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Mitosis, growth and cancer: Edexcel GCSE Biology questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Biology exam question on Mitosis, growth and cancer (specification points 2.1–2.7), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,834 questions

  1. Q1(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 1(a)(i): Which is the height of an 8-year-old boy on the 10th percentile? (1) A 118 cm B 120 cm C 128 cm D 130 cm

  2. Q1(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 1(a)(ii): The height of a 4-year-old boy was 94 cm. Two years later, his height was 106 cm. Using Figure 1, explain the conclusion that can be made about the growth of th

  3. Q2(c)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 2(c): Cancer occurs when cell division by mitosis is uncontrolled. Describe the properties of cells produced by mitosis. (2)

  4. Q8(c)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 8(c): Cancer occurs when cell division by mitosis is uncontrolled. Describe the properties of cells produced by mitosis. (2)

  5. Q9(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    6 marksMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(a)(i): Describe the three stages of the cell cycle shown in Figure 11. (6)

  6. Q9(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(a)(ii): State what happens to the cell cycle in cancerous cells. (1)

  7. Q9(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    4 marksMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(b)(ii): A parent is concerned that their child is not growing as much as other children. Describe how a doctor might determine if the child is growing as expected. (4)

  8. Q7(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Foundation, question 7(a)(i): State one difference between normal body cells and cancer cells. (1)

  9. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(b)(i): Which is the correct order for the stages of one cell division? (1) A metaphase → prophase → anaphase → telophase B prophase → metaphase → anaphase → telophase

  10. Q4(c)(iv)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(c)(iv): Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of people developing cancer. Which is the description of cancer? (1) A uncontrolled organ division B uncontrolled cell

  11. Q7(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    4 marksMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(a): A student was investigating mitosis in the roots of a garlic plant. Describe how the student could prepare a microscope slide to show mitosis in the growing roo

  12. Q7(b)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(b): Describe what is produced when a single cell divides by mitosis. (3)

  13. Q7(c)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(c): The student observed 89 cells on the microscope slide. Figure 6 shows the number of cells at each stage of the cell cycle. stage of cell cycle number of cells I

  14. Q7(d)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(d): The mitotic index is often used in the diagnosis of cancer. State the effect of cancer on cell division. (1)

  15. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(a)(i): A 10-year-old boy has a height of 140 cm. Which is the percentile range for height for this boy? (1) A 10th to 25th B 25th to 50th C 50th to 75th D 75th to 90th

  16. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(a)(ii): State how percentile charts are used. (1)

  17. Q5(a)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(i): Identify the stages of mitosis shown in cell Q and cell R. (1) cell Q cell R metaphase anaphase A telophase anaphase B C metaphase interphase D telophase interp

  18. Q5(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(ii): Describe two processes that occur in cells during prophase. (2) 1 2

  19. Q5(a)(iii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(iii): State the term used to describe the process which occurs after mitosis, when the cell divides into two. (1)

