plumiDetermining time of death: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 6.5.4 Determining time of death, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 33 questions on Determining time of death, as a list
- June 2025, Unit 4, Q3(a) (1 mark): Which of the following can also be used to determine the time of death of a mammal? (1) A dendrochronology and degree of muscle contraction B degree of muscle c
- June 2025, Unit 4, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): A mammal had been dead for 15 hours. Calculate the body temperature of this mammal in °C. Use the formula: 5 × (temperature in F 32) Temperature in °C = 9 Give
- June 2025, Unit 4, Q3(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how this cooling curve would change if the mammal had more body fat. (3)
- June 2025, Unit 4, Q3(b)(iii) (3 marks): The equation for the cooling curve shown in the graph can be used to determine the time of death. Write the equation for this cooling curve, using the format: y
- January 2025, Unit 4, Q2(a) (1 mark): The identification of insects present on the body can be used to estimate how long a mammal has been dead. Which method uses the numbers and species of insects
- January 2025, Unit 4, Q2(b) (4 marks): Explain why body temperature and the degree of muscle contraction can be used to determine the time of death of a mammal. (4)
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which is the term used to describe the use of insects in determining the time and place of death of a mammal? (1) A chromatography B dendrochronology C forensic
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the following factors provides information about the time of death of a mammal? 1. species of insect 2. size of larvae, e.g. maggots 3. stages in devel
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Which is the most accurate method of measuring the body temperature of a human corpse to determine time of death? (1) A placing a temperature‑sensitive strip on
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Time of death can be estimated by determining the fall in body temperature. Which row of the table shows how more clothing and higher ambient temperature would
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q4(c)(i) (3 marks): The graph shows the changes in three characteristics of muscle with time after the death of a mammal: • ATP • lactic acid • pH lactic acid Changes in the charac
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): The graph shows the changes in the extent of muscle contraction with time after death. Extent of muscle contraction 0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 Time after death / hou
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q9(a)(i) (3 marks): Describe how the time of death of a person can be estimated using this method. (3)
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q9(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the limitations of this method. (2)
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q9(b)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why this study used rat and pig corpses instead of human corpses. (1)
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q9(b)(ii) (6 marks): The graphs show some of the results of this study. Key Rat Pig 8.0 7.5 7.0 pH of 6.5 blood 6.0 5.5 5.0 0 1 3 6 9 24 32 48 72 96 Time after death / hours 14 12 1
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q9(b)(iii) (3 marks): Discuss whether these chemical tests are likely to be useful in determining the time of death of a human. (3)
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q8(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why forensic entomology is the most accurate method for estimating the time of death, if this is greater than 72 hours. (2)
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q8(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how forensic entomology can indicate if a body has been moved from the place of death. (2)
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q8(b)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why the mammal was placed inside a metal cage to decompose. (1)
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the rate of change in mass between day 5 and day 15 of decomposition. Express your answer in kg hr–1. Give your answer to two decimal places. (2). (2)
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q8(b)(iii) (4 marks): Explain the changes in mass of this mammal during decomposition. (4)
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q8(b)(iv) (1 mark): Suggest why some of the insect eggs, collected from the decomposing mammal, were taken back to the laboratory and kept for a few days. (1)
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q8(b)(v) (3 marks): The table shows data on some of the insects collected from this decomposing mammal. Percentage of some of the insect found at each stage of decomposition (%) Ty
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q5(a) (1 mark): The time of death can be estimated using the length of insect larvae. What is the name of the method that uses insect larvae to estimate the time of death? (1)
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean growth rate of these larvae from 25 to 120 hours. Include the units with your answer. (2) Answer
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Comment on the suitability of using this data to estimate the time of death. Use the information in the graph to support your answer. (3)
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q5(b)(iii) (3 marks): Describe how the data shown in this graph could have been collected. (3)
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q5(c) (4 marks): The time of death can be estimated using the body temperature of the corpse. Evaluate the use of the body temperature of a corpse to estimate the time of death.
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q2(a) (1 mark): State how the temperature of a dead body should be measured. (1)
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Body temperature can be used to estimate the time since death using the following information: ● loss of 0.78 °C per hour for the first 12 hours after death ● a
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why this estimate would be different if the body had been left in a colder place. (2)
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q2(c) (3 marks): Explain why using body stiffness only, as shown in the table, is insufficient to estimate the time since death accurately. (3)
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