plumiPlant cells, starch and cellulose: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Every Edexcel International A Level Biology exam question on Plant cells, starch and cellulose (specification points 4.1–4.4), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q4(a)(i)
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The whole paper ↗Your answerQ1(c)(ii)
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The whole paper ↗Your answerQ1(b)(iii)
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The whole paper ↗Your answerQ1(b)(ii)
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All 48 questions on Plant cells, starch and cellulose, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the ratio of cellulose to lignin for a one-year-old bamboo plant. (1) : 1
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q4(a)(iii) (3 marks): Explain how the arrangement of molecules in the cell walls of xylem contributes to the high tensile strength of the bamboo plant. (3)
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q4(b) (1 mark): The photograph shows part of the plant cell wall from a bamboo plant. X (Source: © Eye of Science / Science Photo Library) Which are the structures labelled X?
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q3(a) (3 marks): The photograph shows xylem vessels and walls with secondary thickening, as seen using an electron microscope. secondary thickening (Source: © Steve Gschmeissner
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the effect EDTA would have on new cell walls in the roots of type A maize plants. (2)
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Label the tonoplast on the diagram. (1)
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q1(b) (2 marks): Complete the table to show which of these structures would be present or absent in plant leaf cells. (2) if present Structure × if absent amyloplast chloropla
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q1(c)(i) (1 mark): Which structure in the cells of these tubers would store starch molecules? (1) A amyloplast B chloroplast C middle lamella D vacuole
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q1(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the structure of starch enables the potato tubers to have a high energy content. (2)
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the structure labelled X. (1)
- June 2024, Unit 4, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which row of the table describes the structure of cellulose? (1) Type of glucose molecule Type of glycosidic bond alpha (α) A 1–4 alpha (α) B 1–6 beta (β) C 1–4
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Plant cell walls contain cellulose. How many of the following statements about cellulose molecules are correct? contain α‑glucose molecules • • contain 1,4 and
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Name one organelle in a leaf cell that stores starch. (1)
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): How many of the following show the structure of part of a starch molecule? HO HO HO HO O O O O O OH OH OH OH O O O O O O HO HO HO HO CH2OH H OH CH2OH H OH O O H
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): Give one role of starch molecules in a leaf cell. (1)
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1(c) (1 mark): Transparent plastic film can be made from oil‑based plastics or from starch. The photograph shows transparent bio‑plastic film, made from starch. transparent bi
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q4(a) (1 mark): Which type of glycosidic bonds are broken in the digestion of cellulose? (1) A α 1-4 B α 1-6 C β 1-4 D β 1-6
- June 2023, Unit 6, Q1(b)(ii) (3 marks): The scientific report suggested that caffeine affected the production of the cellulose molecules needed for cell division. Describe the structure of a cellulose
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Name a structural molecule in each type of cell wall. (2) Plant cell wall . Prokaryotic cell wall
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how the arrangement of molecules contributes to the physical properties of the cell walls of sclerenchyma fibres. (3)
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q3(b)(iii) (1 mark): Chloroplasts contain starch grains. Which of the following is another structure that contains starch? (1) A amyloplast B plasmodesmata C tonoplast D vacuole
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(a) (2 marks): Name three membrane-bound structures found in some plant cells that are not shown in the diagram. (2) 1 2 3
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q2(c)(i) (1 mark): Label one permanent vacuole on this photograph. (1)
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q2(c)(ii) (2 marks): Give two functions of a vacuole. (2)
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q1(a) (3 marks): Complete the diagram by drawing an amyloplast, a chloroplast and the tonoplast to show their location and relative size in this cell. Label these three structur
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q2(b) (4 marks): Explain how the arrangement of cellulose molecules and secondary thickening in xylem vessels contributes to the physical properties of the cell wall. (4)
- January 2022, Unit 6, Q1(b) (3 marks): Cellulose is a major component of plant fibres. Describe the structure of a cellulose molecule. (3)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q1(b) (3 marks): After cell division, the plant cells produced increase in size. Explain how these plant cells increase in size. (3)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Name these organelles found in cassava root cells. (1)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how the structure of starch relates to its function. (3)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Which is the percentage of the world cassava crop that is grown in Africa? (1) A 33 % B 34 % C 66 % D 67 %
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q6(b)(ii) (1 mark): It is predicted that the world maize production will increase by 2.3 % in the following year. Calculate the world production of maize in the following year. Giv
- June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which molecule is shown in the diagram? CH2OH H OH O OH H OH H H OH (1) A α‑glucose B β‑glucose C starch D sucrose
- June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which is a feature of cellulose molecules? (1) A contain peptide bonds B contain α‑glucose molecules C form microfibrils D are soluble
- June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q8(a) (3 marks): A student drew and labelled a fungal cell. 80S ribosome nucleus cell wall made of chitin glycogen granule vacuole mitochondrion Compare and contrast the structu
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): How many of the following statements about starch are correct? • contains α-glucose and β-glucose molecules • contains amylose and amylopectin • stored in the t
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): How many of the following statements about a cellulose molecule are correct? • contains α-glucose and β-glucose molecules • contains 1,4 glycosidic bonds • form
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q7(c)(ii) (3 marks): Give three differences in ultrastructure between this cell and a cell taken from the root of a plant. (3) 1 2 3
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q1(b) (4 marks): The tip of the pollen tube is protected by an outer layer of pectin. Pectin is a polysaccharide. Starch grains, mitochondria and vesicles are present in the tip
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which part of a plant cell stores starch? (1) A amyloplast B middle lamella C plasmodesmata D tonoplast
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): How many of the following statements about starch are correct? 1. it has a compact shape 2. it contains 1,6 glycosidic bonds only 3. it is a polymer of β-glucos
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): How many of the following contain cellulose? 1. phloem 2. sclerenchyma 3. vacuole 4. xylem (1) A one B two C three D four
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q1(b) (3 marks): Microfibrils are composed of cellulose. The photograph shows the arrangement of microfibrils in a plant cell wall, as seen using an electron microscope. (Source
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q2(c)(i) (1 mark): Name the part labelled X. (1)
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q2(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the function of the part labelled X. (2)
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q6(c) (1 mark): The walls of xylem vessels contain cellulose. Which of the following shows the structure of part of a cellulose molecule? (1) HO HO HO HO O O O O O OH OH OH OH
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q4(b) (2 marks): Plant cells can also be studied using an electron microscope. Name two structures present in animal cells that are not present in a plant cell. (2) 1 2
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which structure in the cells of this plant stores starch? (1) A amyloplast B middle lamella C plasmodesmata D tonoplast
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