  20. Q6(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksMitosis, growth and cancer
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(a)(ii): Describe how cancer develops in the liver. (2)
All 39 questions on Mitosis, growth and cancer, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which is the height of an 8-year-old boy on the 10th percentile? (1) A 118 cm B 120 cm C 128 cm D 130 cm
  2. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): The height of a 4-year-old boy was 94 cm. Two years later, his height was 106 cm. Using Figure 1, explain the conclusion that can be made about the growth of th
  3. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(c) (2 marks): Cancer occurs when cell division by mitosis is uncontrolled. Describe the properties of cells produced by mitosis. (2)
  4. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(c) (2 marks): Cancer occurs when cell division by mitosis is uncontrolled. Describe the properties of cells produced by mitosis. (2)
  5. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(i) (6 marks): Describe the three stages of the cell cycle shown in Figure 11. (6)
  6. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): State what happens to the cell cycle in cancerous cells. (1)
  7. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(b)(ii) (4 marks): A parent is concerned that their child is not growing as much as other children. Describe how a doctor might determine if the child is growing as expected. (4)
  8. June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): State one difference between normal body cells and cancer cells. (1)
  9. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Which is the correct order for the stages of one cell division? (1) A metaphase → prophase → anaphase → telophase B prophase → metaphase → anaphase → telophase
  10. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(c)(iv) (1 mark): Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of people developing cancer. Which is the description of cancer? (1) A uncontrolled organ division B uncontrolled cell
  11. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a) (4 marks): A student was investigating mitosis in the roots of a garlic plant. Describe how the student could prepare a microscope slide to show mitosis in the growing roo
  12. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(b) (3 marks): Describe what is produced when a single cell divides by mitosis. (3)
  13. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(c) (3 marks): The student observed 89 cells on the microscope slide. Figure 6 shows the number of cells at each stage of the cell cycle. stage of cell cycle number of cells I
  14. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(d) (1 mark): The mitotic index is often used in the diagnosis of cancer. State the effect of cancer on cell division. (1)
  15. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): A 10-year-old boy has a height of 140 cm. Which is the percentile range for height for this boy? (1) A 10th to 25th B 25th to 50th C 50th to 75th D 75th to 90th
  16. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): State how percentile charts are used. (1)
  17. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Identify the stages of mitosis shown in cell Q and cell R. (1) cell Q cell R metaphase anaphase A telophase anaphase B C metaphase interphase D telophase interp
  18. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe two processes that occur in cells during prophase. (2) 1 2
  19. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(iii) (1 mark): State the term used to describe the process which occurs after mitosis, when the cell divides into two. (1)
  20. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how cancer develops in the liver. (2)
  21. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which structure is labelled Z? (1) A allele B chromosome C spindle D nuclear membrane
  22. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Mitosis produces new cells. Give two reasons why mitosis is important in living things. (2) 1 2
  23. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(iii) (2 marks): Draw one straight line from each stage of the cell cycle to its description. (2) stage of cell cycle description the nuclear membrane breaks down interphase two
  24. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(i) (3 marks): Describe how this could cause cancer to develop. (3)
  25. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): Cell division occurs during the cell cycle. During which stage of the cell cycle is DNA replicated? (1) A anaphase B prophase C interphase D telophase
  26. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the student used the tip of the root. (2)
  27. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): The student could not see the chromosomes inside the cells. State what can be added to the root tip squash to make the chromosomes visible. (1)
  28. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Which stage of mitosis is shown in Figure 2? (1) A prophase B metaphase C anaphase D telophase
  29. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Describe what is happening in Figure 2. (3)
  30. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Which is the correct order for these stages? (1) A Q l R l S l P B R l Q l S l P C R l S l Q l P D Q l S l R l P
  31. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (1 mark): The stage of mitosis labelled S in figure 11 is (1) A anaphase B prophase C telophase D metaphase
  32. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b)(iii) (2 marks): Interphase is part of the cell cycle. Describe what happens during interphase. (2)
  33. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): The cells in Figure 7 were taken from a rapidly growing part of a plant. Which part of a plant has rapidly dividing cells? (1) A chloroplast B epithelium C meri
  34. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which stage of mitosis is shown in cell R? (1) A prophase B metaphase C anaphase D telophase
  35. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(iii) (2 marks): Describe two genetic similarities of the new cells that would be produced by cell Q in Figure 7. (2) 1 2
  36. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(iv) (2 marks): The cells in Figure 7 were heated in hydrochloric acid. State two safety precautions that should be taken when heating hydrochloric acid. (2) 1 2
  37. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain how many cells are produced from one fertilised egg, after two cell divisions by mitosis. (2)
  38. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(c)(i) (3 marks): Describe how the student should use a light microscope to view the squashed root tip. (3)
  39. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(c)(ii) (1 mark): Even though the slide was at the correct magnification, the student could not see the chromosomes in the dividing cells. State what could be done to the slide t

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