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Digestion and absorption: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.3.3 Digestion and absorption, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q01.1

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    4 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 01.1: The digestion and absorption of lipids involves: • emulsification by bile salts • micelles. Explain each of the following. [4 marks] The importance of emulsific

  2. Q02.3

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 02.3: Cells lining the ileum of mammals absorb glucose against a concentration gradient. Describe how. [3 marks]

  3. Q07.4

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 07.4: Using Figure 12 and the information provided, calculate the difference in the number of deaths from cholera in 2020 and 2021. [2 marks] Difference in the number

  4. Q07.5

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 07.5: The calculated numbers of deaths from cholera, in 2020 and 2021, are lower than the true number of deaths. Using the information suggest one reason why. [1 mark

  5. Q02.2

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 02.2: What are microvilli? [1 mark]

  6. Q02.3

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 02.3: Vitamin A is a fat-soluble substance. Micelles are involved in the process of vitamin A absorption. Describe the process of vitamin A absorption into cells lini

  7. Q02.1

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    4 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 02.1: Table 2 contains information on the digestion of two biological molecules. Complete Table 2. [4 marks] Table 2 Biological molecule Enzyme Name of bond hydrolyse

  8. Q04.1

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 04.1: Some hospital patients suffer from diarrhoea caused by infection with the bacterium Clostridium difficile. The C. difficile bacteria release toxins. These toxin

  9. Q04.3

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 04.3: To be used as passive immunity treatment, the anti-toxin antibody would be injected. If it was given by mouth, it would be digested. Describe how the anti-toxin

  10. Q02.2

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 02.2: Suggest two reasons why the patients had ziconotide injected into their cerebrospinal fluid rather than taking a pill containing the drug. [2 marks] 1 2

  11. Q03.4

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 03.4: Prebiotics are foods used to promote good health in humans. Prebiotics stimulate the growth of ‘healthy’ bacterial populations in the human digestive system. Th

  12. Q06.1

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 06.1: Describe the hydrolysis reactions involved in the digestion of triglycerides. Do not write about the activity of lipase. [2 marks]

  13. Q06.2

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 06.2: All mammals produce a lipase called CEL. CEL digests triglycerides. CEL is activated by bile salts binding to the enzyme. Describe two other functions of bile s

  14. Q09.3

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    4 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 09.3: Describe the complete digestion of starch by a mammal. [4 marks]

  15. Q01.2

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    4 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 01.2: Describe the mechanism for the absorption of amino acids in the ileum. [4 marks]

  16. Q03.1

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 03.1: Describe and explain two ways that structures shown in Figure 1 increase the rate of absorption by this cell. [2 marks] 1 2

  17. Q03.2

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 03.2: An ileum cell without microvilli has 7.85 µm 2 of cell surface in contact with digested substances. A scientist found an ileum cell with 1000 microvilli. The mi

  18. Q05.1

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 05.1: The action of endopeptidases and exopeptidases can increase the rate of protein digestion. Describe how. [2 marks]

  19. Q05.3

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    3 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 05.3: Suggest which type of dietary protein would be better for old men to eat to cause a net gain of body proteins. Use the information provided to explain your answ

