plumiNiche, adaptation and Hardy-Weinberg: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Every Edexcel International A Level Biology exam question on Niche, adaptation and Hardy-Weinberg (specification points 4.19–4.20), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q8(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ2(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)
The whole paper ↗Q5(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ6(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q8(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q8(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ8(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q8(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q8(d)
The whole paper ↗Q5(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q8(a)
The whole paper ↗
All 47 questions on Niche, adaptation and Hardy-Weinberg, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q8(c)(ii) (6 marks): Explain how reproductive isolation could have led to the formation of these three species. Use your own knowledge and all the information from question 8 to sup
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which is the value for 2pq if p2 = 0.36? (1) A 0.06 B 0.16 C 0.48 D 0.64
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Albino rabbits in this population have the genotype bb. State the part of the equation that represents this genotype. (1)
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q2(b) (4 marks): A viral disease has killed many of the rabbits on Lokrum Island. Several genes are involved in protecting rabbits from this virus. Explain how this viral diseas
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q5(d)(i) (1 mark): How many of the peony plants in this population are heterozygous for gene PS105? (1) A 15 B 60 C 340 D 350
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): It has an exoskeleton and 200 poison glands. Suggest why this millipede has these adaptations. (2) Hard exoskeleton Poison glands
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q8(c)(i) (1 mark): The Caspian breed has small hooves in proportion to its mass, whereas the closely-related Arabian breed has large hooves in proportion to its mass. Suggest one
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q8(c)(ii) (3 marks): The table shows some information about one gene for a population of 400 Caspian horses. two copies of the two copies of the Genotype heterozygous dominant allel
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q3(a) (2 marks): Explain two anatomical adaptations of these penguins that enable them to survive in this environment. Use the information in the question to support your answer
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q3(b)(ii) (5 marks): Explain how different species of gentoo penguin could have formed. Use the map to support your answer. (5)
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how scientists could determine if a change in the frequency of the recessive allele was occurring over time. (2)
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Migration is an example of which type of adaptation? (1) A anatomical B behavioural C isolational D physiological
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q8(a)(ii) (4 marks): Explain how isolation caused the formation of six fox populations with different characteristics. Use the information in the question to support your answer. (4
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the Hardy–Weinberg equation can be used to show the change in the frequency of a recessive allele in the Santa Cruz population from 1994 to 2000. (2
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term niche. (1)
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): The mimic octopus has the same banding pattern as the venomous sea snake. Name this type of adaptation. (1)
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest why the mimic octopus would change its appearance to look like a flat fish and a venomous sea snake. (2) Flat fish Venomous sea snake
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q8(d) (3 marks): The table shows some information about a population of 100 cats. Colour of cat Black Black White Genotype BB Bb bb Part of Hardy–Weinberg p2 2pq q2 equation Num
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest why the female humphead cichlids have this behavioural adaptation. Give a reason for your answer. (2)
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q8(a) (1 mark): Give one reason for a named anatomical adaptation of this snow leopard that enables it to occupy its niche. Use the information in the photograph to support you
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q8(d)(i) (2 marks): The northern and central locations are separated by a desert region. The width of the region is shown by the line labelled X on the map. Calculate the width of
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q8(d)(ii) (6 marks): Explain how these subspecies of snow leopard could form. Use the information in the question to support your answer. (6)
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q8(a)(ii) (3 marks): If the incidence of AD was 1 in 300 000, and the population was 7 800 000 000, then 26 000 people would have AD. Calculate how many people do not have a mutant
- January 2023, Unit 4, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): Suggest the advantages of: • laying the egg in the sand • the adults leaving the site • the young birds being able to fly. (3)
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q7(d) (3 marks): The drawing shows two A. citrinellus cichlids. melanic phenotype – gold phenotype – black with white stripes orange with black mottling The gold phenotype is ca
- June 2022, AS Unit 2, Q5(b) (6 marks): It is suggested that both of these Hawaiian honeycreeper species evolved from the same common ancestor. Explain how these two species of honeycreeper could have
- June 2022, Unit 4, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why a large proportion of these male birds no longer sing the characteristic songs of regent honeyeaters. (1)
- June 2022, Unit 4, Q5(b) (6 marks): The photographs show gerenuk and a springbok to the same magnification. gerenuk (Source: © David Havel / Alamy Stock Photo) springbok The table gives some infor
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q9(b)(i) (3 marks): Complete the table to show the type of adaptations shown by this tortoise. (3) Feature Type of adaptation long neck shell that arches above neck making themselv
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q9(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one selection pressure that results in the development of one of these features. (1)
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q9(d) (2 marks): Scientists thought that a recessive allele was changing in frequency in the tortoise population. Explain how the change in frequency of this allele could be det
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which row of the table describes the types of adaptation of polar bears? (1) Anatomical Behavioural Physiological produces hunting by sitting A thick fur coat m
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q1(b) (1 mark): What is the niche of a polar bear? (1) A produces metabolic water B the Arctic Circle C controls the population size of seals D uses the layer of fat beneath th
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q1(c) (2 marks): Suggest why the polar bear needs to rely on the store of fat to provide it with water. (2)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term habitat. (1)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q2(c) (2 marks): Common wombats dig burrows to live in. They have adaptations to help them to do this successfully. Describe two anatomical adaptations of a common wombat that h
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q6(c) (6 marks): Some plants contain chemicals that protect them from being eaten by animals. These chemicals taste bitter and can be converted by enzymes into hydrogen cyanide.
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q2(a) (2 marks): This caterpillar is adapted to its niche. Complete the table to show the type of adaptations shown by this caterpillar. (2) Feature Type of adaptation looks lik
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q7(d) (6 marks): Insecticides are chemicals used to kill insects. Anopheles mosquitoes have developed resistance to the insecticides currently used. Metarhizium pingshaense is a
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q8(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe two anatomical adaptations of the Tristan albatross that enable it to occupy its niche. Use the information in the photograph to support your answer. (
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q8(c) (4 marks): Tristan albatross chicks in nests on one island have been found to be at risk of predation from mice. The diagram shows an albatross chick and two mice on this
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): Design a laboratory investigation to find out which of these three types of nut ground squirrels prefer to eat. (3)
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): Predict the results of this investigation, giving reasons. Use the information in the table to support your answer. (3)
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q4(b) (3 marks): Suggest the advantages of tendrils for the pea plant. (3)
- January 2020, Unit 4, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain which examples of adaptation are illustrated by this moth. (2)
- January 2020, Unit 4, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest two advantages to the Oriental blue clearwing of resembling bees. (2)
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q8(c) (3 marks): In a beaver population, the frequency of a recessive homozygous genotype is 0.09. Calculate the percentage of beavers in this population that are homozygous for
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