plumiEvolution and speciation: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Every Edexcel International A Level Biology exam question on Evolution and speciation (specification points 5.23–5.24), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q9(c)
The whole paper ↗Q8(c)
The whole paper ↗Q8(b)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)(iv)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(b)
The whole paper ↗Q7(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ6(a)
The whole paper ↗Q6(c)
The whole paper ↗Q2(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
All 17 questions on Evolution and speciation, as a list
- June 2025, Unit 4, Q9(c) (4 marks): The types of rice plants most susceptible to infection with RYMV are those imported from Asia into Africa. Explain why rice plants from Africa are less suscepti
- June 2024, Unit 4, Q8(c) (6 marks): The study analysed the genomes of the Saluan people and the Bajau people to identify any genetic relationships that correlated with spleen volume. The scientist
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q8(b) (4 marks): Explain why the frequency of the BtPMaT1 gene increases in the whitefly population (paragraphs 3 and 6). (4)
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q3(a) (2 marks): State the meaning of the term sympatric speciation. (2)
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q3(b) (1 mark): Which row of the table represents sympatric speciation? The shapes shaded dark grey represent the original species and the shapes shaded light grey represent th
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): Suggest two adaptations needed for this change in behaviour of the flies. (2)
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): Explain what had to occur for changes in these flies to be inherited. (3)
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q3(c)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why it is an advantage for the hawthorn fly and the apple maggot fly to lay their eggs in the fruits of different plants. (2)
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q3(c)(iv) (2 marks): Suggest how these flies became reproductively isolated. Use the information in the diagram to support your answer. (2)
- October 2022, Unit 6, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): In breeding experiments, scientists select varieties of wheat with different characteristics. Explain why some varieties of wheat have different tolerances to a
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q4(a) (4 marks): There are many different species of lemur, all of which evolved from one common ancestor. This common ancestor is thought to be a primate that was carried acros
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest why the evolution of resistance to these chemicals occurs so quickly in flies. (1)
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q6(b) (6 marks): An investigation was carried out to see if the presence of stripes on cattle reduced the number of biting flies on their bodies. Three groups of black cattle we
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Which enzyme is used to cut the DNA into fragments? (1) A DNA polymerase B integrase C restriction enzyme D reverse transcriptase
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q6(a) (1 mark): The volume of the smallest walnut is approximately 50 cm3. Calculate the approximate volume of the largest hazelnut, using the formula volume = 4 3 π l w2 where
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q6(c) (3 marks): Suggest how ground squirrels evolved pouches. (3)
- January 2020, Unit 4, Q2(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how microorganisms could evolve to break down plastics. (3)
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