. Which letters on the diagram indicate the relay neurone and the sensory neurone?

Coordination and response

Which hormone does the pancreas produce?

Hormones

Which statements give correct examples of tropic responses?

Tropic responses

Which statement is true of antibiotics?

Drugs

Four statements about different kinds of reproduction are shown. Which of these statements describes sexual reproduction?

Sexual reproduction

What characteristics do fish have?

Features of organisms

What occurs to the lining of the uterus at the beginning of the menstrual cycle?

Sexual reproduction in humans

What can decrease the transmission of HIV?

Sexually transmitted infections

What are different versions of genes known as?

Chromosomes, genes and proteins

Humans make two kinds of ear wax: wet or dry. Which row shows the variation in human ear wax?

Variation

Giraffes are mammals with long necks, which allows them to feed on leaves high up in trees. One theory that explains how giraffes came to have long necks is natural selection. Which statement is part of the explanation for the development of long necks in giraffes by natural selection?

Selection

Alpine plants live on mountains at high altitudes. Alpine plants are able to grow for only a few months because snow covers them for most of the year. What are most likely to be adaptive features of alpine plants?

Adaptive features

The diagram illustrates a food web. Which animal acts as a secondary consumer?

Food chains and food webs

The graphs illustrate how many herbivores are present in a habitat over time. At time X, the carnivores are removed from the habitat. Which graph shows the effect of this on the number of herbivores?

Populations

A number of statements about food production are given. Which statements about the ways food production can be increased are correct?

Food supply

What is one method by which endangered species can be conserved?

Conservation

What type of cell carries oxygen?

Blood

The table presents the characteristics of four different kinds of bacteria. Which kind of bacteria would be the most useful for biotechnology?

Biotechnology

The diagram illustrates a plant cell. What is the role of the part labelled X?

Cell structure

Four students used a microscope to observe some onion plant cells. Each student made a drawing of one of the cells. Every student worked out the cell’s actual length and the magnification of their drawing. Which student made the longest drawing of a cell?

Size of specimens

The table compares gas concentrations in a blood vessel and an alveolus. Which row identifies the conditions that make a substance made during respiration in humans diffuse from the blood vessel into the alveolus?

Gas exchange in humans

The diagram illustrates four identical pieces of potato plant tissue in test-tubes. The potato pieces were left in the test-tubes for six hours. After six hours, which piece of potato would show the largest increase in mass?

Osmosis

Which row gives the correct elements and small molecules present in a large molecule?

Biological molecules

When a herbivore notices a carnivore, which characteristic of living things is being shown?

Characteristics of living organisms

What occurs when a plant is deficient in magnesium ions?

Photosynthesis

The diagram illustrates part of a leaf cross-section. What are tissues 1, 2 and 3?

Leaf structure

A diet includes plenty of plant material, but no meat. Which dietary component is least likely to be lacking in this diet?

Diet

In which two mouth structures are teeth set?

Digestive system

The diagram illustrates part of the human digestive system. At which location does amylase act on food?

Chemical digestion

What gets absorbed in the small intestine and the colon?

Absorption

The diagram illustrates water molecules moving from a plant leaf into the surrounding environment. Two processes have been labelled with numbers. Which row correctly names the numbered processes?

Transpiration

The diagram illustrates a simplified human circulatory system. Which organ acts as the pump in this circulatory system?

Heart

Which blood vessel carries blood from the lungs back to the heart?

Blood vessels

How can disease transmission be prevented?

Diseases and immunity

Which organism has had its name given by the binomial system?

Concept and uses of classification systems

Which substance can be used to detect carbon dioxide?

Gas exchange in humans

Which statement gives a correct comparison between aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration in yeast?

Anaerobic respiration

The diagram illustrates some of the organs involved in excretion. Which label identifies a ureter?

Excretion in humans

When a person comes into contact with a hot object, structure P in the skin is triggered. As a result, an electrical impulse travels along structure Q to the central nervous system. Which row names structures P and Q?

Sense organs

The diagram illustrates where two glands are located in the body. Which row identifies the hormones secreted by these glands?

Hormones

A seedling was positioned horizontally. Which diagram illustrates the seedling’s anticipated gravitropic responses?

Tropic responses

The diagram depicts a sperm cell. Which section contains digestive enzymes?

Cell structure

Which secondary sexual characteristic is linked to testosterone?

Sex hormones in humans

The diagram illustrates a human menstrual cycle. What do X, Y and Z represent?

Sex hormones in humans

What do you call another form of a gene?

Chromosomes, genes and proteins

Which of the following lists includes only arthropods?

Concept and uses of classification systems

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that develops when a person is homozygous for the recessive allele. If both parents are heterozygous for this characteristic, what is the probability that their first child will have cystic fibrosis?

Monohybrid inheritance

Which feature is an example of continuous variation?

Variation

The photograph depicts the butterfly Caligo martia. Which characteristic is an adaptation that helps to stop predation?

Adaptive features

What is the main energy source for biological systems?

Energy flow

The diagram illustrates the transfer of energy through a food chain. Which organism is the producer in the food chain?

Food chains and food webs

The diagram illustrates part of the carbon cycle. Which two numbered arrows show respiration?

Nutrient cycles

The diagram illustrates a population curve. Which letter indicates the lag phase on this sigmoid curve?

