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Neurones and nerve impulses: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on Neurones and nerve impulses (specification points 8.1–8.3), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,749 questions

  1. Q4(c)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    4 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 4(c): The graph shows the relationship between light intensity and pupil diameter. 10 9 8 7 6 Pupil diameter / mm 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Light intensity / arbitrary un

  2. Q6(d)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    6 marksNeurones and nerve impulsesMuscles and movement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 6(d): When the investigation was carried out, it took time between the athlete seeing the light switch off and the flexor muscle being fully relaxed. Explain why ther

  3. Q9(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    2 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 9(a)(i): The investigation showed that the distribution of TTX within the pufferfish varies, as shown in the table. Mean concentration of TTX Tissue / mass per gram of t

  4. Q9(a)(iii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    2 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 9(a)(iii): Deduce the effect of the sex of the pufferfish on the level of toxicity for different pufferfish tissues. (2)

  5. Q9(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    6 marksNeurones and nerve impulsesSynapses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 9(b): Conus is a predatory marine snail. It uses a neurotoxin, conotoxin, to paralyse the muscles of its prey. The neurotoxins conotoxin and TTX work in different way

  6. Q7

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    9 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 7: * 7 Sports injuries can be treated to reduce pain caused by muscle cramp. Ice massage, ice pack and cold-water immersion are three different types of treatment.

  7. Q8(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 8(a): Mitochondria in the cytoplasm of neurones synthesise adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Explain the role of ATP in the transmission of impulses along neurones. (2)

  8. Q8(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 8(b)(ii): In an axon that is 9 cm long, the speed of mitochondrial movement was recorded as 0.5 µm s–1. Calculate the time it would take a mitochondrion to move the lengt

  9. Q8(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    6 marksGas exchange and cell membranesNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 8(c): The table shows the proportion of two components found in the cell surface membrane of two cells of the nervous system. Percentage composition of the Cell of th

  10. Q5(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 markNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 5(a)(i): Name the type of cell that forms the myelin sheath. (1)

  11. Q5(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    2 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 5(a)(ii): Describe the role of myelination in the conduction of a nerve impulse. (2)

  12. Q5(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    5 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 5(a)(iii): Describe the role of ion channels in the conduction of a nerve impulse. (5)

  13. Q4(c)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    3 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 4(c): The poison also caused the pupils of this person to dilate. Describe the interaction of the muscles in the eye that led to this dilation of the pupils. (3)

  14. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 markNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 6(a)(i): The threshold intensity is the minimum electrical stimulus that will cause a neurone to form an action potential. Which potential difference could be the thresh

  15. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    4 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 6(a)(ii): Explain the changes in the sodium and potassium ion concentrations in the cytoplasm of the neurone from point W to point X on the graph. (4)

  16. Q6(a)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    3 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 6(a)(iii): Explain why the neurone becomes hyperpolarised after point X on the graph. (3)

  17. Q6(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    4 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 6(c): In another investigation, the effect of these TAU proteins and age on the conduction of nerve impulses along the axon of neurones was studied. The length of tim

  18. Q7(h)

    October 2020 · Paper 3

    4 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 3, question 7(h): Compare and contrast the structure of a sensory neurone and a motor neurone (paragraph 21). (4)

  19. Q8(a)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    1 markNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 8(a)(i): Which of these is a sensory neurone? (1) A W B X C Y D Z

  20. Q8(a)(iii)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    3 marksNeurones and nerve impulses
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 8(a)(iii): Describe the role of the dendrites in a neurone. (3)
All 23 questions on Neurones and nerve impulses, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q4(c) (4 marks): The graph shows the relationship between light intensity and pupil diameter. 10 9 8 7 6 Pupil diameter / mm 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Light intensity / arbitrary un
  2. June 2025, Paper 2, Q6(d) (6 marks): When the investigation was carried out, it took time between the athlete seeing the light switch off and the flexor muscle being fully relaxed. Explain why ther
  3. June 2024, Paper 2, Q9(a)(i) (2 marks): The investigation showed that the distribution of TTX within the pufferfish varies, as shown in the table. Mean concentration of TTX Tissue / mass per gram of t
  4. June 2024, Paper 2, Q9(a)(iii) (2 marks): Deduce the effect of the sex of the pufferfish on the level of toxicity for different pufferfish tissues. (2)
  5. June 2024, Paper 2, Q9(b) (6 marks): Conus is a predatory marine snail. It uses a neurotoxin, conotoxin, to paralyse the muscles of its prey. The neurotoxins conotoxin and TTX work in different way
  6. June 2024, Paper 3, Q7 (9 marks): * 7 Sports injuries can be treated to reduce pain caused by muscle cramp. Ice massage, ice pack and cold-water immersion are three different types of treatment.
  7. June 2023, Paper 2, Q8(a) (2 marks): Mitochondria in the cytoplasm of neurones synthesise adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Explain the role of ATP in the transmission of impulses along neurones. (2)
  8. June 2023, Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): In an axon that is 9 cm long, the speed of mitochondrial movement was recorded as 0.5 µm s–1. Calculate the time it would take a mitochondrion to move the lengt
  9. June 2023, Paper 2, Q8(c) (6 marks): The table shows the proportion of two components found in the cell surface membrane of two cells of the nervous system. Percentage composition of the Cell of th
  10. June 2023, Paper 3, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the type of cell that forms the myelin sheath. (1)
  11. June 2023, Paper 3, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the role of myelination in the conduction of a nerve impulse. (2)
  12. June 2023, Paper 3, Q5(a)(iii) (5 marks): Describe the role of ion channels in the conduction of a nerve impulse. (5)
  13. June 2022, Paper 2, Q4(c) (3 marks): The poison also caused the pupils of this person to dilate. Describe the interaction of the muscles in the eye that led to this dilation of the pupils. (3)
  14. June 2022, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): The threshold intensity is the minimum electrical stimulus that will cause a neurone to form an action potential. Which potential difference could be the thresh
  15. June 2022, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (4 marks): Explain the changes in the sodium and potassium ion concentrations in the cytoplasm of the neurone from point W to point X on the graph. (4)
  16. June 2022, Paper 2, Q6(a)(iii) (3 marks): Explain why the neurone becomes hyperpolarised after point X on the graph. (3)
  17. November 2021, Paper 3, Q6(c) (4 marks): In another investigation, the effect of these TAU proteins and age on the conduction of nerve impulses along the axon of neurones was studied. The length of tim
  18. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(h) (4 marks): Compare and contrast the structure of a sensory neurone and a motor neurone (paragraph 21). (4)
  19. June 2018, Paper 2, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these is a sensory neurone? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
  20. June 2018, Paper 2, Q8(a)(iii) (3 marks): Describe the role of the dendrites in a neurone. (3)
  21. June 2018, Paper 2, Q8(b) (2 marks): The speed of conduction along a motor neurone can be calculated. The time taken for a stimulus (S) to produce a response (R) further along the neurone is record
  22. June 2018, Paper 2, Q8(c) (4 marks): In individuals with GBS, the immune system attacks and destroys the myelin sheath surrounding some neurones. Neurone conduction was studied in an individual wit
  23. June 2017, Paper 2, Q8(b) (4 marks): Contraction of the muscle in the withdrawal response is stimulated by nerve impulses. These nerve impulses can be detected using electrodes. Explain the electri

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