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Nutrient cycles: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.5.4 Nutrient cycles, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q10.2

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 10.2: Nutrient recycling occurs rapidly on the ground of tropical rainforests (lines 4–5). Explain how two abiotic factors in these rainforests enable the rapid rate

  2. Q10.3

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    4 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 10.3: The recycling of nitrogen-containing compounds from dead organic matter sustains the growth of plants (lines 5–7). Describe the roles of bacteria in this recycl

  3. Q03.1

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 03.1: Calculate in teragrams the difference in the supply of phosphorus to the soil from the two stores shown in Figure 1. Show your working. [2 marks] Answer Tg

  4. Q03.2

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    5 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 03.2: 0 3 Figure 1 shows part of a phosphorus cycle, including the mass of phosphorus in two stores. Figure 1 One teragram (Tg) is 1 × 1012 grams. The supply of phosp

  5. Q03.3

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 03.3: The tomato seeds were planted into sterilised soil. Suggest two reasons why the soil was sterilised. [2 marks] 1 2

  6. Q03.4

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 03.4: The soil used in this investigation had the recommended concentration of fertiliser. Suggest two reasons why the soil contained the recommended concentration of

  7. Q03.1

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 03.1: Apart from temperature and pH, give two variables the scientist would have controlled when preparing the liquid medium cultures. [2 marks] 1 2

  8. Q03.2

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 03.2: A student concluded that this investigation showed that ammonia inhibits nitrogenase activity in nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Use all the information to evaluate t

  9. Q03.3

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 03.3: Nitrogenase catalyses the reduction of nitrogen during nitrogen fixation. The reaction requires 16 molecules of ATP for each molecule of nitrogen that is reduce

  10. Q06.2

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    25 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 06.2: The importance of cycles in biology. [25 marks]

  11. Q10.3

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    4 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 10.3: Loss of nutrients into Lake Malawi has resulted in a decrease in some fish populations (lines 12–13). Explain why. [4 marks]

  12. Q04.2

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 04.2: Freshwater marsh soils are normally waterlogged. This creates anaerobic conditions. Use your knowledge of the nitrogen cycle to suggest why these soils contain

  13. Q07.1

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    1 mark3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 07.1: Calculate how many times greater the mean growth rate per day was using 37.5 g potassium nitrate than using 37.5 g ammonium sulfate. Assume the mean biomass of

  14. Q07.2

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    5 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 07.2: Using all the information, evaluate the effect on plant growth of adding the different fertilisers to the soil. [5 marks]

  15. Q09.2

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 09.2: Suggest and explain how digesting insects helps the sundew to grow in soil with very low concentrations of some nutrients. [2 marks]

  16. Q02.1

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 02.1: Describe the role of saprobionts in the nitrogen cycle. [2 marks]

  17. Q02.2

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    3 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 02.2: One environmental issue arising from the use of fertilisers is eutrophication. Eutrophication can cause water to become cloudy. You are given samples of water f

  18. Q03.2

    June 2017 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 3, question 03.2: Scientists investigated changes in the use of artificial fertiliser in India between 1970 and 2005. They also investigated changes in the fertiliser response ra

  19. Q03.3

    June 2017 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 3, question 03.3: Use the data in Figure 4 to evaluate the use of artificial fertilisers on grain-producing crops in India. [2 marks]

