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Transport across cell membranes: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q01.2

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 01.2: Describe and explain the arrangement of phospholipid molecules in the cell-surface membrane. [2 marks]

  2. Q05.1

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    4 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 05.1: Pears are a type of fruit. When pears ripen, the: • fructose concentration increases in cell vacuoles • volume of cell vacuoles increases. Figure 2 shows inform

  3. Q05.2

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 05.2: A respiratory inhibitor caused a change in pH of the solution within the vacuole. Use information in Figure 2 to explain how. [3 marks]

  4. Q05.3

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 05.3: Explain how a change in the expression of the genes coding for the carrier proteins can increase the rate of ripening of pears. [2 marks]

  5. Q08.1

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 08.1: Figure 10 shows a diagram of a cell-surface membrane. Figure 10 Name and give the functions of the molecules labelled A and B. [2 marks] Molecule A name Molecul

  6. Q08.2

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 08.2: A student investigated the effect of temperature on the permeability of cell-surface membranes in beetroot cells. Beetroot cells contain a red pigment that is n

  7. Q08.3

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    4 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 08.3: Describe and explain the general trend of the results in Figure 12. [4 marks]

  8. Q08.4

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 08.4: Describe how the student could use the dilution series (Figure 11, on page 22) and a colorimeter to determine an accurate measurement of the pigment concentrati

  9. Q02.3

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    3 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 02.3: A scientist placed pancreatic cells in solutions containing different concentrations of glucose. The scientist measured the rate of uptake of glucose by these c

  10. Q02.4

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 02.4: Use Figure 4 to calculate the ratio rate of glucose uptake with oxygen : rate of glucose uptake with no oxygen at an external glucose concentration of 14 mg dm–

  11. Q07.3

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 07.3: The toxin causes chloride ion channels in the cell-surface membrane to open. Chloride ions diffuse into the ileum. This causes diarrhoea (watery faeces). Use yo

  12. Q01.4

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 01.4: The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in a cell-surface membrane determines the extent of the membrane’s fluidity. Scientists provided a cell cultur

  13. Q02.1

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 02.1: Describe the processes of facilitated diffusion and active transport. [3 marks] Facilitated diffusion Active transport

  14. Q04.4

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 04.4: A scientist used the apparatus in Figure 3 to investigate osmosis. Figure 3 Use your understanding of osmosis to explain why the air pressure in the tube increa

  15. Q04.5

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 04.5: The scientist repeated the investigation, but made one change to the molasses. The scientist did not change the volume of molasses at the start of the investiga

  16. Q07.2

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    25 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes3.3.4 Mass transport
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 07.2: The mechanisms and importance of transport within organisms. [25 marks]

  17. Q06.4

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 06.4: In these mammalian cells, the: • cell-surface membrane is permeable to sodium ions • sodium ion concentration does not increase in the cytoplasm over time. Use

  18. Q02.3

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 02.3: The solution used to dilute the blood had to have the same water potential as the blood. Explain why. [2 marks]

  19. Q10.4

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 10.4: Suggest and explain how GLUT4 and CD36 transport proteins (lines 10–11) are beneficial during exercise. [3 marks]

