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Material cycles: Edexcel GCSE Combined Science questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Combined Science exam question on Material cycles (specification points 9.12–9.15), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,937 questions

  1. Q3(a)

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  2. Q3(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  3. Q3(b)

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  4. Q6(b)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  5. Q6(c)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    6 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  6. Q1(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  7. Q1(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  8. Q3(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  9. Q3(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  10. Q3(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  11. Q1(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  12. Q1(a)(ii)

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  13. Q1(a)(iii)

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    Your answer

  14. Q1(b)

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗
    Your answer

  15. Q1(c)(i)

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  16. Q1(c)(ii)

    June 2022 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  17. Q1(a)

    November 2021 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    1 markMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  18. Q5(b)

    November 2021 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  19. Q1(b)

    June 2019 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗

  20. Q6(a)

    June 2019 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksMaterial cycles
    The whole paper ↗
All 30 questions on Material cycles, as a list
  1. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a) (2 marks): Use words from the box to complete the following sentences about the nitrogen cycle. (2) animals lipids decomposers sugars proteins predators The nitrogen compo
  2. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mass of nitrates from human-made fertiliser that was used by crops in 2020. (2) million tonnes
  3. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b) (2 marks): Nitrate fertilisers are used in the garden. Explain why nitrate fertilisers are used in gardens. (2)
  4. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b) (2 marks): Explain the role of denitrifying bacteria in the nitrogen cycle. (2)
  5. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q6(c) (6 marks): Describe how carbon is cycled through the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. (6)
  6. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): The buffalo is part of the carbon cycle. Use words from the box to complete the sentences. clean decompose energy fertilise glucose water (2) The buffalo gains
  7. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a)(iii) (2 marks): Figure 2 shows part of the carbon cycle. Draw and label an arrow on Figure 2 to show the process plants use to make glucose from carbon dioxide. (2) carbon diox
  8. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Identify the types of microorganism involved in process X and process Y. (2) X. Y
  9. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how crop rotation increases nitrate levels in the soil. (3)
  10. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why increased nitrate levels in the soil improve crop yield. (2)
  11. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the process that transfers carbon from plants to animals. (1)
  12. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Use words from the box to complete the sentences. (2) digestion translocation osmosis photosynthesis respiration transpiration Plants use carbon dioxide from th
  13. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which of these can be a decomposer? (1) A mammal B producer C microorganism D tree
  14. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(b) (1 mark): The water cycle is the movement of water through an ecosystem. Which process is used to obtain freshwater from seawater? (1) A excretion B precipitation C steri
  15. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(c)(i) (1 mark): Give one reason why water is filtered. (1)
  16. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give one reason why water is treated with chemicals. (1)
  17. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q1(a) (1 mark): Name a group of organisms that break down the dead leaves and release mineral ions into the soil. (1)
  18. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(b) (1 mark): Name a group of organisms that break down the dead leaves and release mineral ions into the soil. (1)
  19. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q1(b) (3 marks): Explain how cabbages, earthworms and squirrels contribute to the carbon cycle. (3)
  20. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a) (2 marks): Figure 6 shows the global movement of carbon into or out of the atmosphere. movement of carbon process into or out of the atmosphere in gigatonnes per year phot
  21. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q6(c) (4 marks): Nitrogen is cycled through the environment. Describe the roles of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle. (4)
  22. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Name process G and process H. (2) process G process H
  23. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): What causes the water vapour to condense and form clouds? (1) A the water vapour cools down B the water vapour heats up C the temperature of the water vapour st
  24. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(b) (2 marks): Water from rivers is treated before it is safe to drink. Use words from the box to complete the sentences. (2) filtering fish heating mud pathogens stirring Dur
  25. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(c) (2 marks): Figure 2 shows the Canary Islands. Atlantic Ocean Tenerife Gran Canaria Figure 2 The Canary Islands do not have enough fresh water. Describe how seawater can be
  26. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(b) (3 marks): Explain how cabbages, earthworms and squirrels contribute to the carbon cycle. (3)
  27. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(c) (3 marks): State three ways the concentration of nitrates in soil can be increased. (3) 1 2 3
  28. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q4(c) (3 marks): Farmers use crop rotation to reduce the need to add nitrate fertilisers to the soil. Plants such as peas and beans have a mutualistic relationship with nitrogen
  29. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): What effects will a low nitrate ion concentration in soils have on plants? (1) A reduced growth and darker green leaves B reduced growth and lighter green leave
  30. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which organisms convert nitrogen to nitrate ions during the nitrogen cycle? (1) A bacteria B mammals C fungi D worms

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