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Adaptations, interdependence and competition: AQA GCSE Combined Science questions

Every AQA GCSE Combined Science exam question on 4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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3,069 questions

  1. Q04.3

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 04.3: Increasing the number of bees and other insects increases crop yield. Suggest two reasons why increasing the number of insects can increase crop yield. [2 marks

  2. Q05.1

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 05.1: Plesiosaurs may have moved rapidly upwards to hold their heads above the water surface to search for prey. What type of adaptation was the rapid upwards movemen

  3. Q05.2

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 05.2: Give two biotic factors that may have caused the extinction of plesiosaurs. [2 marks] 1 2

  4. Q02.1

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition4.7.3 Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.1: Draw one line from each substance to how the substance increases crop yield. [2 marks]

  5. Q02.3

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.3: Bees are insects that live in hives. The bees fly in and out of the hives. Figure 2 shows a crop growing in a field. The farmer has added bee hives to increase

  6. Q02.4

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.7.3 Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.4: Some farmers increase the size of hedgerows between fields where crops grow. Suggest one reason why. [1 mark] Peat comes from peat bogs.

  7. Q03.6

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.6: Give one conclusion about the effect of distance from the tree on the percentage cover of buttercup plants. Use Table 2. [1 mark]

  8. Q03.7

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.7: Give two other factors that affect the percentage cover of buttercup plants around the tree. Do not refer to distance from the tree. [2 marks] 1 2

  9. Q04.2

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.2: Explain how structure A in Figure 5 helped the plesiosaur survive in the ocean. [2 marks]

  10. Q04.3

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.3: Plesiosaurs may have moved rapidly upwards to hold their heads above the water surface to search for prey. What type of adaptation was the rapid upwards movemen

  11. Q05.1

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 05.1: Define the term ‘ecosystem’. [1 mark]

  12. Q05.2

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 05.2: Otters are an important species for the stability of the river community. Describe two ways animal species may be important for the stability of a whole communi

  13. Q05.5

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    3 marks4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 05.5: Otters: • live in water and on the land • eat mainly fish. The concentration of dissolved oxygen has decreased in a river where otters live. Explain how the dec

  14. Q03.1

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    4 marks4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 03.1: Describe a method to investigate how the distance from the river affects the number of different plant species in the field. You should explain how to use a tra

  15. Q03.3

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 03.3: Which is an abiotic factor that could affect the number of different plant species found near the river? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Microorganisms near the root

  16. Q03.6

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.6: Cows are kept in the fields. Fewer plants are found where the cows often walk on the ground. The number of cows is one biotic factor that affects the number of

  17. Q03.1

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 03.1: Water is an abiotic factor. Name one biotic factor which may affect the number of buttercups growing on the field. [1 mark]

  18. Q03.2

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    6 marks4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 03.2: Describe a method to investigate if the amount of water in the soil affects the number of buttercups in the field. [6 marks]

  19. Q04.1

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 04.1: Give two variables the scientists should have controlled in this investigation. [2 marks] 1 2

