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Transport across membranes: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on Transport across membranes (specification points 2.3–2.4), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,749 questions

  1. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 5(b)(i): Explain how water enters these cells. (2)

  2. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 markTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 5(b)(ii): Some mineral ions are at a lower concentration in the soil than in the root hair cells. Which of the following describes how these mineral ions enter the cells

  3. Q3(b)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    4 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 3(b): An animal cell, containing proteins R, S and T in its cell surface membrane, was placed in a solution containing two ions, P and Q. The rate of uptake of both i

  4. Q2(a)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    1 markTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 2(a)(i): State one role of ATP in the movement of molecules through the component labelled T. (1)

  5. Q2(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    2 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 2(a)(ii): Describe how ions enter the cell through the component labelled P. (2)

  6. Q2(b)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    1 markTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 2(b)(i): Water molecules can pass between phospholipids to enter or leave a cell. Name this process. (1)

  7. Q6(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    2 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 6(b)(i): State what is meant by active transport. (2)

  8. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    3 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 6(b)(ii): Explain how the active transport of sodium ions can regulate brain cell volume. (3)

  9. Q4(a)

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    2 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 4(a): Oxygen molecules enter red blood cells and bind to haemoglobin. Glucose molecules can also enter red blood cells. The table gives some information about these m

  10. Q8(a)(i)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    2 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 8(a)(i): For test tube E the range of the initial mass was 2.79 ± 0.04 g and the range of the final mass was 2.01 ± 0.16 g. Calculate the largest percentage change in ma

  11. Q8(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    2 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 8(a)(ii): Explain the change in mass for potato cylinders in test tube E. (2)

  12. Q8(b)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    3 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 8(b): Describe how this investigation could be modified to determine the concentration of sucrose solution that does not change the mass of the potato cylinders. (3)

  13. Q1(b)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    3 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 1(b): Mineral ions enter the plant through the roots. Mineral ions in the soil are in lower concentrations than in the vacuoles of root hair cells. Describe how miner

  14. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    4 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 5(b)(i): Explain how chloride ions move through the two membranes labelled in the diagram. (4) Basal membrane Apical membrane

  15. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    3 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 5(b)(ii): The movement of the chloride ions into the mucus would cause the movement of water molecules. Explain the direction of movement of the water molecules. (3)

  16. Q4(c)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 markTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 4(c)(ii): Oxygen enters the red blood cell by (1) A active transport B diffusion C facilitated diffusion D osmosis

  17. Q5(c)

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    2 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 5(c): Antigens on the cell membranes of microbes can stimulate endocytosis and exocytosis in white blood cells. These processes are involved in transport through a ce

  18. Q6(b)

    October 2020 · Paper 3

    9 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 3, question 6(b): Ion transport across cell membranes is a fundamental property of all living cells. The diagram shows some typical ion concentrations in healthy human cells and

  19. Q1(a)(iv)

    October 2020 · AS Paper 1

    1 markTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 AS Paper 1, question 1(a)(iv): Which molecule allows ions to diffuse into a cell? (1) A P B Q C R D T

