plumiLight-dependent reactions: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 5.1.2 Light-dependent reactions, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q6(b)(iii)
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All 19 questions on Light-dependent reactions, as a list
- June 2025, Unit 4, Q6(b)(iii) (4 marks): Describe the roles of the proteins: • RNA polymerase • ribosomal protein • RUBISCO • ATP synthetase. (4)
- January 2025, Unit 4, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Where do hydrogen ions (protons) accumulate? (1) A Q B R C S D W
- January 2025, Unit 4, Q4(a)(iv) (2 marks): Explain the advantages of thylakoids in a chloroplast having a large surface area. (2)
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q9(a) (3 marks): Explain the role of light in the light‑dependent reactions in photosynthesis. (3)
- June 2024, Unit 4, Q7(c) (3 marks): Explain why a lack of water availability in the leaves would decrease the CO2 fertilisation effect. (3)
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which row of the table shows the products of the light‑dependent reactions that are used in the light‑independent reactions? (1) ATP produced by NADP A cyclic p
- October 2023, Unit 4, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which is the site of photolysis? (1) A P B R C T D V
- October 2023, Unit 4, Q1(c) (1 mark): Where do hydrogen ions accumulate for use in photosynthesis? (1) A Q B R C S D V
- October 2023, Unit 4, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Which type of bond is broken in a water molecule? (1) A covalent B glycosidic C hydrogen D ionic
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q5(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain the effect PBF has on the production of oxygen. (3)
- January 2023, Unit 4, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Where do the light‑dependent reactions take place? (1) A Q B S C T D U
- October 2022, Unit 6, Q1(b) (3 marks): Describe how oxygen is produced during photosynthesis. (3)
- October 2021, Unit 4, Q6(b) (2 marks): Explain the role of chlorophyll in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. (2)
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q2(b)(i) (3 marks): The diagram shows cyclic photophosphorylation. Complete the diagram by writing the correct word or words on the dotted lines, labelled D, E, F, G and H. (3) E F
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name one molecule that is produced in non-cyclic photophosphorylation that is not produced in cyclic photophosphorylation. (1)
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q2(b)(iii) (2 marks): Describe the role of photolysis in non-cyclic photophosphorylation. (2)
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q5(a)(iii) (3 marks): Explain the role of light energy in the light-dependent reactions. (3)
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q3(a)(ii) (4 marks): Explain how light energy is converted into chemical energy in the form of ATP. (4)
- January 2020, Unit 4, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the role of chloroplast pigments in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. (2)
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