plumiCell membrane structure and permeability: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 2.1.3 Cell membrane structure and permeability, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q6(a)(i)
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All 64 questions on Cell membrane structure and permeability, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Which structure prevents large polar (hydrophilic) molecules from diffusing through the membrane? (1) A Q B R C T D V
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which structure allows ions to diffuse through the membrane? (1) A P B S C T D U
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which structure allows the membrane to be fluid? (1) A P B Q C S D U
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q6(b) (1 mark): The diagram shows a cholesterol molecule. polar (hydrophilic) region non-polar (hydrophobic) region Which diagram shows the correct position of a cholesterol mo
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q6(c) (3 marks): The graph shows the effect of temperature and cholesterol on membrane fluidity. without cholesterol with cholesterol Membrane fluidity Temperature Describe the e
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q6(d)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the ratio of protein : lipid in membrane A. Give your answer to 2 decimal places. (1) Answer : 1
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q6(d)(ii) (3 marks): Compare and contrast the composition of these three membranes. (3)
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q2(a)(i) (5 marks): Justify each step of a method that could be used to obtain the results shown in the graph. (5)
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Complete the key by naming the molecules. (2)
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): Complete diagram A by labelling the inside and outside of the cell. (1)
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(iii) (1 mark): Draw an arrow next to diagram A to show the net movement of betalain during the experiment. (1)
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): Overton suggested that some types of solute could cross the lipid membrane, whereas other types of solute could not. Explain the difference between these two ty
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q7(b) (2 marks): Langmuir’s model was a single layer of phospholipids. Explain why the phospholipids in a cell membrane cannot be arranged in a single layer. (2)
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q7(c) (2 marks): Gorter and Grendel suggested that there were various types of phospholipid but they were all arranged in a bilayer. Give two ways in which phospholipids can be
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q7(d) (2 marks): The Davson and Danielli model was the first to include proteins. Explain why some membrane proteins would not be able to carry out their transport functions if
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q7(f) (2 marks): In 1972, Singer and Nicolson proposed the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane. Explain why their model has been given this name. (2)
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q1(a) (1 mark): An amoeba changes shape by pushing cytoplasm against the cell membrane, forming long thin projections. State the property of the cell membrane that enables the
- June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q6(c)(ii) (2 marks): The absorption of glucose into the bloodstream requires membrane transport proteins. Explain why glucose cannot diffuse into the bloodstream. (2)
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q6(a) (1 mark): Name the current model for the structure of the cell membrane. (1)
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q6(b) (3 marks): Describe the arrangement of phospholipids in the cell membrane in this model. (3)
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q6(c)(i) (3 marks): Lipid nanoparticles are very small. Calculate the diameter of a lipid nanoparticle with a volume of 0.108 µm3. Use the formula = 4 3 V r 3 Use π = 3.0 (3) Ans
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q6(c)(iii) (3 marks): Explain the arrangements of phospholipids in this lipid nanoparticle that carries mRNA to tissues in the body. (3)
- January 2024, AS Unit 3, Q2(a) (2 marks): Name three types of molecule present in structure A. (2) 1 2 3
- January 2024, AS Unit 3, Q2(b) (3 marks): Some of the evidence for the structure of cell membranes comes from studies of permeability. The solubility of substances A to E in olive oil was determined. Th
- January 2024, AS Unit 3, Q2(c)(i) (3 marks): Explain the results of this investigation. (3)
- January 2024, AS Unit 3, Q2(c)(ii) (5 marks): Describe a procedure that could have been used to obtain the results shown in this graph. (5)
- October 2023, Unit 4, Q1(d)(i) (1 mark): How many of the structures labelled P, T, U and W are made of phospholipids? (1) A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4
- October 2023, Unit 4, Q1(d)(ii) (1 mark): Which describes a phospholipid? (1) A glycerol attached to two fatty acids and one phosphate group B glycerol attached to two fatty acids and two phosphate grou
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Which describes a phospholipid? (1) A hydrophilic fatty acid head and hydrophobic phosphate tails B hydrophilic phosphate head and hydrophobic fatty acid tails
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6(a)(ii) (4 marks): Compare and contrast the structure of the model shown in the diagram with that of the fluid mosaic model of membrane structure. (4)
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Suggest how damage to the cell membrane could result in cell death. (2)
