plumiRods and the retina: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 8.3.1 Rods and the retina, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
All papers
All years
Q3(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ3(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ3(d)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ8(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ5(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ5(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ3(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ3(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ3(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ7(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ5(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDF
All 13 questions on Rods and the retina, as a list
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): A section of squirrel monkey retinal tissue contained a total of 5 000 photoreceptors. Calculate how many of these photoreceptors would be rod cells. Assume an
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why there is a difference in the numbers of rod cells and cone cells in the retinas of the grey-bellied night monkey and the squirrel monkey. (3)
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following pairs of molecules forms the photoreceptor in an eye? (1) A auxin and retinol B lysozyme and ribose C opsin and retinal D phytochrome and
- January 2023, Unit 6, Q3(d) (2 marks): This animal has light sensitive pigments called opsins. Suggest how opsins allow the animals to respond in this investigation. (2)
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q8(a) (4 marks): Describe how light is detected by the rod cells in the eye (paragraph 1). (4)
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): In which structure are rod cells located? (1) A iris B pupil C retina D spinal cord
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q5(a)(ii) (3 marks): Describe the role of rhodopsin in rod cells. (3)
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): What is the name of the chemical formed when light is absorbed by the photopigment found in rod cells? (1) A cis‑retinal B phytochrome C rhodopsin D trans‑retin
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which row in the table shows the effects of light absorption on cells in the retina? (1) Rod cell Bipolar neurone A hyperpolarised hyperpolarised B hyperpolaris
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe the effect of light intensity on the mean potential difference of bipolar neurones. (2)
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage change in the mean potential difference when the light intensity increases from 4 to 12 a.u. (2) Answer %
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q7(a)(ii) (4 marks): Describe the role of rhodopsin in causing changes in the polarisation of rod cells. (4)
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q5(a) (3 marks): Explain why mutations in the RPE65 gene can result in blindness. (3)
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? Edexcel International A Level Biology past papers.
The Plumi iPad app also offers exam-style questions with AI feedback on your handwritten working.