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Trophic levels in an ecosystem: AQA GCSE Biology questions

Every AQA GCSE Biology exam question on 4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,505 questions

  1. Q06.1

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 06.1: Most organisms in the food web get their energy by eating other organisms. Where does the pondweed get energy from? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Carbon dioxide Mi

  2. Q06.2

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 06.2: Name one organism from Figure 10 that is a primary consumer. [1 mark]

  3. Q06.3

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 06.3: There are four trophic levels in Figure 10. Which is the correct pyramid of biomass for the food web in Figure 10? [1 mark] Tick () one box.

  4. Q06.4

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 06.4: One of the food chains in Figure 10 is: 10% of the biomass in each trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level. What percentage of the biomass in the

  5. Q06.5

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem4.7.5 Food production
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 06.5: What are two ways that energy is lost from organisms in the food chain? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Diffusion Faeces Movement Osmosis Photosynthesis

  6. Q02.2

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 02.2: The peat bog in Figure 2 is a stable community. The moss produces biomass at a rate of 340 g/m2/year. What is the approximate biomass of the moss that becomes b

  7. Q07.2

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marks4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 07.2: Another farmer produced 4200 kg of maize seeds in a field. The farmer fed the maize to 1000 chickens. At full size, the mean mass of one chicken was 2.2 kg. Com

  8. Q07.3

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 07.3: Calculate the ratio of chicken biomass to maize seed biomass. Use data from Question 07.2. Give your answer in its simplest form. [2 marks] Ratio = :

  9. Q07.4

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 07.4: Chickens can use 80% of the biomass from the maize seeds they eat for respiration and growth. What happens to the remaining 20% of the biomass in the maize seed

  10. Q10.2

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 10.2: The peat bog in Figure 13 is a stable community. The moss produces biomass at a rate of 340 g/m2/year. What is the approximate biomass of the moss that becomes

  11. Q03.1

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.1: The grass needs energy to grow. What is the source of energy for the grass? [1 mark]

  12. Q03.2

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marks4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.2: Table 2 lists different types of feeding relationship. Table 2 Feeding relationship Organism Secondary consumer Lynx Primary consumer Producer Herbivore Carnivo

  13. Q03.7

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.7: When the snowshoe hare eats grass, about 90% of the biomass of the grass is lost. Give two ways the biomass is lost. [2 marks] 1 2

  14. Q06.4

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Higher

    5 marks4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Higher, question 06.4: The cow is more efficient than the grass at converting energy. The energy conversion efficiency of the cow is 4.098%. Calculate how many times more efficient th

  15. Q06.5

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem4.7.5 Food production
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Higher, question 06.5: It is more energy-efficient to rear cows indoors than to rear cows outdoors. Give two reasons why. [2 marks] 1 2

  16. Q07.1

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 07.1: The animals in Figure 9 get their energy by eating other organisms. Describe how the algae get energy. [2 marks]

  17. Q07.2

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 07.2: Name one primary consumer in Figure 9. [1 mark]

  18. Q07.3

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 07.3: Name one producer in Figure 9. [1 mark]

  19. Q07.5

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 07.5: Figure 9 shows that mackerel eat krill and squid. The biomass of mackerel is much less than the combined biomass of krill and squid. One reason for this is that

