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Photosynthetic pigments: Edexcel A‑Level Biology B questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology B exam question on 5.6 Photosynthetic pigments, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,826 questions

  1. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    5 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 6(b)(ii): The cultures were observed for a further four days. The table shows the observations. Observation Time in culture / Chlorella grown in alternating days Chlorell

  2. Q6(b)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    3 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 6(b)(iii): The scientists chose to use Chlorella as a source of photosynthetic pigments for solar cells. The graph shows the absorption spectra of four photosynthetic pigm

  3. Q3(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 3(a): The graph shows an action spectrum for a filamentous green alga. Rate of photosynthesis / a.u. 400 500 600 700 800 Wavelength / nm A scientist investigated the

  4. Q3(b)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    5 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 3(b): The diagram shows apparatus that can be used to study the effect of light on photosynthesis in pondweed. water light source pondweed Describe how you could modi

  5. Q3(c)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 3(c): Explain why plants have a variety of photosynthetic pigments. (2)

  6. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 6(a)(i): Explain the results of this investigation. (2)

  7. Q6(a)(iii)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    1 mark5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 6(a)(iii): Give one reason why the results may not be accurate. (1)

  8. Q6(a)(iv)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 6(a)(iv): Describe a method that could be used to measure the growth of the plants more accurately. (2)

  9. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 6(b)(ii): Explain why the features of the brightly-coloured plants enable them to grow successfully in the areas where they are not collected by humans. (2)

  10. Q6(a)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 6(a)(i): Explain why these seaweeds have different absorption spectra and action spectra. (3)

  11. Q6(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 6(a)(ii): The diagram shows the position that these seaweeds occupy on submerged rock and the depth to which different wavelengths of light penetrate into the water. red

  12. Q6(b)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 6(b)(i): Calculate how many times more fucoxanthin was extracted using method A compared with method B. (1) Answer

  13. Q6(b)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 6(b)(ii): Explain why different masses of fucoxanthin were extracted using these three methods. (3)

  14. Q11(a)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    6 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 11(a): Devise an investigation to show whether the presence of clover plants affects the concentration of the green pigment chlorophyll in grass plants. (6)

  15. Q4(a)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    1 mark5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 4(a)(i): State the difference between an action spectrum and an absorption spectrum. (1)

  16. Q4(a)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    1 mark5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 4(a)(ii): State how an action spectrum and an absorption spectrum show that chlorophyll is used in photosynthesis. (1)

  17. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    3 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 4(b)(i): Analyse the data to deduce the effect of cadmium on the synthesis of plant pigments. (3)

  18. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    5 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 4(b)(ii): Justify the method used by the scientist. (5)

  19. Q4(a)

    June 2018 · Paper 3

    3 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 3, question 4(a): Describe how you could use chromatography to separate these pigments. (3)

  20. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.6 Photosynthetic pigments
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 3, question 4(b)(i): Plot a graph to show the data for mean chlorophyll content. (2)
All 23 questions on Photosynthetic pigments, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q6(b)(ii) (5 marks): The cultures were observed for a further four days. The table shows the observations. Observation Time in culture / Chlorella grown in alternating days Chlorell
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q6(b)(iii) (3 marks): The scientists chose to use Chlorella as a source of photosynthetic pigments for solar cells. The graph shows the absorption spectra of four photosynthetic pigm
  3. June 2025, Paper 3, Q3(a) (2 marks): The graph shows an action spectrum for a filamentous green alga. Rate of photosynthesis / a.u. 400 500 600 700 800 Wavelength / nm A scientist investigated the
  4. June 2025, Paper 3, Q3(b) (5 marks): The diagram shows apparatus that can be used to study the effect of light on photosynthesis in pondweed. water light source pondweed Describe how you could modi
  5. June 2025, Paper 3, Q3(c) (2 marks): Explain why plants have a variety of photosynthetic pigments. (2)
  6. June 2024, Paper 3, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain the results of this investigation. (2)
  7. June 2024, Paper 3, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): Give one reason why the results may not be accurate. (1)
  8. June 2024, Paper 3, Q6(a)(iv) (2 marks): Describe a method that could be used to measure the growth of the plants more accurately. (2)
  9. June 2022, Paper 3, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the features of the brightly-coloured plants enable them to grow successfully in the areas where they are not collected by humans. (2)
  10. November 2021, Paper 1, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): Explain why these seaweeds have different absorption spectra and action spectra. (3)
  11. November 2021, Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (3 marks): The diagram shows the position that these seaweeds occupy on submerged rock and the depth to which different wavelengths of light penetrate into the water. red
  12. November 2021, Paper 1, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Calculate how many times more fucoxanthin was extracted using method A compared with method B. (1) Answer
  13. November 2021, Paper 1, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why different masses of fucoxanthin were extracted using these three methods. (3)
  14. November 2021, Paper 3, Q11(a) (6 marks): Devise an investigation to show whether the presence of clover plants affects the concentration of the green pigment chlorophyll in grass plants. (6)
  15. June 2019, Paper 3, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): State the difference between an action spectrum and an absorption spectrum. (1)
  16. June 2019, Paper 3, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): State how an action spectrum and an absorption spectrum show that chlorophyll is used in photosynthesis. (1)
  17. June 2019, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Analyse the data to deduce the effect of cadmium on the synthesis of plant pigments. (3)
  18. June 2019, Paper 3, Q4(b)(ii) (5 marks): Justify the method used by the scientist. (5)
  19. June 2018, Paper 3, Q4(a) (3 marks): Describe how you could use chromatography to separate these pigments. (3)
  20. June 2018, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Plot a graph to show the data for mean chlorophyll content. (2)
  21. June 2018, Paper 3, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): The scientist concluded that lead pollution from cars reduces the photosynthesis of plants. Criticise the validity of this conclusion. (2)
  22. June 2017, Paper 1, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): Chromatography can be used to separate MGDG, DGDG and sulfolipid extracted from chloroplasts. The diagram shows the position of these three lipids, P, Q and R,
  23. June 2017, Paper 3, Q8(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why red light was used in this investigation. (2)

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