Populations

The graph illustrates the percentage of species lost across three different animal groups as a result of different human activities over the last ten years. Which activity has led to the greatest overall percentage of species loss?

Habitat destruction

Why are bacteria useful in biotechnology and genetic modification?

Biotechnology and genetic modification

The graph illustrates the effect of temperature changes on the rate at which stains are removed from clothes when a biological washing powder is used. What does the graph indicate about biological washing powders?

Enzymes

The diagram shows a plant cell. Which letter identifies the part of the cell where photosynthesis occurs?

Photosynthesis

The flow chart illustrates some of the steps used to produce biofuel. What do K, L and M represent in the diagram?

Biotechnology

The table gives the magnifications and image lengths of three specimens as viewed through a light microscope. In what sequence, from smallest to largest, do their actual lengths increase?

Size of specimens

The diagram shows two liquids divided by a partially permeable membrane. Which statement explains the movement of molecules by osmosis?

Osmosis

Small molecules are used to form large food molecules. Which statement is correct?

Biological molecules

A student used biuret reagent to test milk for the presence of protein. The milk gave a positive result for protein. What colour did the sample turn?

Biological molecules

What substances are utilised in photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis

The Venus flytrap is a plant that eats insects. When an insect lands on a leaf that has been specially adapted, the leaf closes very rapidly and captures the insect. The leaves secrete enzymes that break down the insect. Which characteristics of living organisms are involved?

Characteristics of living organisms

The graph illustrates how temperature affects an enzyme-controlled reaction. At which point on the graph is the enzyme fully denatured?

Enzymes

Which carbohydrate is used to make plant cell walls?

Cell structure

In a leaf cross-section, what is the correct sequence of structures as you move from the upper surface of the leaf down to the lower surface of the leaf?

Leaf structure

What is the outcome of a diet deficient in iron?

Diet

The diagram illustrates part of the human digestive system. In which organ is lipase produced?

Digestive system

Which row gives the correct information about an enzyme in the alimentary canal?

Chemical digestion

What route does water follow through a plant?

Transpiration

Which blood vessel carries blood away from the kidney?

Blood vessels

The diagram illustrates a section of the human gas exchange system. Which row names the structures shown in the diagram?

Gas exchange in humans

Which structure is where aerobic respiration takes place in plant cells?

Cell structure

The scientific name of a rat is $\text{Rattus rattus}$. What do the two parts of this name indicate?

Concept and uses of classification systems

Which substance is formed during anaerobic respiration in human muscles?

Anaerobic respiration

A human organ system is shown in the diagram. What are the names of structures X and Y?

Circulatory systems

The diagram shows a cross-section of the human eye. Which label indicates the iris?

Sense organs

Which hormone lowers blood glucose concentration?

Hormones

What is produced by asexual reproduction?

Asexual reproduction

Four test-tubes are arranged as illustrated and kept in darkness. In which test-tube will the seeds germinate first?

Sexual reproduction in plants

In which part of the human male reproductive system are sperm produced?

Sexual reproduction in humans

A person’s menstrual cycle has a duration of $28$ days. Which statement describes an event during this menstrual cycle?

Sexual reproduction in humans

An individual’s genotype is Bb. Which description correctly matches this genotype?

Monohybrid inheritance

Which statement gives a description of inheritance?

Chromosomes, genes and proteins

Among the animals shown, which one is a crustacean?

Concept and uses of classification systems

Which characteristic describes natural selection?

Selection

Which is the main source of energy entering biological systems?

Energy flow

The diagram illustrates a food web. Which food chain belongs to the food web?

Food chains and food webs

The diagram illustrates part of the carbon cycle. Which process releases carbon dioxide from substances formed by photosynthesis millions of years ago?

Nutrient cycles

The diagram presents a graph showing population growth. On which section of the graph is the population size restricted by the quantities of resources available?

Populations

Two livestock production methods are shown below. method 1: Animals are kept within a confined area, so their movement is limited. method 2: Animals are permitted to roam over a much larger area. What is one advantage of method 1 over method 2?

Food supply

Certain aquatic insect species can survive across a variety of pH ranges. The diagram illustrates the pH intervals in which four different species can survive. Which species cannot live in an acidic environment?

Adaptive features

Which practice helps preserve biodiversity?

Conservation

The diagram indicates four locations along a river at which water samples were collected. Which graph shows the oxygen concentrations in the river?

Pollution

What characteristic makes bacteria useful in genetic modification?

Genetic modification

Which characteristics are common to both animal cells and plant cells?

Cell structure

Scientists have created a genetically modified pineapple plant that gives pink fruit. The pineapple fruit is pink because it contains a higher concentration of a substance known as lycopene. Eating foods that contain lycopene may benefit human health. Which statement describes the aim of this genetic modification?

Genetic modification

A student produces a sketch of an animal. The length of the animal in the sketch is $30\ \text{mm}$. The animal’s real length is $200\ \text{mm}$. What is the magnification of the student’s sketch?

Size of specimens

Pieces of potato plant tissue are put into a highly concentrated sugar solution. Other pieces of potato plant tissue are put into distilled water. What happens to the mass of the potato pieces in each liquid?

Osmosis

Which statement describes the net movement of particles in animal cells during active transport?

Active transport

Which chemical tests should a student carry out on lemon juice to test for reducing sugars and vitamin C?

Biological molecules

Which graph illustrates the effect of pH on enzyme activity?

Enzymes