  20. Q03.2

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem4.4.1 Photosynthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.2: What is the source of energy for photosynthesis? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Light Mineral ions Protein Water
All 33 questions on Trophic levels in an ecosystem, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.1 (1 mark): Most organisms in the food web get their energy by eating other organisms. Where does the pondweed get energy from? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Carbon dioxide Mi
  2. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.2 (1 mark): Name one organism from Figure 10 that is a primary consumer. [1 mark]
  3. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.3 (1 mark): There are four trophic levels in Figure 10. Which is the correct pyramid of biomass for the food web in Figure 10? [1 mark] Tick () one box.
  4. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.4 (1 mark): One of the food chains in Figure 10 is: 10% of the biomass in each trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level. What percentage of the biomass in the
  5. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.5 (2 marks): What are two ways that energy is lost from organisms in the food chain? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Diffusion Faeces Movement Osmosis Photosynthesis
  6. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q02.2 (1 mark): The peat bog in Figure 2 is a stable community. The moss produces biomass at a rate of 340 g/m2/year. What is the approximate biomass of the moss that becomes b
  7. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.2 (3 marks): Another farmer produced 4200 kg of maize seeds in a field. The farmer fed the maize to 1000 chickens. At full size, the mean mass of one chicken was 2.2 kg. Com
  8. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.3 (2 marks): Calculate the ratio of chicken biomass to maize seed biomass. Use data from Question 07.2. Give your answer in its simplest form. [2 marks] Ratio = :
  9. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.4 (1 mark): Chickens can use 80% of the biomass from the maize seeds they eat for respiration and growth. What happens to the remaining 20% of the biomass in the maize seed
  10. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.2 (1 mark): The peat bog in Figure 13 is a stable community. The moss produces biomass at a rate of 340 g/m2/year. What is the approximate biomass of the moss that becomes
  11. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.1 (1 mark): The grass needs energy to grow. What is the source of energy for the grass? [1 mark]
  12. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.2 (3 marks): Table 2 lists different types of feeding relationship. Table 2 Feeding relationship Organism Secondary consumer Lynx Primary consumer Producer Herbivore Carnivo
  13. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.7 (2 marks): When the snowshoe hare eats grass, about 90% of the biomass of the grass is lost. Give two ways the biomass is lost. [2 marks] 1 2
  14. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q06.4 (5 marks): The cow is more efficient than the grass at converting energy. The energy conversion efficiency of the cow is 4.098%. Calculate how many times more efficient th
  15. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q06.5 (2 marks): It is more energy-efficient to rear cows indoors than to rear cows outdoors. Give two reasons why. [2 marks] 1 2
  16. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.1 (2 marks): The animals in Figure 9 get their energy by eating other organisms. Describe how the algae get energy. [2 marks]
  17. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.2 (1 mark): Name one primary consumer in Figure 9. [1 mark]
  18. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.3 (1 mark): Name one producer in Figure 9. [1 mark]
  19. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.5 (2 marks): Figure 9 shows that mackerel eat krill and squid. The biomass of mackerel is much less than the combined biomass of krill and squid. One reason for this is that
  20. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.2 (1 mark): What is the source of energy for photosynthesis? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Light Mineral ions Protein Water
  21. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.3 (1 mark): Which pyramid of biomass is correct for the food chain shown in Figure 4? [1 mark] Tick () one box.
  22. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.1 (2 marks): Sketch the pyramid of biomass for the food chain that produces food for dogs from insects. Label the pyramid. [2 marks]
  23. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.2 (2 marks): Describe two reasons why the biomass of the insects eaten by dogs does not all become biomass of the dogs. [2 marks] 1 2
  24. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.1 (1 mark): What is the trophic level of the dog? [1 mark] Tick () one box. 1 2 3
  25. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.2 (3 marks): Draw one line from each organism to the description of the organism’s position in the food chain. [3 marks] Organism Description Chicken Dog Wheat Herbivore Pro
  26. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.4 (1 mark): Some of the chicken biomass does not become part of the dog’s biomass. What is one reason why? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Some of the chicken is used for the do
  27. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.5 (1 mark): Which pyramid of biomass represents the vegetables, insects and dogs in this food chain? [1 mark] Tick () one box.
  28. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.1: Name one consumer shown in Figure 3. [1 ma
  29. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.2: Name one carnivore shown in Figure 3. [1 ma
  30. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.3: A disease kills most of the shrews in the garden. Suggest why the number of snails in the garden may then increase. [1 ma 5
  31. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.5 (1 mark): Which pyramid of biomass is correct for the food chain shown in Figure 3? [1 mark Tick one box. A B C
  32. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.6 (1 mark): Some snails ate some lettuces. The lettuces contained 11 000 kJ of energy. Only 10% of this energy was transferred to the snails. Calculate the energy transferr
  33. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.7: Give one reason why only 10% of the energy in the lettuces is transferred to the snails. [1 ma Tick one box. The lettuces carry out photosynthesis The snails do

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