  20. Q1(b)(i)

    October 2020 · AS Paper 1

    2 marksTransport across membranes
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 AS Paper 1, question 1(b)(i): Explain why ATP is required for the movement of sodium ions into the cell. (2)
All 43 questions on Transport across membranes, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain how water enters these cells. (2)
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): Some mineral ions are at a lower concentration in the soil than in the root hair cells. Which of the following describes how these mineral ions enter the cells
  3. June 2025, Paper 2, Q3(b) (4 marks): An animal cell, containing proteins R, S and T in its cell surface membrane, was placed in a solution containing two ions, P and Q. The rate of uptake of both i
  4. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): State one role of ATP in the movement of molecules through the component labelled T. (1)
  5. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how ions enter the cell through the component labelled P. (2)
  6. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Water molecules can pass between phospholipids to enter or leave a cell. Name this process. (1)
  7. June 2024, Paper 3, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): State what is meant by active transport. (2)
  8. June 2024, Paper 3, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how the active transport of sodium ions can regulate brain cell volume. (3)
  9. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q4(a) (2 marks): Oxygen molecules enter red blood cells and bind to haemoglobin. Glucose molecules can also enter red blood cells. The table gives some information about these m
  10. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (2 marks): For test tube E the range of the initial mass was 2.79 ± 0.04 g and the range of the final mass was 2.01 ± 0.16 g. Calculate the largest percentage change in ma
  11. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q8(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the change in mass for potato cylinders in test tube E. (2)
  12. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q8(b) (3 marks): Describe how this investigation could be modified to determine the concentration of sucrose solution that does not change the mass of the potato cylinders. (3)
  13. June 2022, Paper 1, Q1(b) (3 marks): Mineral ions enter the plant through the roots. Mineral ions in the soil are in lower concentrations than in the vacuoles of root hair cells. Describe how miner
  14. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (4 marks): Explain how chloride ions move through the two membranes labelled in the diagram. (4) Basal membrane Apical membrane
  15. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): The movement of the chloride ions into the mucus would cause the movement of water molecules. Explain the direction of movement of the water molecules. (3)
  16. November 2021, Paper 2, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): Oxygen enters the red blood cell by (1) A active transport B diffusion C facilitated diffusion D osmosis
  17. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q5(c) (2 marks): Antigens on the cell membranes of microbes can stimulate endocytosis and exocytosis in white blood cells. These processes are involved in transport through a ce
  18. October 2020, Paper 3, Q6(b) (9 marks): Ion transport across cell membranes is a fundamental property of all living cells. The diagram shows some typical ion concentrations in healthy human cells and
  19. October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q1(a)(iv) (1 mark): Which molecule allows ions to diffuse into a cell? (1) A P B Q C R D T
  20. October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why ATP is required for the movement of sodium ions into the cell. (2)
  21. October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how glucose molecules move into the cell. (2)
  22. June 2019, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the shaded structures transport charged molecules or ions across the membrane? (1) A 1 and 2 only B 3 and 4 only C 1, 2 and 3 only D 1, 2, 3 and 4
  23. June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain one way in which this investigation could be improved. (2)
  24. June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Standard deviation can be calculated using the formula shown. − ( ) ∑ x 2 − x S = − n 1 Calculate the standard deviation for the 2.5% sodium chloride solution.
  25. June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q5(a)(iii) (3 marks): Deduce the effect of increasing the concentration of sodium chloride on the change in mass of the onion tissue. (3)
  26. June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q6(c) (3 marks): Endocytosis and exocytosis are processes that move large molecules into a cell or out of a cell. Compare and contrast the processes of endocytosis and exocytosi
  27. June 2018, Paper 1, Q3(c)(iii) (1 mark): Glycoproteins made in animal cells are released into the extracellular fluid by (1) A endocytosis B exocytosis C facilitated diffusion D phagocytosis
  28. June 2018, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how glucose moves into cells by facilitated diffusion. (2)
  29. June 2018, Paper 2, Q10(b) (2 marks): Describe what happens to lysosomes once their contents have been digested. (2)
  30. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(a) (2 marks): ‘The hunger system is mediated by hormones from the gut and from fat cells’ (paragraph 6). Describe how these fat cells could release hormones. (2)
  31. June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q1(b) (3 marks): Diffusion and active transport are mechanisms by which molecules can enter cells. Compare and contrast these two mechanisms. (3)
  32. June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q6(a) (1 mark): During which period of time did the fluorescence inside the cells decrease at the fastest rate? (1) A 0 to 5 minutes B 0 to 10 minutes C 10 to 15 minutes D 10 t
  33. June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q6(b) (4 marks): The percentage of fluorescence inside and outside these alveolar cells changed. Explain why these changes occurred. (4)
  34. June 2017, Paper 1, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following describes the movement of water by osmosis? (1) A against a solute concentration gradient through a fully permeable membrane B against a
  35. June 2017, Paper 1, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): The concentration of potassium ions inside an animal cell is many times higher than the concentration of potassium ions in the extracellular fluid. Which mechan
  36. June 2017, Paper 1, Q2(b)(iii) (1 mark): Glucose enters cells by facilitated diffusion. Which part of the cell surface membrane allows facilitated diffusion of glucose? (1) A cholesterol B glycolipid C
  37. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q3(b) (2 marks): Describe how glucose enters muscle cells through the cell membrane. (2)
  38. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q3(c) (3 marks): The ratio of glucose to glycogen inside a cell can affect the uptake of water by the cell. This results in a change in cell mass. Cells with different ratios of
  39. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q4(a) (1 mark): Which component of the cell surface membrane is involved in this process? (1) A carrier protein B channel protein C cholesterol D glycolipid
  40. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q4(b) (3 marks): Analyse the data to justify the conclusion of this investigation. (3)
  41. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q4(c) (2 marks): Explain one way in which this investigation could be improved. (2)
  42. June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (4 marks): Describe the function of carrier proteins in a cell surface membrane. (4)
  43. June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the process by which enzymes leave the cells of the pancreas and small intestine. (1)

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