  20. Q07.2

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    25 marks3.2.3 Transport across cell membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 07.2: The importance of membranes in the functioning of cells. [25 marks]
All 60 questions on Transport across cell membranes, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q01.2 (2 marks): Describe and explain the arrangement of phospholipid molecules in the cell-surface membrane. [2 marks]
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q05.1 (4 marks): Pears are a type of fruit. When pears ripen, the: • fructose concentration increases in cell vacuoles • volume of cell vacuoles increases. Figure 2 shows inform
  3. June 2025, Paper 1, Q05.2 (3 marks): A respiratory inhibitor caused a change in pH of the solution within the vacuole. Use information in Figure 2 to explain how. [3 marks]
  4. June 2025, Paper 1, Q05.3 (2 marks): Explain how a change in the expression of the genes coding for the carrier proteins can increase the rate of ripening of pears. [2 marks]
  5. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q08.1 (2 marks): Figure 10 shows a diagram of a cell-surface membrane. Figure 10 Name and give the functions of the molecules labelled A and B. [2 marks] Molecule A name Molecul
  6. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q08.2 (2 marks): A student investigated the effect of temperature on the permeability of cell-surface membranes in beetroot cells. Beetroot cells contain a red pigment that is n
  7. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q08.3 (4 marks): Describe and explain the general trend of the results in Figure 12. [4 marks]
  8. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q08.4 (3 marks): Describe how the student could use the dilution series (Figure 11, on page 22) and a colorimeter to determine an accurate measurement of the pigment concentrati
  9. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q02.3 (3 marks): A scientist placed pancreatic cells in solutions containing different concentrations of glucose. The scientist measured the rate of uptake of glucose by these c
  10. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q02.4 (1 mark): Use Figure 4 to calculate the ratio rate of glucose uptake with oxygen : rate of glucose uptake with no oxygen at an external glucose concentration of 14 mg dm–
  11. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q07.3 (2 marks): The toxin causes chloride ion channels in the cell-surface membrane to open. Chloride ions diffuse into the ileum. This causes diarrhoea (watery faeces). Use yo
  12. June 2024, Paper 1, Q01.4 (3 marks): The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in a cell-surface membrane determines the extent of the membrane’s fluidity. Scientists provided a cell cultur
  13. June 2024, Paper 1, Q02.1 (3 marks): Describe the processes of facilitated diffusion and active transport. [3 marks] Facilitated diffusion Active transport
  14. June 2024, Paper 1, Q04.4 (3 marks): A scientist used the apparatus in Figure 3 to investigate osmosis. Figure 3 Use your understanding of osmosis to explain why the air pressure in the tube increa
  15. June 2024, Paper 1, Q04.5 (2 marks): The scientist repeated the investigation, but made one change to the molasses. The scientist did not change the volume of molasses at the start of the investiga
  16. June 2024, Paper 3, Q07.2 (25 marks): The mechanisms and importance of transport within organisms. [25 marks]
  17. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q06.4 (2 marks): In these mammalian cells, the: • cell-surface membrane is permeable to sodium ions • sodium ion concentration does not increase in the cytoplasm over time. Use
  18. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q02.3 (2 marks): The solution used to dilute the blood had to have the same water potential as the blood. Explain why. [2 marks]
  19. June 2023, Paper 2, Q10.4 (3 marks): Suggest and explain how GLUT4 and CD36 transport proteins (lines 10–11) are beneficial during exercise. [3 marks]
  20. June 2023, Paper 3, Q07.2 (25 marks): The importance of membranes in the functioning of cells. [25 marks]
  21. June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.3 (2 marks): The amino acids on one side of each AP helix have hydrophobic properties. The amino acids on the opposite side of each helix have hydrophilic properties. Figure
  22. June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.4 (2 marks): Use Figure 5 to calculate the cross-sectional area of the channel through which ions can pass. Assume the cross-sectional area is circular. Use π = 3.14 in your
  23. June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.5 (2 marks): The APs damage prokaryotic cells but do not damage the eukaryotic cells in the organisms that produce them. Prokaryotic cell membranes do not contain cholestero
  24. June 2022, Paper 1, Q06.3 (4 marks): The higher rate of transpiration at high tide shows that the mangrove tree is absorbing water from the sea water surrounding its roots. Describe an experiment t
  25. November 2021, Paper 1, Q10.2 (5 marks): Name and describe five ways substances can move across the cell-surface membrane into a cell. [5 marks]
  26. November 2021, Paper 2, Q07.2 (1 mark): One method of transferring RNAi molecules into cells involves combining these molecules with a lipid. Suggest why this increases uptake of RNAi molecules into c
  27. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q08.1 (2 marks): Suggest one improvement to the design of Table 2 and one improvement to the way she presented the data contained in Table 2. [2 marks] Improvement to design of
  28. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q08.2 (2 marks): Suggest and explain an advantage of carrying out this investigation at 30 °C rather than at 20 °C. [2 marks]
  29. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q08.3 (3 marks): The student concluded from the information in Table 2 that the water potential of the solution inside the egg is higher than the water potential of the vinegar.
