plumiNeurones and nerve impulses: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Every Edexcel International A Level Biology exam question on Neurones and nerve impulses (specification points 8.1–8.5), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q1(a)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗Q4(c)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ4(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(d)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ1(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ1(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ1(c)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ2(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ3(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)
The whole paper ↗
All 53 questions on Neurones and nerve impulses, as a list
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q1(a) (2 marks): Complete the diagram by naming the parts labelled A to C. (2)
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q1(b) (3 marks): Describe how a nerve impulse is conducted across the synapse between neurones. (3)
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q4(a) (4 marks): Describe how an action potential is produced in an axon. (4)
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q4(b) (2 marks): Axon membranes are permeable to potassium ions. The graph shows the permeability of an axon membrane to potassium ions after the start of an action potential. 2
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q4(c) (1 mark): The resting potential in a neurone is the result of the difference in concentration of ions on the outside and inside of the axon when no impulse is being trans
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q4(d)(i) (2 marks): Explain the effect of an increase in temperature on the speed of a nerve impulse along an axon. (2)
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q4(d)(ii) (2 marks): The effect of axon diameter and myelination on the speed of an impulse in four neurones was investigated. The table shows the results of this investigation. Axo
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q1(a) (1 mark): Draw an arrow on the diagram to show the direction of a nerve impulse. (1)
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Which is the resting potential for this neurone? (1) A –90 mV B –70 mV C +48 mV D +70 mV
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which letter on the graph shows where the neurone is hyperpolarised? (1) A U B V C W D X
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): Which is the difference in membrane potential between points V and W on the graph? (1) A 40 mV B 50 mV C 90 mV D 140 mV
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q1(c) (2 marks): Give two differences between the functions of a motor neurone and a sensory neurone. (2)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q5(c)(i) (3 marks): Draw a myelinated motor neurone and label two structures. (3)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q5(c)(ii) (3 marks): A different neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin inhibits the transmission of nerve impulses along axons. In an experiment, axons of motor neurones were stimulated in
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which row shows the events that happen during depolarisation of a neurone? (1) Sodium channels Membrane potential A closed decreasing B closed increasing C open
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q2(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain what happens during repolarisation in a neurone. (3)
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q2(b)(iii) (3 marks): Explain how myelinated neurones enable a greater speed of transmission in a neurone. (3)
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Which receptors detect a change in light intensity and stimulate an action potential? (1) A baroreceptors B chemoreceptors C osmoreceptors D photoreceptors
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): A reflex arc carries a nerve impulse from receptors in the skin to the central nervous system in a human. Describe the structures that a nerve impulse passes th
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q3(c) (2 marks): A person with ADEM has problems with walking. Explain why ADEM causes problems with walking. (2)
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q8(f) (2 marks): “Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a… demyelinating disease of the nervous system” (paragraph 14). Symptoms of MS include poor coordination and loss of vision. Explain
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Which description of the movement of ions will produce an action potential in an axon? (1) A K+ ions move into the axon B K+ ions move out of the axon C Na+ ion
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which row describes the events that occur during repolarisation of a neurone? (1) Sodium ion channel Membrane potential A closed decreasing B open decreasing C
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q3(b) (3 marks): Describe the structure of a spinal reflex arc. (3)
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Complete the table by filling in the names of each labelled part. (2) Label Part L M N O
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q3(b)(iii) (3 marks): The nerve shown in the photograph contains many myelinated neurones. Explain why a myelinated neurone conducts an impulse faster than a non‑myelinated neurone o
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q8(c) (3 marks): Explain how capsaicin could activate nerve cells causing a pain sensation (paragraph 4). (3)
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q8(d) (3 marks): Explain how changes in ion channel protein can result in nerve impulses in the nervous system (paragraph 5). (3)
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Which term describes the space between a sensory neurone and a relay neurone? (1) A axon B cell body C postsynaptic membrane D synaptic cleft
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q5(a)(ii) (3 marks): Compare and contrast the function of a sensory neurone and a motor neurone. (3)
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q5(b) (3 marks): Guillain‑Barré syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system. The immune system damages the myelin sheath surrounding the axons of individuals with Guillain‑Barr
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q8(e) (4 marks): Explain how reflex circuits in the gut cause a bolus to move (paragraphs 10 and 11). (4)
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): A beluga whale can respond to a stimulus using a spinal reflex arc. Which row is correct? (1) Location of cell body on Location of relay neurone the sensory neu
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q6(b) (2 marks): The diagram shows the change in membrane potential as an action potential is transmitted in a motor neurone. 30 0 membrane 2 potential / mV –55 1 –70 3 time Exp
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q6(c)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the percentage difference in the gradient of the myelinated and non‑myelinated neurones. The gradient for non‑myelinated neurones is 0.5. The equation
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q6(c)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why the speed of conduction differs in myelinated and non‑myelinated neurones. (3)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which component of the nervous system continues a reflex arc immediately after the receptor has been stimulated by the stimulus? (1) A motor neurone B relay neu
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which pathway shows a reflex arc? (1) A muscle receptor brain B muscle spinal cord brain C receptor spinal cord muscle D spinal cord brain muscle
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q2(b)(i) (3 marks): Describe how the resting potential of −70mV is maintained in the axon when no pressure is applied. (3)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Suggest how a change in pressure at the Pacinian corpuscle causes an action potential in the axon. (3)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q2(b)(iii) (3 marks): Explain why the membrane potential at electrode Y was the same when medium or high pressure was applied to the fingertip. (3)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q3(a) (3 marks): A myelinated axon conducts impulses faster than a non-myelinated axon of the same diameter. Explain this difference. (3)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q3(b) (2 marks): Polyneuropathy is a disorder that damages the myelin sheath of neurones throughout the body. One symptom is muscle weakness. Muscle weakness is the reduced stre
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q3(c) (2 marks): Dementia is a condition associated with the ongoing decline of brain functioning. There are many types of dementia. The relationship between myelin in brain tis
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which is the resting potential for this axon? (1) A –70 mV B –78 mV C 38 mV D 108 mV
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Both voltage-gated sodium and voltage-gated potassium ion channels are involved in generating an action potential. Which of these voltage-gated channels are ope
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which is the state of polarisation of the membrane at Z? (1) A depolarised B hyperpolarised C hypopolarised D unpolarised
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q1(a)(iv) (1 mark): How many of the following statements are correct? the magnitude of the action potential is proportional to the strength of stimulus that generates the action
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q1(b) (3 marks): Explain why maintaining a resting potential requires ATP. (3)
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Which type of cell produces myelin? (1) A neurone B rod cell C Schwann cell D lymphocyte
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which row correctly compares the conduction of an impulse along a myelinated neurone with conduction along a non-myelinated neurone? (1) Compared with a non-mye
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q6(b) (4 marks): Describe the role of ion transport in maintaining the resting potential of a neurone. (4)
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q6(c) (3 marks): The pufferfish produces a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin (TTX). The graph shows the effect of TTX on the nerve impulse in an axon. +50 Membrane 0 untreated axon
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? Every Edexcel International A Level Biology paper.
Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.