plumiMuscles and movement: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Every Edexcel International A Level Biology exam question on Muscles and movement (specification points 7.9–7.11), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q5(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ1(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ1(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ4(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗Q4(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ6(a)(iv)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ8(a)
The whole paper ↗Q7(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ7(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
All 58 questions on Muscles and movement, as a list
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q3(a) (3 marks): Explain why a decrease in calcium ions could disrupt the contraction of muscles. (3)
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following features of pronghorns is an adaptation for running long distances at high speeds? (1) A decreased glomerular filtration rate B increased
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which structure would the anterior cruciate ligament be attached to? (1) A bone B cartilage C muscle D tendon
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q1(a)(iii) (2 marks): In one country, there were 77 anterior cruciate ligament repairs for every 100 000 males in one year. The population of this country in that year was 67 000 000
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the two types of skeletal muscle that are contracted when the arm is held in this position. (1)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how the arm could be straightened by the muscles labelled A and B. (2)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following would shorten when the sarcomere contracts? (1) A region P only B region R only C regions P and R D regions Q and R
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): A diagram of this sarcomere, drawn to the same scale, has a length of 50 mm when contracted. Give the ratio of the lengths of the relaxed sarcomere to the contr
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Name the major protein component that forms structure S in the diagram. (1)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(b) (4 marks): Describe the role of troponin molecules in the contraction of a sarcomere. (4)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Add an appropriate scale to the axes of the graph and draw a line of best fit. (2)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the gradient of the line of best fit. (1) Answer N per percentage increase
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the main type of muscle fibre that is being used in the leg muscles of a sprinter. (1)
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which of the following statements are features of muscle fibres in a long‑distance runner? (1) 1. have reduced blood capillary network 2. have larger number of
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q6(a)(iv) (1 mark): Which of the following explains how muscles contract? (1) A Fick’s law B fluid mosaic model C lock and key hypothesis D sliding filament model
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q8(a) (1 mark): Give a definition for the term sarcopenia (paragraph 1). (1)
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Energy is needed when a muscle contracts. Which row in the table shows the energy use in muscle contraction? (1) Energy in muscle contraction is used to break t
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q7(a)(ii) (4 marks): Describe the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction. (4)
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): State two conclusions that can be drawn about the mean mass of muscles shown in the table. (2)
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Comment on the validity of conclusions drawn from the data for these two groups of ostrich. (2)
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage difference in the mean mass of muscle G of the South African Black and the Zimbabwean Blue ostriches. a b Use the equation: percentage
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q4(a) (1 mark): How many of the following statements about tendons are correct? (1) • tendons act as extensors • tendons are myogenic • tendons connect muscles to bones A 0 B 1
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Which pair of letters represents the length of one sarcomere? (1) A P to T B P to U C Q to T D R to S
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the magnification of this image. Give your answer in standard form. (2) Answer
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q4(b)(iii) (4 marks): Describe how the structure of a fast twitch muscle fibre differs from a slow twitch muscle fibre. (4)
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q4(c) (3 marks): The graph shows the relationship between the force of muscle contraction and the velocity of muscle contraction. Force of contraction Velocity of contraction Th
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which structure contains actin and myosin? (1) A bone B ligament C muscle D tendon
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): What is the function of the part of the joint labelled W? (1) A it acts as an extensor B it acts as a flexor C it acts as a ligament D it acts as a tendon
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain the role of the ligament labelled on the diagram. (2)
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one possible cause of damage to this ligament. (1)
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q6(a) (3 marks): The table compares the percentage of slow twitch fibres in different types of athlete. Range of percentages of slow twitch Type of athlete fibres in muscle (%)
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q6(b) (1 mark): Name the basic unit of contraction in a skeletal muscle. (1)
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which structure joins the bones of the neck together? (1) A actin B ligament C muscle D tendon
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which structure joins a muscle to a bone? (1) A actin B ligament C myosin D tendon
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which chemical group contains actin and myosin? (1) A carbohydrates B fatty acids C nucleic acids D proteins
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain how the knee joint can be held steady in this position as the giraffe drinks. (2)
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Describe the role of ATP in the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction. (3)
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest why a cheetah can maintain this heart rate and speed for only a short period of time. (2)
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q7(c)(i) (3 marks): Explain the difference in the number of mitochondria in these two types of muscle fibre. (3)
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q7(c)(ii) (4 marks): Describe the role of ATP in muscle contraction. (4)
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which structure attaches one bone to another bone at a flexible joint? (1) A actin B ligament C synapse D tendon
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): How many of the statements about joints are correct? (1) • antagonistic pairs of muscles move the bones at a joint • muscles acting on a joint are myogenic • te
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): What is the role of myoglobin in muscle fibres? (1) A it is an enzyme that reacts with myosin B it is part of the sarcolemma involved in the release of calcium
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why the muscles of a sprinter have a high percentage of fast twitch fibres. (3)
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q1(a) (2 marks): Describe the role of calcium ions in producing contraction of a muscle fibre. (2)
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q1(b) (4 marks): The table shows some features of slow and fast twitch muscle fibres. Feature of fibre Slow twitch fibre Fast twitch fibre Number of mitochondria Many Few per fi
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q8(a) (3 marks): Describe the structure of a skeletal muscle fibre (paragraph 2). (3)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q8(c) (4 marks): Explain why the changes that occur to muscle structure and composition in the elderly can affect their ability to rise from a chair (paragraph 4). (4)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q8(d) (3 marks): Explain why Ca2+ binding to troponin C allows muscle fibres to contract (paragraph 5). (3)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q8(e) (2 marks): Explain how the ‘high‑energy phosphates’ provide the energy necessary for muscle activity (paragraph 11). (2)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q8(f) (3 marks): Suggest explanations for the effects that a ‘reduction in tendon stiffness’ resulting from ageing could have on the movement at a joint (paragraph 12). (3)
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q2(a) (3 marks): The muscle strength of the athlete before moderate training was 12.5 a.u. Calculate the muscle strength of the athlete after 12 weeks of moderate training. Give
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q2(b)(i) (3 marks): Describe how the structure of an intermediate fibre will differ from the structure of a slow twitch fibre. (3)
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Comment on the effect of exercise on this muscle. Use the information in the graphs and the table to support your answer. (3)
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which protein forms the structure labelled X? (1) A actin B myosin C tropomyosin D troponin
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which part becomes shorter when the muscle contracts? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): How many of the following statements are correct when a sarcomere contracts? calcium ions bind to troponin calcium ions are released from the sarcoplasmic r
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q4(a)(iv) (1 mark): Which molecule contains an enzyme that hydrolyses ATP? (1) A actin B myosin C tropomyosin D troponin
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