  30. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q08.4 (4 marks): The student wanted to determine the water potential of chicken eggs. She: • produced a dilution series of sugar solution • followed the procedure described on p
  31. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q01.4 (3 marks): Give one similarity and two differences between the membrane structure shown in Figure 2 and the fluid-mosaic model of membrane structure. [3 marks] Similarity
  32. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q07.2 (1 mark): Use Figure 8 to calculate the percentage decrease in the rate of amino acid absorption by H cells in 30 mmol dm–3 cyanide solution. [1 mark] Answer %
  33. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q07.3 (3 marks): Using Figure 8 and the information provided, what can you conclude about amino acid uptake by G cells and by H cells? [3 marks]
  34. November 2020, Paper 1, Q01.1 (2 marks): The action of the carrier protein X in Figure 1 is linked to a membrane-bound ATP hydrolase enzyme. Explain the function of this ATP hydrolase. [2 marks]
  35. November 2020, Paper 1, Q01.2 (2 marks): The movement of Na+ out of the cell allows the absorption of glucose into the cell lining the ileum. Explain how. [2 marks]
  36. November 2020, Paper 1, Q01.4 (2 marks): Draw phospholipids on Figure 2 to show how the carrier protein, SGLT1, would fit into the cell-surface membrane. Do not draw more than eight phospholipids. [2 m
  37. November 2020, Paper 1, Q04.1 (1 mark): When making up extraction solvent E, the student used a volume ratio of 70:30:1 ethanol:water:acid. Tick () one box that shows the most appropriate volumes she
  38. November 2020, Paper 1, Q04.2 (2 marks): The student kept constant: • the mass of fresh blueberries • the volume of extraction solvent • the time for the mixture to stand. Name two other variables the
  39. November 2020, Paper 1, Q04.3 (4 marks): After 1 hour, the student filtered the samples. She placed the filtrate in a colorimeter and measured the light absorbance. Her results are shown in Figure 4. F
  40. November 2020, Paper 1, Q04.4 (3 marks): A different student did this investigation. He did not have a colorimeter. Describe a method this student could use to prepare colour standards and use them to
  41. November 2020, Paper 2, Q02.1 (2 marks): Steroid hormones are hydrophobic. Explain why steroid hormones can rapidly enter a cell by passing through its cell-surface membrane. [2 marks]
  42. November 2020, Paper 3, Q04.4 (3 marks): A high concentration of sodium in the blood can affect blood volume and cause hypertension. Use your knowledge of water potential to suggest how high sodium con
  43. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q02.1 (2 marks): Explain the arrangement of phospholipids in a cell-surface membrane. [2 marks]
  44. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q09.2 (2 marks): Explain how an increase in the rate of transcription of the PIP1b gene (lines 6–7) will affect the permeability of tobacco plant cell membranes to water. [2 mar
  45. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q09.4 (2 marks): How much greater is the ratio of movement of potassium ions to movement of water molecules across a vacuole membrane than across a cell-surface membrane (lines
  46. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q04.1 (1 mark): Give one way in which the student could ensure the first three beetroot cylinders were kept at 25 oC throughout her experiment. [1 mark]
  47. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q04.2 (2 marks): Give two variables that the student did not control in her procedure. [2 marks] 1 2
  48. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q04.3 (2 marks): The student used a measuring cylinder to obtain 10 cm3 of each solution. Figure 2 shows some of the scale graduations on the side of this measuring cylinder. Fi
  49. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q04.4 (4 marks): Using Figure 3, what can you conclude about the damage caused to beetroot cells by water, ethanol, hydrochloric acid and different temperatures? Provide explana
  50. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q09.2 (5 marks): The movement of substances across cell membranes is affected by membrane structure. Describe how. [5 marks] Copyright information For confidentiality purposes,
  51. June 2017, Paper 3, Q06.4 (2 marks): Aquaporins are channel proteins that allow the diffusion of water across membranes. One type of aquaporin, called PIP1, can also transport carbon dioxide molecu
  52. June 2017, Paper 3, Q06.7 (3 marks): The scientists investigated the importance of PIP1 in the movement of water and carbon dioxide through the tissues of leaves of poplar trees. They measured the
  53. June 2017, Paper 3, Q07.2 (25 marks): The importance of diffusion in organisms. [25 marks] Copyright Information For confidentiality purposes, from the November 2015 examination series, acknowledgem
  54. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q08.2 (1 mark): The student produced the sucrose solutions with different concentrations from a concentrated sucrose solution. Name the method she would have used to produce th
  55. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q08.3 (3 marks): Calculate the ratio of final mass to initial mass of potato chips and plot a suitable graph of your processed data. Express the ratios in Table 4 as a single nu
  56. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q08.4 (2 marks): Explain the result for the chip in 0.8 mol dm–3 sucrose solution. [2 marks]
  57. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q03.4 (2 marks): Species of tubifex worm that live in ponds, lakes and rivers cannot survive in seawater. Use your knowledge of water potential to explain why they cannot surviv
  58. Specimen, Paper 1, Q05.1 (3 marks): [ ] This source has been removed due to third-party copyright restrictions.
  59. Specimen, Paper 1, Q05.2 (2 marks): Ratio = :1
  60. Specimen, Paper 1, Q05.3 (4 marks): [ ]

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