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Exchange surfaces and diffusion: Edexcel GCSE Biology questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Biology exam question on Exchange surfaces and diffusion (specification points 8.1–8.5), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,834 questions

  1. Q3(c)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 3(c)(ii): Temperature affects the rate of diffusion of gases into and out of cells. State two other factors that affect the rate of diffusion. (2) 1 2

  2. Q6(a)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 6(a): Which process moves carbon dioxide from the blood into the alveolus? (1) A diffusion B osmosis C active transport D transpiration

  3. Q6(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 6(b): State one adaptation of an alveolus that increases the rate of gas exchange. (1)

  4. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 6(a)(i): Name the gas used in respiration that moves from the alveolus into the capillary. (1)

  5. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 6(a)(ii): Name the gas produced by respiration that moves from the capillary into the alveolus. (1)

  6. Q6(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 6(a)(iii): The capillary wall is only one cell thick. Explain how gases move from the alveolus to the capillary. (3)

  7. Q6(a)(iv)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 6(a)(iv): Explain the advantages of red blood cells passing one at a time through this narrow capillary. (3)

  8. Q6(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 6(b): The average number of alveoli in each human lung is 280 million. The surface area of 1 million alveoli is 0.25 m2. Calculate the total surface area of a human l

  9. Q7(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 7(a)(i): Which row of the table shows the conditions needed for oxygen to diffuse from species A into the pond water? (1) concentration of oxygen in concentration of oxy

  10. Q7(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 7(a)(ii): Species B has a surface area of 9 000 μm2 and a volume of 6 000 μm3. Calculate surface area to volume ratio for species B. (2) ratio

  11. Q7(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 7(a)(iii): The surface area to volume ratio for a cell of species A is 1 : 1. The surface area to volume ratio for each cell in species C is 1 : 4. Explain how the differe

  12. Q1(a)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Higher, question 1(a)(iii): Carbon dioxide diffuses from the body of the bloodworm into the water. Give two factors that affect the rate of diffusion. (2) 1 2

  13. Q10(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Higher, question 10(b)(ii): Digested protein is absorbed in the small intestine by diffusion. Figure 15 shows part of the small intestine. lumen of the small intestine villi (Source: © Sci

  14. Q9(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Foundation

    6 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Foundation, question 9(c): Explain how alveoli in human lungs are adapted for gas exchange. Include the names of the gases that are being exchanged. (6)

  15. Q9(a)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2 Higher, question 9(a)(i): Explain why these alveoli have the internal structure shown in Figure 10. (3)

  16. Q9(a)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2 Higher, question 9(a)(ii): How does oxygen move across the alveolar membrane into the capillary? (1) A by osmosis B by active transport C by diffusion D by respiration

  17. Q9(c)

    June 2019 · Paper 2 Higher

    6 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2 Higher, question 9(c): Explain, using Fick’s law, the factors that affect the diffusion rate of molecules into and out of cells. (6)

  18. Q2(a)

    June 2018 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2 Foundation, question 2(a): Figure 2 shows alveoli from a healthy lung. Figure 2 Smoking can cause a condition called emphysema. Figure 3 shows alveoli from a person with emphysema. Figure

  19. Q2(a)(i)

    Specimen · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 2 Foundation, question 2(a)(i): Where does gas exchange take place in the lungs? (1) A alveolus B bronchus C bronchiole D trachea A person had emphysema. This reduces the number of alveoli in

  20. Q2(a)(ii)

    Specimen · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksExchange surfaces and diffusion
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 2 Foundation, question 2(a)(ii): Explain how emphysema would affect the amount of oxygen carried in the bloodstream. (2)
All 24 questions on Exchange surfaces and diffusion, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): Temperature affects the rate of diffusion of gases into and out of cells. State two other factors that affect the rate of diffusion. (2) 1 2
  2. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which process moves carbon dioxide from the blood into the alveolus? (1) A diffusion B osmosis C active transport D transpiration
  3. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(b) (1 mark): State one adaptation of an alveolus that increases the rate of gas exchange. (1)
  4. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the gas used in respiration that moves from the alveolus into the capillary. (1)
  5. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the gas produced by respiration that moves from the capillary into the alveolus. (1)
  6. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a)(iii) (3 marks): The capillary wall is only one cell thick. Explain how gases move from the alveolus to the capillary. (3)
  7. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a)(iv) (3 marks): Explain the advantages of red blood cells passing one at a time through this narrow capillary. (3)
  8. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b) (2 marks): The average number of alveoli in each human lung is 280 million. The surface area of 1 million alveoli is 0.25 m2. Calculate the total surface area of a human l
  9. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Which row of the table shows the conditions needed for oxygen to diffuse from species A into the pond water? (1) concentration of oxygen in concentration of oxy
  10. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Species B has a surface area of 9 000 μm2 and a volume of 6 000 μm3. Calculate surface area to volume ratio for species B. (2) ratio
  11. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): The surface area to volume ratio for a cell of species A is 1 : 1. The surface area to volume ratio for each cell in species C is 1 : 4. Explain how the differe
  12. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q1(a)(iii) (2 marks): Carbon dioxide diffuses from the body of the bloodworm into the water. Give two factors that affect the rate of diffusion. (2) 1 2
  13. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(b)(ii) (3 marks): Digested protein is absorbed in the small intestine by diffusion. Figure 15 shows part of the small intestine. lumen of the small intestine villi (Source: © Sci
  14. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(c) (6 marks): Explain how alveoli in human lungs are adapted for gas exchange. Include the names of the gases that are being exchanged. (6)
  15. June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(a)(i) (3 marks): Explain why these alveoli have the internal structure shown in Figure 10. (3)
  16. June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): How does oxygen move across the alveolar membrane into the capillary? (1) A by osmosis B by active transport C by diffusion D by respiration
  17. June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(c) (6 marks): Explain, using Fick’s law, the factors that affect the diffusion rate of molecules into and out of cells. (6)
  18. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a) (2 marks): Figure 2 shows alveoli from a healthy lung. Figure 2 Smoking can cause a condition called emphysema. Figure 3 shows alveoli from a person with emphysema. Figure
  19. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Where does gas exchange take place in the lungs? (1) A alveolus B bronchus C bronchiole D trachea A person had emphysema. This reduces the number of alveoli in
  20. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how emphysema would affect the amount of oxygen carried in the bloodstream. (2)
  21. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the SA:V ratio for the 2 cm cube. (2)
  22. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give one reason why it is important that human lungs have a high surface area to volume ratio. (1) Oxygen is involved with aerobic respiration in cells.
  23. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the gases that are exchanged across the skin of the earthworm as a result of the earthworm respiring. (2)
  24. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): What is the method in which gases are exchanged across the skin of the earthworm? (1) A active transport B diffusion C osmosis D transpiration

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