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Cells can repair damage to the cell membrane. This involves fusion of parts of the membrane around the edge of the damage. Explain why parts of the membrane are
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6(b)(iii) (2 marks): Once the membrane has fused together, other processes are needed to complete the repair of the membrane. Suggest what else the cell needs to do to complete this
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Comment on the effect of increasing the concentration of the chemical on the permeability of the membranes to both the pigment and the ions. (3)
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(iii) (5 marks): Devise a method that could be used to obtain the data for the pigment shown in the graph. (5)
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(c) (4 marks): In another investigation, changes in permeability of the membranes were measured over time. The table shows data for the first three hours. Time after addition
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): The shapes show the components of a phospholipid. phosphate group glycerol fatty acid covalent bond Draw a diagram to show the structure of a phospholipid, usin
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which type of bond is found in this molecule? (1) A ester B glycosidic C hydrogen D peptide
- October 2022, Unit 4, Q3(b)(ii) (4 marks): Compare and contrast the structure of the outer membrane of a chloroplast with that of a thylakoid membrane. (4)
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): Draw a diagram of a phospholipid, using the information in the table. (2)
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why an increase in temperature increases the fluidity of the membrane. (2)
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why a decrease in cholesterol increases the fluidity of the membrane. (2)
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(iv) (1 mark): Suggest why a fatty acid with a shorter side chain will increase the fluidity of a membrane. (1)
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): Suggest how the content of the fatty acids in these membranes may have changed. (2)
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest why these changes are necessary for the survival of the fish. (2)
- October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(a)(i) (3 marks): Explain how using a colorimeter allows valid measurements of light transmitted through the betalain solutions. (3)
- October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Compare and contrast the effect of these two salts on the loss of betalain from the beetroot cells. (3)
- October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage difference in colour intensity between calcium chloride and ammonium sulfate at a concentration of 0.01 mmol dm−3. (2) Answer %
- October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(c)(i) (3 marks): Comment on the results shown in the graphs from these two investigations. (3)
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): The magnification of this diagram is 1 × 107. The structure labelled T is 2 units long. What is this unit? (1) A cm B mm C µm D nm
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which structures contain a phosphate group? (1) A Q and R B Q and T C R and S D S and T
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q8(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which ratio of the structures affects the fluidity of this membrane? (1) A Q : T B R : Q C R : T D S : T
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q5(a) (3 marks): The photograph shows part of a cell membrane, as seen using an electron microscope. cell membrane (Source: © Dennis Kunkel Microscopy / Science Photo Library) T
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q5(b) (3 marks): Cell membranes contain cholesterol. The molecular formula of cholesterol is C27H46O. The diagram shows a cholesterol molecule. hydrocarbon tail hydrocarbon ring
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q5(c)(ii) (4 marks): Explain the permeability of cell membranes to each chemical shown in the diagram. (4)
- January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q3(b)(iii) (3 marks): Detergent permanently damages beetroot cell membranes. Explain what will happen to the rate of loss of betalain if these discs are then transferred to test tube
- January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q3(b)(iv) (3 marks): In a second investigation, the effect of temperature on beetroot cell membrane permeability was studied. The graph shows the results of the second investigation
- January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q3(b)(v) (3 marks): Estimate the percentage of light transmitted at 80 °C. Use the information in the graph and your own knowledge to support your answer. (3)
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the volume of this liposome, using the formula V = 4 3 πr3 (2) Answer
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the arrangement of phospholipids in liposomes. (2)
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Describe the effects of cholesterol and temperature on membrane permeability, as shown in the graph. (3)
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why cholesterol and temperature affect membrane permeability. (2)
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Estimate the ratio of phosphatidylserine in the inner layer to that in the outer layer before the blood clotting process is triggered. (1) Answer
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the effect that the movement of phosphatidylserine into the outer layer will have on the content of phospholipids in the membranes of platelets. (2)
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