plumiRespiration: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions
Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on Respiration (specification points 7.3–7.7), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q7(b)
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Q7(c)
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Q8(b)
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Q2(a)
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Q2(b)
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Q4(c)(i)
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Q4(c)(ii)
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Q6(b)(iv)
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Q6(a)(i)
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Q6(a)(ii)
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Q6(a)(iii)
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Q6(b)
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Q6(c)
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Q1(b)(iii)
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Q3(c)
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Q6(c)(ii)
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Q8(e)
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Q8(a)(i)
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Q8(a)(ii)
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Q8(b)(i)
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All 42 questions on Respiration, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q7(b) (4 marks): The matrix of a mitochondrion contains a range of enzymes. Describe the role of enzymes in the link reaction. (4)
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q7(c) (5 marks): Proton pumps are found in mitochondria. Explain the role of proton pumps in aerobic respiration. (5)
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q8(b) (3 marks): Explain how a reduction in physiological activity can result in a reduction in body temperature (paragraph 6). (3)
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q2(a) (1 mark): In human liver cells, glycerol can be converted to pyruvate. This conversion involves glycolysis as shown in the diagram. X X phosphorylated three glycerol pyru
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q2(b) (4 marks): Explain why human muscle cells sometimes convert pyruvate to lactate. (4)
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Determine the mean ratio of carbon dioxide produced to oxygen consumed at 17 °C. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Deduce two conclusions from the results of this experiment. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q6(b)(iv) (2 marks): Explain why vasoconstriction will result in the death of brain cells. (2)
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Name two products, other than the three-carbon molecule (3C), that are formed by process J. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe what would happen to the three-carbon molecule (3C) if process K stopped. (2)
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which one of the following represents process L? (1) A 6C 4C 2C 0C B 6C 5C 4C 3C C 6C 4C 2C D 6C 5C 4C
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q6(b) (2 marks): Respiration in maggots is similar to respiration in humans. In an investigation, three maggots were placed in a respirometer as shown. scale (mm) 200 180 160 14
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q6(c) (5 marks): Devise an investigation, using a respirometer, to find the optimum temperature for respiration in maggots. (5)
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q1(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the right atrium and the rest of the heart eventually stop beating. (2)
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q3(c) (1 mark): The diagram shows a mammalian sperm cell. 4 3 1 2 Which of the labelled parts contains enzymes that phosphorylate glucose during respiration? (1) A 1 B 2 C 3 D
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q6(c)(ii) (3 marks): A student suggested that between 20 and 24 hours the cells in the developing embryo switched from anaerobic to aerobic respiration. Describe how a respirometer
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q8(e) (2 marks): Explain why a cancer cell needs to ‘use the resources of the tissue immediately around it’ (paragraph 12). (2)
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Which labelled component in the diagram is the site of the Krebs cycle? (1) A P B Q C R D S
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which labelled component in the diagram is the site of oxidative phosphorylation? (1) A P B Q C R D S
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Name two molecules needed for aerobic respiration that can move into the mitochondria. (2) 1 2
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (4 marks): The outer mitochondrial membrane is not permeable to hydrogen ions (H+). Explain the importance of this feature of the membrane. (4)
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q8(c) (4 marks): It has been stated that if the temperature of yeast is raised by 10 °C, the rate of respiration will double. The diagram shows some apparatus that can be used t
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q4(d) (1 mark): Glycolysis occurs during germination. One of the products is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Which of the following is another product of glycolysis? (1) A carbon
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q10(a)(i) (1 mark): Which row shows the number of carbon atoms in citrate and succinate? (1) Number of carbon atoms in citrate succinate A 2 4 B 5 4 C 6 4 D 6 8
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q10(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the following is transferred to a molecule of FAD to form reduced FAD? (1) A two oxygen atoms B two hydrogen atoms C one oxygen atom and one hydrogen a
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q10(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain the need for reduced NAD to be oxidised in a mitochondrion. (2)
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q10(a)(iv) (1 mark): A mutation in the gene that codes for the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase stops the conversion of succinate into citrate. Which row states the change in concentr
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q10(b)(iii) (6 marks): Scientists have found that a high level of succinate leads to the inhibition of an enzyme called TET. The function of TET is to remove methyl groups from DNA. E
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Cells produce lactate during anaerobic respiration. Lactate travels in the blood to the liver. Liver cells can absorb lactate from the blood. Deduce what happen
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): During which of the following processes is ATP formed? (1) A glycolysis and the electron transport chain only B glycolysis and the Krebs cycle only C glycolysis
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why some ATP is broken down during glycolysis. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q7(c)(iii) (3 marks): The electron transport chain occurs in the cristae of mitochondria. The electron transport chain involves a number of carrier molecules. Explain the role of the
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q10(a)(ii) (3 marks): In investigation 2, some of the cells from the middle layer of the aortas of the mice were removed. Two protein complexes, A and B, are found in the cells of th
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q7(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the change in metabolic rate for an arctic ground squirrel, with a body mass of 850g, as the air temperature increases from −16 °C to 4 °C. Give your
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q7(b)(ii) (1 mark): When the air temperature was −4 °C, the respiratory quotient (RQ) for the arctic ground squirrel was calculated as 0.77. The RQ value can indicate the respirato
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q7(b)(iii) (4 marks): The data for calculating metabolic rate are collected using a respirometer. The rate of respiration for small mammals can be measured using a continuous flow re
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q6(a) (2 marks): Explain the increase in blood lactate concentration observed between 0 and 5 minutes. (2)
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q6(b) (3 marks): Give reasons why blood lactate concentration remains constant between 5 and 15 minutes. (3)
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q6(c) (4 marks): The most effective training involves the greatest power requirement over longer periods of time. Therefore, it is important to avoid high concentrations of bloo
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q9(c) (3 marks): Explain why individuals with severe emphysema will tire more easily than healthy individuals. (3)
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q7(d) (4 marks): Humans have a ‘requirement for oxygen’ (paragraph 5). Explain the role of oxygen in human respiration. (4)
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q7(j) (1 mark): Pyruvate is one of the products of glycolysis (paragraph 20). State one difference between the structure of pyruvate and the structure of the acetyl group in ac
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