plumiSexual reproduction in mammals: Edexcel A‑Level Biology B questions
Every Edexcel A-Level Biology B exam question on 2.4 Sexual reproduction in mammals, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q2(a)(i)
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Q2(a)(iii)
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Q2(b)(i)
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Q2(b)(ii)
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Q8(a)
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Q8(b)
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Q3(a)(i)
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Q3(b)(i)
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Q3(b)(ii)
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Q2(a)
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Q2(b)
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Q3(b)(i)
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Q3(b)(ii)
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Q9(a)(i)
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Q9(a)(ii)
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Q9(b)
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Q9(c)
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Q2(b)(i)
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Q8(a)(i)
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Q8(a)(iii)
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All 38 questions on Sexual reproduction in mammals, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which is the name of the cell labelled X? (1) A ovule B ovum C primary oocyte D secondary oocyte
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q2(a)(iii) (3 marks): Compare and contrast the process of oogenesis with spermatogenesis. (3)
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the number of sperm cells that need to be added to four oocytes so that 60% of embryos develop. (1) Answer
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Analyse the data to explain the effects of increasing the number of sperm cells per oocyte on the percentage of embryos that develop. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q8(a) (3 marks): Explain why the timing of the AR is important for successful fertilisation. (3)
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q8(b) (4 marks): A protein is involved in the timings of capacitation and the AR. This protein exists in two forms: protein G and protein G‑P. Protein G‑P results in the stimula
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): At which stage of cell division is cell X? (1) A prophase I of meiosis B prophase II of meiosis C prophase I of mitosis D prophase II of mitosis
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the number of men with partners that have a history of pregnancies not developing to full term that had 25% or less of sperm with DNA damage. (1) Answ
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q3(b)(ii) (4 marks): The scientists concluded that having more than 25% of sperm with damaged DNA leads to a high risk of pregnancies not developing to full term. Analyse the data t
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q2(a) (2 marks): Describe the role of the acrosome in fertilisation. (2)
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(b) (3 marks): Describe how the process of fertilisation results in the formation of a zygote from the gametes in humans. (3)
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): The ratio shown in the graph can be calculated using the formula volume of nucleus ratio = total volume of cell – volume of nucleus On day 2, the volume of the
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q3(b)(ii) (3 marks): Comment on the changes in the ratios as the zygote develops into a blastocyst. (3)
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): Which row of the table shows the type of nuclear division that takes place in spermatogonia and in primary spermatocytes? (1) Spermatogonia Primary spermatocyte
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the following pairs of cells are haploid? (1) A primary spermatocytes and secondary spermatocytes B primary spermatocytes and spermatids C secondary sp
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q9(b) (3 marks): Human sperm cells contain centrioles but human egg cells do not. Explain the role of the centrioles in sperm cells following fertilisation. (3)
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q9(c) (6 marks): Male infertility can be caused by a number of factors related to sperm cells: • low sperm count • structural defects of sperm cells • absence of an acrosome • m
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): The table shows the chromosome number and chromatid number of some of the cells formed during oogenesis in humans. Cell type Chromosome number Chromatid number
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain the significance of mitosis in stage 1 of spermatogenesis. (2)
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q8(a)(iii) (3 marks): Compare and contrast the products of stage 2 and stage 3 in spermatogenesis with the products from these stages in oogenesis. (3)
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q8(a)(iv) (2 marks): Explain the importance of the acrosome that develops during stage 4. (2)
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q8(b) (4 marks): The effect of storage time on sperm was investigated. The table shows some results of this investigation. Storage time Percentage of sperm with Percentage of sp
- October 2020, Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain the advantages of the presence of fructose in seminal fluid. (3)
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q6(a) (4 marks): Describe the process of spermatogenesis. (4)
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q6(b) (2 marks): The mean volume of the semen produced by a male ejaculation is 3.4 cm3. This contains a mean concentration of 17 000 sperm mm–3. Calculate the mean total number
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q6(c) (1 mark): The distance from the point of ejaculation in the vagina to the upper end of the fallopian tube (where fertilisation takes place) is 19 cm. Some sperm travel th
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q6(d)(i) (2 marks): Estimate the fertility of a man who produces a semen sample with: 25 million sperm per cm3 35% of which are motile after 2 hours and 84% of which have nor
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q6(d)(ii) (1 mark): Deduce why fertilisation is unlikely to occur if there are 5 million spermatozoa per cm3. (1)
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which row contains the names for cells P, Q and R? (1) P Q R A germ cell oocyte polar body B germ cell polar body ovum C oocyte polar body ovum D ovum germ cell
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage change in the mean oocyte numbers between birth and 11 to 17 years. (2) Answer
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q6(b)(ii) (1 mark): Deduce when oocytes are produced in a female human. (1)
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): State one structural difference between a spermatid and a mature spermatozoon. (1)
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q6(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why men with azoospermia are infertile. (2)
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q6(c)(iii) (2 marks): Infertility caused by azoospermia can be treated by using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This procedure injects a single spermatid directly into an oo
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q6(c)(iv) (2 marks): Describe two ethical implications of the use of ICSI. (2)
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): The ‘three-parent’ baby produced by this technique will inherit mitochondrial DNA from the (1) A donor female B donor female and father C mother D mother and fa
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q1(b) (4 marks): In mammals, meiosis occurs during oogenesis and spermatogenesis. Describe how the products of oogenesis differ from the products of spermatogenesis in mammals.
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): Explain why mutations in nuclear DNA can be inherited from either the mother or the father whereas mutations in mtDNA are only inherited from the mother. (2)
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