  20. Q05.1

    Specimen · Paper 3

    2 marks3.5.4 Nutrient cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 3, question 05.1: Scientists investigated the effect of a mycorrhizal fungus on the growth of pea plants with a nitrate fertiliser or an ammonium fertiliser. The fertilisers were
All 24 questions on Nutrient cycles, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q10.2 (2 marks): Nutrient recycling occurs rapidly on the ground of tropical rainforests (lines 4–5). Explain how two abiotic factors in these rainforests enable the rapid rate
  2. June 2025, Paper 2, Q10.3 (4 marks): The recycling of nitrogen-containing compounds from dead organic matter sustains the growth of plants (lines 5–7). Describe the roles of bacteria in this recycl
  3. June 2023, Paper 2, Q03.1 (2 marks): Calculate in teragrams the difference in the supply of phosphorus to the soil from the two stores shown in Figure 1. Show your working. [2 marks] Answer Tg
  4. June 2023, Paper 2, Q03.2 (5 marks): 0 3 Figure 1 shows part of a phosphorus cycle, including the mass of phosphorus in two stores. Figure 1 One teragram (Tg) is 1 × 1012 grams. The supply of phosp
  5. June 2023, Paper 2, Q03.3 (2 marks): The tomato seeds were planted into sterilised soil. Suggest two reasons why the soil was sterilised. [2 marks] 1 2
  6. June 2023, Paper 2, Q03.4 (2 marks): The soil used in this investigation had the recommended concentration of fertiliser. Suggest two reasons why the soil contained the recommended concentration of
  7. June 2022, Paper 2, Q03.1 (2 marks): Apart from temperature and pH, give two variables the scientist would have controlled when preparing the liquid medium cultures. [2 marks] 1 2
  8. June 2022, Paper 2, Q03.2 (3 marks): A student concluded that this investigation showed that ammonia inhibits nitrogenase activity in nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Use all the information to evaluate t
  9. June 2022, Paper 2, Q03.3 (2 marks): Nitrogenase catalyses the reduction of nitrogen during nitrogen fixation. The reaction requires 16 molecules of ATP for each molecule of nitrogen that is reduce
  10. June 2022, Paper 3, Q06.2 (25 marks): The importance of cycles in biology. [25 marks]
  11. November 2021, Paper 2, Q10.3 (4 marks): Loss of nutrients into Lake Malawi has resulted in a decrease in some fish populations (lines 12–13). Explain why. [4 marks]
  12. November 2021, Paper 3, Q04.2 (2 marks): Freshwater marsh soils are normally waterlogged. This creates anaerobic conditions. Use your knowledge of the nitrogen cycle to suggest why these soils contain
  13. November 2020, Paper 2, Q07.1 (1 mark): Calculate how many times greater the mean growth rate per day was using 37.5 g potassium nitrate than using 37.5 g ammonium sulfate. Assume the mean biomass of
  14. November 2020, Paper 2, Q07.2 (5 marks): Using all the information, evaluate the effect on plant growth of adding the different fertilisers to the soil. [5 marks]
  15. June 2019, Paper 2, Q09.2 (2 marks): Suggest and explain how digesting insects helps the sundew to grow in soil with very low concentrations of some nutrients. [2 marks]
  16. June 2019, Paper 3, Q02.1 (2 marks): Describe the role of saprobionts in the nitrogen cycle. [2 marks]
  17. June 2019, Paper 3, Q02.2 (3 marks): One environmental issue arising from the use of fertilisers is eutrophication. Eutrophication can cause water to become cloudy. You are given samples of water f
  18. June 2017, Paper 3, Q03.2 (2 marks): Scientists investigated changes in the use of artificial fertiliser in India between 1970 and 2005. They also investigated changes in the fertiliser response ra
  19. June 2017, Paper 3, Q03.3 (2 marks): Use the data in Figure 4 to evaluate the use of artificial fertilisers on grain-producing crops in India. [2 marks]
  20. Specimen, Paper 3, Q05.1 (2 marks): Scientists investigated the effect of a mycorrhizal fungus on the growth of pea plants with a nitrate fertiliser or an ammonium fertiliser. The fertilisers were
  21. Specimen, Paper 3, Q05.2 (1 mark): Explain why it was important that the soil contained no mineral ions useful to the plants. [1 mark] The pea plants were divided into four groups, A, B, C and D.
  22. Specimen, Paper 3, Q05.3 (2 marks): The heat-treated fungus had been heated to 120 oC for 1 hour. Explain how groups A and C act as controls. [2 marks] 0 5 . 3
  23. Specimen, Paper 3, Q05.5 (4 marks): What conclusions can be drawn from the data in Table 3 about the following? [4 marks] The effects of the fungus on growth of the pea plants. The effects of nitr
  24. Specimen, Paper 3, Q05.7 (2 marks): Section B Answer one question.

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