  20. Q04.2

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    4 marks4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 04.2: Complete Figure 3. You should: • label the y-axis • use a suitable scale for the y-axis • plot the data from Table 1 • draw a line of best fit. [4 marks] Figure
All 41 questions on Adaptations, interdependence and competition, as a list
  1. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.3 (2 marks): Increasing the number of bees and other insects increases crop yield. Suggest two reasons why increasing the number of insects can increase crop yield. [2 marks
  2. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q05.1 (1 mark): Plesiosaurs may have moved rapidly upwards to hold their heads above the water surface to search for prey. What type of adaptation was the rapid upwards movemen
  3. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q05.2 (2 marks): Give two biotic factors that may have caused the extinction of plesiosaurs. [2 marks] 1 2
  4. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.1 (2 marks): Draw one line from each substance to how the substance increases crop yield. [2 marks]
  5. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.3 (2 marks): Bees are insects that live in hives. The bees fly in and out of the hives. Figure 2 shows a crop growing in a field. The farmer has added bee hives to increase
  6. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.4 (1 mark): Some farmers increase the size of hedgerows between fields where crops grow. Suggest one reason why. [1 mark] Peat comes from peat bogs.
  7. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.6 (1 mark): Give one conclusion about the effect of distance from the tree on the percentage cover of buttercup plants. Use Table 2. [1 mark]
  8. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.7 (2 marks): Give two other factors that affect the percentage cover of buttercup plants around the tree. Do not refer to distance from the tree. [2 marks] 1 2
  9. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.2 (2 marks): Explain how structure A in Figure 5 helped the plesiosaur survive in the ocean. [2 marks]
  10. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.3 (1 mark): Plesiosaurs may have moved rapidly upwards to hold their heads above the water surface to search for prey. What type of adaptation was the rapid upwards movemen
  11. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q05.1 (1 mark): Define the term ‘ecosystem’. [1 mark]
  12. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q05.2 (2 marks): Otters are an important species for the stability of the river community. Describe two ways animal species may be important for the stability of a whole communi
  13. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q05.5 (3 marks): Otters: • live in water and on the land • eat mainly fish. The concentration of dissolved oxygen has decreased in a river where otters live. Explain how the dec
  14. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.1 (4 marks): Describe a method to investigate how the distance from the river affects the number of different plant species in the field. You should explain how to use a tra
  15. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.3 (1 mark): Which is an abiotic factor that could affect the number of different plant species found near the river? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Microorganisms near the root
  16. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.6 (2 marks): Cows are kept in the fields. Fewer plants are found where the cows often walk on the ground. The number of cows is one biotic factor that affects the number of
  17. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.1 (1 mark): Water is an abiotic factor. Name one biotic factor which may affect the number of buttercups growing on the field. [1 mark]
  18. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.2 (6 marks): Describe a method to investigate if the amount of water in the soil affects the number of buttercups in the field. [6 marks]
  19. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.1 (2 marks): Give two variables the scientists should have controlled in this investigation. [2 marks] 1 2
  20. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.2 (4 marks): Complete Figure 3. You should: • label the y-axis • use a suitable scale for the y-axis • plot the data from Table 1 • draw a line of best fit. [4 marks] Figure
  21. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q06.4 (4 marks): Evaluate what might happen to the population of polar bears in the Arctic in the future. [4 marks]
  22. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.2 (1 mark): What type of factor is water in the soil? [1 mark] Tick () one box. A biotic factor A control factor An abiotic factor
  23. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.3 (2 marks): Give two factors which might affect the number of buttercups growing on the school field. Do not refer to water in your answer. [2 marks] 1 2
  24. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.4 (1 mark): Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] a control the dependent the independent In this investigation the number of buttercups in each q
  25. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.6 (2 marks): The mean number of buttercups in one quadrat was 8 Calculate the number of buttercups per m2 Use your answer from Question 02.5 [2 marks] Number of buttercups =
  26. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.7 (2 marks): Give two improvements the students could make to the method to give more valid results. [2 marks] 1 2
  27. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.8 (2 marks): Calculate mean value X in Table 1. [2 marks] X = cm
  28. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.9 (1 mark): What conclusion can the students make about the effect of acid soil on the growth of bean plants? [1 mark]
  29. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.3 (1 mark): Suggest one advantage of being able to taste PTC. [1 mark]
  30. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.3 (2 marks): Cats are one biotic factor that affects the size of the bird population. Which two of the following are biotic factors? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Food Patho
  31. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.5 (1 mark): What type of adaptation is beak length? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Behavioural Chemical Structural
  32. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q07.1 (6 marks): Describe the reasons why deforestation takes place and the effects deforestation has on the environment. [6 marks] Forests have been called: ‘The lungs of the p
  33. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.6 (3 marks): There were more plant species growing in the area where there were no trees. Explain why. [3 marks]
  34. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.2 (3 marks): Scientists have genetically engineered a variety of wheat to be resistant to herbicides. The herbicide resistant variety of wheat will give a higher yield than
  35. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.1 (2 marks): Draw one line from each animal adaptation to the type of adaptation it is. [2 marks] Animal adaptation Type of adaptation Male palm cockatoos use sticks to beat
  36. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.2 (4 marks): Many orchid plants: • grow attached to other types of plants • have brightly coloured flowers • produce large quantities of pollen • produce thousands of tiny,
  37. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.3 (4 marks): One present day species has bright purple flowers. Describe how an orchid with bright purple flowers may have evolved from the ancestral species which has pale
  38. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q01.1 (2 marks): Are the factors in Table 1 biotic or abiotic? [2 marks] Tick one box for each factor. Table 1 Factor Biotic Abiotic Diseases Herbivores Temperature Water Two st
  39. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.1 (2 marks): Why are these microorganisms called extremophiles? [2 marks] Tick two boxes. They are thousands of years old They survive in high humidity They survive in high
  40. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.2 (1 mark): Which enzyme comes from the microorganism from the caves? [1 mark] Tick one box. A B C D
  41. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q07.5 (2 marks): The population of diploid oysters growing in the wild has reduced by over 80% in the last 20 years. Suggest two environmental factors which may be causing this

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