plumiDiffusion, active transport, endocytosis and exocytosis: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 2.2.2 Diffusion, active transport, endocytosis and exocytosis, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
All papers
All years
Q2(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ7(d)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ3(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ3(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ3(b)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ3(c)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ3(d)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ3(e)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ8(e)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ7(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ9(b)(v)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(b)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(b)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ1(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ5(c)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDF
All 29 questions on Diffusion, active transport, endocytosis and exocytosis, as a list
- 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, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Liver cells take up cholesterol by endocytosis. Explain how an increase in these LDL receptors will help to reduce blood cholesterol levels. (2)
- 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
- October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): Suggest two factors that may affect the rate of diffusion of the antimicrobial molecules. (2) 1 2
- 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, Q3(a) (1 mark): Which pair of membrane transport mechanisms only involves a solute moving down a concentration gradient? (1) A active transport and diffusion B active transport
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q3(b) (1 mark): Which of the following transport mechanisms involve carrier proteins in the membrane? • active transport • diffusion • exocytosis (1) A active transport only B
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q3(c) (1 mark): Which cell transport mechanism is used to take large particles or bacteria into a cell? (1) A active transport B endocytosis C exocytosis D facilitated diffusio
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q3(d) (1 mark): Which cell transport mechanism moves small lipid-soluble molecules through the membrane? (1) A active transport B diffusion C facilitated diffusion D osmosis
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q3(e) (1 mark): Channel proteins are involved in facilitated diffusion. Which row of the table describes the charge on the R groups on the amino acids of a channel protein? (1)
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q8(e) (2 marks): Suggest how insulin increases the uptake of glucose by muscle cells (paragraph 7). (2)
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q7(c)(i) (3 marks): Explain how the LDL‑R is involved in endocytosis of LDLs. (3)
- June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q9(b)(v) (2 marks): Energy is needed to maintain the concentration of ions inside the osmoconformers. Explain what this energy is being used for. (2)
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q1(b) (4 marks): The student suggested that magnesium ions are taken up by active transport. Explain why the student came to this conclusion. Use the information in the graph to
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q6(a) (3 marks): Explain how ions can cross the cell membrane. (3)
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q6(b) (6 marks): Ions are found within fluids in the human body in different concentrations. The graph shows the concentration of ions in intracellular fluid (cytoplasm), extrac
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): How does a nonpolar molecule move through a cell membrane, down a concentration gradient into a cell? (1) A by active transport B by diffusion C by exocytosis D
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): How many of the following statements are correct for the transport of a substance by endocytosis? • transports substances out of the cell • the cell membrane su
- October 2022, Unit 4, Q5(c) (4 marks): Albumin binds to and activates a proton channel, hHv1. This proton channel is present in the membranes of sperm cells. When the channel is activated, sperm cell
- October 2022, Unit 6, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the rate of diffusion per minute between 1 and 2 hours. (1) µg cm–3 min–1
- October 2022, Unit 6, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): The rate of diffusion between 4 and 5 hours is 0.40 µg cm–3 min–1. Calculate the percentage decrease in the rate of diffusion between 1 and 2 hours and between
- October 2022, Unit 6, Q2(a)(iv) (2 marks): Caffeine is a polar molecule. Explain the difference in the rate of diffusion between 1 and 2 hours compared with the rate of diffusion between 4 and 5 hours. (
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Which part would contain the statement: uses proteins? (1) A II B III C IV D VII
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which part would contain the statement: needs energy in the form of ATP? (1) A II B V C VI D VII
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which part would contain the statement: solutes can only move down a concentration gradient? (1) A II B III C V D VII
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q8(c) (6 marks): The diagram and table give information about some molecules found inside and outside a cell. Molecule Key Description small dipolar molecule consisting of two E
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q5(c)(ii) (4 marks): Explain the permeability of cell membranes to each chemical shown in the diagram. (4)
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe the role of channel proteins in the facilitated diffusion of lysins. (2)
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): How does glycerol pass through the liposome membrane? (1) A active transport B diffusion C endocytosis D osmosis
Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © Pearson Edexcel, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Edexcel International A Level Biology past papers.
The Plumi iPad app also offers exam-style questions with AI feedback on your handwritten working.