  20. Q01.3

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.3.3 Digestion and absorption
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 01.3: Describe and explain two features you would expect to find in a cell specialised for absorption. [2 marks] 1 2
All 39 questions on Digestion and absorption, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q01.1 (4 marks): The digestion and absorption of lipids involves: • emulsification by bile salts • micelles. Explain each of the following. [4 marks] The importance of emulsific
  2. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q02.3 (3 marks): Cells lining the ileum of mammals absorb glucose against a concentration gradient. Describe how. [3 marks]
  3. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q07.4 (2 marks): Using Figure 12 and the information provided, calculate the difference in the number of deaths from cholera in 2020 and 2021. [2 marks] Difference in the number
  4. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q07.5 (1 mark): The calculated numbers of deaths from cholera, in 2020 and 2021, are lower than the true number of deaths. Using the information suggest one reason why. [1 mark
  5. June 2024, Paper 1, Q02.2 (1 mark): What are microvilli? [1 mark]
  6. June 2024, Paper 1, Q02.3 (3 marks): Vitamin A is a fat-soluble substance. Micelles are involved in the process of vitamin A absorption. Describe the process of vitamin A absorption into cells lini
  7. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q02.1 (4 marks): Table 2 contains information on the digestion of two biological molecules. Complete Table 2. [4 marks] Table 2 Biological molecule Enzyme Name of bond hydrolyse
  8. June 2023, Paper 1, Q04.1 (3 marks): Some hospital patients suffer from diarrhoea caused by infection with the bacterium Clostridium difficile. The C. difficile bacteria release toxins. These toxin
  9. June 2023, Paper 1, Q04.3 (3 marks): To be used as passive immunity treatment, the anti-toxin antibody would be injected. If it was given by mouth, it would be digested. Describe how the anti-toxin
  10. June 2023, Paper 2, Q02.2 (2 marks): Suggest two reasons why the patients had ziconotide injected into their cerebrospinal fluid rather than taking a pill containing the drug. [2 marks] 1 2
  11. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q03.4 (3 marks): Prebiotics are foods used to promote good health in humans. Prebiotics stimulate the growth of ‘healthy’ bacterial populations in the human digestive system. Th
  12. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q06.1 (2 marks): Describe the hydrolysis reactions involved in the digestion of triglycerides. Do not write about the activity of lipase. [2 marks]
  13. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q06.2 (2 marks): All mammals produce a lipase called CEL. CEL digests triglycerides. CEL is activated by bile salts binding to the enzyme. Describe two other functions of bile s
  14. June 2022, Paper 1, Q09.3 (4 marks): Describe the complete digestion of starch by a mammal. [4 marks]
  15. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q01.2 (4 marks): Describe the mechanism for the absorption of amino acids in the ileum. [4 marks]
  16. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q03.1 (2 marks): Describe and explain two ways that structures shown in Figure 1 increase the rate of absorption by this cell. [2 marks] 1 2
  17. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q03.2 (2 marks): An ileum cell without microvilli has 7.85 µm 2 of cell surface in contact with digested substances. A scientist found an ileum cell with 1000 microvilli. The mi
  18. November 2021, Paper 3, Q05.1 (2 marks): The action of endopeptidases and exopeptidases can increase the rate of protein digestion. Describe how. [2 marks]
  19. November 2021, Paper 3, Q05.3 (3 marks): Suggest which type of dietary protein would be better for old men to eat to cause a net gain of body proteins. Use the information provided to explain your answ
  20. November 2020, Paper 1, Q01.3 (2 marks): Describe and explain two features you would expect to find in a cell specialised for absorption. [2 marks] 1 2
  21. November 2020, Paper 1, Q02.1 (3 marks): Use your knowledge of lipid digestion to explain the differences in the results for samples A and B shown in Table 1. You should assume that no absorption had o
  22. November 2020, Paper 1, Q02.2 (2 marks): After collecting the samples, the scientist immediately heated them to 70 °C for 10 minutes. Explain why. [2 marks]
  23. November 2020, Paper 1, Q02.3 (3 marks): Describe the role of micelles in the absorption of fats into the cells lining the ileum. [3 marks]
  24. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q09.1 (5 marks): Describe the processes involved in the absorption and transport of digested lipid molecules from the ileum into lymph vessels. [5 marks]
  25. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q01.1 (4 marks): Describe the role of enzymes in the digestion of proteins in a mammal. [4 marks] [ ]
  26. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q01.2 (3 marks): What can you conclude about the absorption of the products of protein digestion as the percentage of protein increased in the rabbits’ food? [3 marks]
  27. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q01.3 (3 marks): The food eaten by a rabbit is digested mainly by microorganisms in its caecum. The caecum is a section of intestine attached between the ileum and the large int
  28. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): Tick () the box by the name of the process by which fatty acids and glycerol enter the intestinal epithelial cell. [1 mark] Active transport Diffusion Endocyto
  29. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q03.2 (3 marks): Explain the advantages of lipid droplet and micelle formation. [3 marks] [ ]
  30. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q03.3 (4 marks): Name structure Q in Figure 2 and suggest how it is involved in the absorption of lipids. [4 marks] Name How it is involved [ ]
  31. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q01.1: Endopeptidases and exopeptidases are involved in the hydrolysis of proteins. Name the other type of enzyme required for the complete hydrolysis of proteins to a
  32. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q01.2 (2 marks): Suggest and explain why the combined actions of endopeptidases and exopeptidases are more efficient than exopeptidases on their own. [2 mark
  33. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q01.3 (3 marks): Figure 1 shows the co-transport mechanism for the absorption of amino acids into the blood by a cell lining the ileum. Figure 1 The addition of a respiratory in
  34. Specimen, Paper 1, Q11.3 (4 marks): Acknowledgement of copyright holders and publishers Permission to reproduce all copyright material has been applied for. In some cases, efforts to contact copyr
  35. Specimen, Paper 3, Q03.1 (2 marks): A student investigated the effect of chewing on the digestion of starch in cooked wheat. He devised a laboratory model of starch digestion in the human gut. Thi
  36. Specimen, Paper 3, Q03.2 (1 mark): In this model of digestion in the human gut, what other enzyme is required for the complete digestion of starch? [1 mark] 0 3 . 2
  37. Specimen, Paper 3, Q03.3 (1 mark): What was the purpose of step 2, in which samples were mixed with water, hydrochloric acid and pepsin? [1 mark] 0 3 . 3
  38. Specimen, Paper 3, Q03.4 (2 marks): In the control experiments, cooked wheat was chopped up to copy the effect of chewing. Suggest a more appropriate control experiment. Explain your suggestion. [
  39. Specimen, Paper 3, Q03.5 (3 marks): This source has been removed due to third-party copyright restrictions. Metastatic melanoma (MM) is a type of skin cancer. It is caused by a faulty receptor pro

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