Skip to content
Try on iPad

The nature of ecosystems: Edexcel A‑Level Biology B questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology B exam question on 10.1 The nature of ecosystems, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

Find questions1,826
Calculations

1,826 questions

  1. Q8(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    2 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 8(b)(i): Calculate the missing values to complete the table. Write your answers in the table. (2)

  2. Q8(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    3 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 8(b)(ii): Calculate the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for the data in the table. Use the formula 2 6 ∑ d = − r 1 ( ) s 2 − n n 1 (3) Answer

  3. Q8(b)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    3 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 8(b)(iii): The table gives some critical values for the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Level of significance n P = 0.05 P = 0.01 5 1.000 – 6 0.886 1.000 7 0.786

  4. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    2 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 6(a)(i): Describe how the quadrats would be placed randomly. (2)

  5. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    4 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 6(a)(ii): The total number of dandelion plants in this area of grassland was 53. Analyse the data to determine the size of quadrat that gives the most accurate estimate o

  6. Q8(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    1 mark10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 8(a)(i): Give a suitable null hypothesis for this investigation. (1)

  7. Q8(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    3 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 8(a)(ii): The table shows the data the student recorded. Location Number of tar spots per leaf Mean SD 8 17 21 4 15 Near road 12 5 3 7 13 12.93 6.78 18 22 24 16 9 20 17 1

  8. Q8(a)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    3 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 8(a)(iii): The table shows the critical values of t for different degrees of freedom. Degrees of freedom p = 0.10 p = 0.05 p = 0.01 14 1.76 2.14 2.98 15 1.75 2.13 2.95 16

  9. Q8(b)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    2 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 8(b): Justify two improvements to the method used by the student. (2)

  10. Q8(a)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    1 mark10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 8(a): Give a null hypothesis for this investigation. (1)

  11. Q8(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    3 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 8(b)(i): Calculate

  12. Q8(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    3 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 8(b)(ii): The table shows some critical values for this correlation coefficient. Number Level of significance of pairs of values 0.10 0.05 0.01 4 1.000 – – 5 0.900 1.000

  13. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 4(b)(i): Give two limitations of using ACFOR scales to compare the distribution of different plant species. (2)

  14. Q9(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    3 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 9(a): Comment on the shapes of these three ecological pyramids. (3)

  15. Q7(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    3 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 7(b)(ii): The student analysed the data using a t‑test. Calculate the value of t. Use the formula ( x x ) t A B 2 2 ( S ) ( S ) A B n n A B where: x– is the mean for each

  16. Q7(b)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    3 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 7(b)(iii): The table shows the critical values of t for different degrees of freedom. Degrees of freedom p = 0.10 p = 0.05 p = 0.01 20 1.73 2.09 2.85 21 1.72 2.08 2.83 22

  17. Q11(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    5 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 11(a)(ii): The scientists concluded that for all species recorded, the number of flowers of wild plants in lawns decreased 19% in 2020 compared to 2019. Evaluate the metho

  18. Q8(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 8(a): Which of the following should be used to determine if there is an association between length of time since the glacial ice has melted and soil depth? (1) A chi

  19. Q7(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    2 marks10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 7(b)(iii): Explain which statistical test would be most suitable to test this null hypothesis. (2)

  20. Q4(a)(iii)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    6 marks3.3 Biodiversity10.1 The nature of ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 4(a)(iii): It was suggested that the biodiversity index calculated from this survey was an underestimate. Criticise the method used in the survey of the woodland nature re
All 33 questions on The nature of ecosystems, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the missing values to complete the table. Write your answers in the table. (2)
  2. June 2025, Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for the data in the table. Use the formula 2 6 ∑ d = − r 1 ( ) s 2 − n n 1 (3) Answer
  3. June 2025, Paper 2, Q8(b)(iii) (3 marks): The table gives some critical values for the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Level of significance n P = 0.05 P = 0.01 5 1.000 – 6 0.886 1.000 7 0.786
  4. June 2025, Paper 3, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how the quadrats would be placed randomly. (2)
  5. June 2025, Paper 3, Q6(a)(ii) (4 marks): The total number of dandelion plants in this area of grassland was 53. Analyse the data to determine the size of quadrat that gives the most accurate estimate o
  6. June 2025, Paper 3, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Give a suitable null hypothesis for this investigation. (1)
  7. June 2025, Paper 3, Q8(a)(ii) (3 marks): The table shows the data the student recorded. Location Number of tar spots per leaf Mean SD 8 17 21 4 15 Near road 12 5 3 7 13 12.93 6.78 18 22 24 16 9 20 17 1
  8. June 2025, Paper 3, Q8(a)(iii) (3 marks): The table shows the critical values of t for different degrees of freedom. Degrees of freedom p = 0.10 p = 0.05 p = 0.01 14 1.76 2.14 2.98 15 1.75 2.13 2.95 16
  9. June 2025, Paper 3, Q8(b) (2 marks): Justify two improvements to the method used by the student. (2)
  10. June 2024, Paper 3, Q8(a) (1 mark): Give a null hypothesis for this investigation. (1)
  11. June 2024, Paper 3, Q8(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate
  12. June 2024, Paper 3, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): The table shows some critical values for this correlation coefficient. Number Level of significance of pairs of values 0.10 0.05 0.01 4 1.000 – – 5 0.900 1.000
  13. June 2023, Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Give two limitations of using ACFOR scales to compare the distribution of different plant species. (2)
  14. June 2023, Paper 2, Q9(a) (3 marks): Comment on the shapes of these three ecological pyramids. (3)
  15. June 2023, Paper 3, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): The student analysed the data using a t‑test. Calculate the value of t. Use the formula ( x x ) t A B 2 2 ( S ) ( S ) A B n n A B where: x– is the mean for each
  16. June 2023, Paper 3, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): The table shows the critical values of t for different degrees of freedom. Degrees of freedom p = 0.10 p = 0.05 p = 0.01 20 1.73 2.09 2.85 21 1.72 2.08 2.83 22
  17. June 2023, Paper 3, Q11(a)(ii) (5 marks): The scientists concluded that for all species recorded, the number of flowers of wild plants in lawns decreased 19% in 2020 compared to 2019. Evaluate the metho
  18. June 2022, Paper 2, Q8(a) (1 mark): Which of the following should be used to determine if there is an association between length of time since the glacial ice has melted and soil depth? (1) A chi
  19. June 2022, Paper 3, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain which statistical test would be most suitable to test this null hypothesis. (2)
  20. November 2021, Paper 3, Q4(a)(iii) (6 marks): It was suggested that the biodiversity index calculated from this survey was an underestimate. Criticise the method used in the survey of the woodland nature re
  21. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(a) (1 mark): The scientist calculated that the number of mice in the woodland was 1000, using the formula × number of mice = S 1 S 2 L Determine the number of mice that had
  22. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(b) (3 marks): The diagram shows a section of the trap used by the scientist. trap door wire food entrance board Explain how the design of the trap is effective for capturing
  23. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(d) (5 marks): Comment on the claim that the CMR method produces an accurate measure of the population size of mice in the woodland. (5)
  24. October 2020, Paper 3, Q9(c) (1 mark): State why random sampling was used in this investigation. (1)
  25. June 2019, Paper 2, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term ecosystem. (1)
  26. June 2019, Paper 3, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Compare and contrast the distribution of marram grass and elder trees. (2)
  27. June 2019, Paper 3, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how the student could have collected the data shown in the diagram. (3)
  28. June 2018, Paper 3, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how the quadrat sampling should have been carried out. (3)
  29. June 2017, Paper 1, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Which is the correct statistical test to use on these data? (1) A Chi squared test B correlation coefficient C standard deviation D Student’s t test
  30. June 2017, Paper 1, Q5(a)(ii) (3 marks): The student analysed the data using the formula: ∑ 6 d 2 r s = 1 − n n ( 2 − 1 ) ∑ The student calculated d2 to be 108. Use the formula to calculate rs. (3) Ans
  31. June 2017, Paper 1, Q5(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain how the student should use the rs value calculated in (a)(ii) to find the strength of the relationship between these two variables. (2)
  32. June 2017, Paper 3, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Use the results from this quadrat to calculate the total number of white clover plants present in the area of trampled grassland. (2) Answer
  33. June 2017, Paper 3, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): The student used the same method to calculate the total number of white clover plants in the area of untrampled grassland. The student decided that the calculat

Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © Pearson Edexcel, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Every Edexcel A-Level Biology B paper.

Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.