plumiSugars and polysaccharides: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 1.1.2 Sugars and polysaccharides, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
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 PDFQ3(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(b)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(b)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(c)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ4(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ3(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 PDFQ3(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(b)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ7(d)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDF
All 48 questions on Sugars and polysaccharides, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q3(a)(i) (3 marks): Describe the structure of starch. (3)
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how colour standards can be used as a semi‑quantitative method of estimating the concentration of starch in a sample. (3)
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q3(a)(iii) (2 marks): Describe the difference between a result obtained from a quantitative test and a result obtained from a semi‑quantitative test. (2)
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q1(b) (3 marks): The table shows some information about the structure of amylose and amylopectin. Put one cross in the appropriate box in each row to show whether the structure
- October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q1(a) (3 marks): Describe the structure of starch. (3)
- June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): The diagram shows part of an amylopectin molecule. Key glucose molecule joined by 1–4 glycosidic bonds glucose molecule joined by 1–4 and 1–6 glycosidic bonds D
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6(a) (3 marks): The table shows some of the bonds found in amylose and amylopectin. Put one cross in the appropriate box in each row to show whether the bond is present in thes
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6(b) (2 marks): When sources of starch are heated in water, amylose moves into the water. The graph shows the percentage of amylose that is lost from four sources of starch at
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6(c)(i) (3 marks): Compare and contrast the effects of temperature on the loss of amylose and amylopectin from rice. (3)
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6(c)(ii) (3 marks): The investigation continued by adding a replacement liquid to finish cooking the rice. The hardness and stickiness of the cooked rice was determined for each re
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6(c)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest why rice should be cooked in a measured volume of water, with the lid on, until all the cooking liquid has been absorbed. Use the information in the tab
- October 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how a urine sample can be tested for glucose. (2)
- October 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Complete the table of results from tests on standard glucose solutions. (2) Glucose concentration Appearance Glucose quantity / g dm–3 Blue 0.0 None Green with
- October 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(iii) (3 marks): Comment on the conclusion that urine glucose concentration is a good indicator of the blood glucose level. Use the information in the table and in your graph to
- October 2023, Unit 4, Q4(a) (1 mark): During the first few days after birth, the milk produced is called colostrum. By two weeks, the composition of the milk has changed and it is called mature brea
- June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Give a reason why the colour intensity is directly proportional to the concentration of sucrose. (1)
- June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest why the line does not start at the origin of the graph. (1)
- June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q3(b)(iii) (1 mark): State why the concentration of maltose and lactose cannot be measured using this test. (1)
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q1(b) (3 marks): The table gives some statements about carbohydrates. For each statement, put one cross in the appropriate box in each row to match the statement to the correct
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(d) (3 marks): Insulin lowers the levels of glucose in the blood. This glucose is taken up by the liver and stored as glycogen. Compare and contrast the structure of glucose w
- June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(a) (4 marks): Describe how the data in the table could have been obtained using a 1% starch solution. (4)
- June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(b) (4 marks): The table shows the results for the four potato varieties. Potato variety Colour King Edward black Nicola very pale blue Purple Congo pale blue Russet dark blue
- June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(d)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the rate of decrease in starch content from day 15 to day 23. Include units in your answer. (2) Answer
- June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(d)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the changes in starch content during the 23 days of this investigation. (2)
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q1(a) (1 mark): This plant grows from a bulb. The bulb contains starch as an energy storage molecule for the crocus. How many of the following statements are correct for starch
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q1(b)(i) (4 marks): Read through the following description of some disaccharides. Complete the description by writing the most appropriate word on the dotted lines. (4) Disaccharid
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q1(a) (4 marks): Polymers are large molecules made of monomers. The table gives information about some of these polymers. Complete the table by filling in the empty boxes with e
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q2(a) (1 mark): Which polysaccharide does the liver store? (1) A amylopectin B cellulose C glycogen D starch
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q6(a) (4 marks): Carbon is found in carbohydrates. The table shows some carbohydrates that may be found in plants and animals. For each carbohydrate, put one cross in the approp
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q3(a)(iii) (3 marks): Explain how the structure of glycogen relates to its role as an energy storage molecule. (3)
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Complete the table to show the ratio of the concentrations of the four types of carbohydrate. (2) Type of carbohydrate Ratio monosaccharide disaccharide trisacc
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q8(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which row of the table shows the carbohydrates with the median concentration and modal concentration in quince juice? (1) Median Mode A raffinose fructose B raf
- October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Which glycosidic bonds are responsible for the branching in glucomannan? (1) A 1‑4 only B 1‑6 only C both 1‑4 and 1‑6 D neither 1‑4 nor 1‑6
- October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q5(b)(iii) (2 marks): If glucomannan could be digested it would cause a gain in weight. Explain why glucomannan could cause a gain in weight. (2)
- October 2020, Unit 6, Q1(a) (2 marks): The tissues of the tubers contain starch molecules. Explain why starch is an energy storage molecule. (2)
- June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Which row of the table shows which of these sugars are monosaccharides and which are disaccharides? (1) Monosaccharides Disaccharides A fructose only glucose an
- June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean concentration of glucose in these three pineapples. Give your answer in g dm−3. (2) Answer g dm−3
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how a test for reducing sugars is carried out. (2)
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q2(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how this investigation should be carried out to give a semi‑quantitative estimate of the concentration of the reducing sugars by comparing the colour of
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q2(a)(iii) (2 marks): It was assumed that the extract contained all the reducing sugars from the food sample. Suggest how this assumption could be tested. (2)
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q2(b) (2 marks): The table shows the results of the investigation. Food Colour of precipitate apple brick red bread green cashew nut no precipitate potato yellow sweet potato or
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q2(c)(i) (3 marks): Explain which food extract would leave the least blue solution when the precipitate is removed. (3)
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q2(c)(ii) (4 marks): Devise a procedure to determine the concentration of reducing sugars in a sweet potato. (4)
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which formula is correct for a monosaccharide? (1) A CnHnO2n B CnH2nOn C C2nHnOn D C2nH2nOn
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): to (iv)? (4) (i) present in cow’s milk A amylose B galactose C lactose disaccharides D sucrose
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): contains only glucose subunits A amylopectin B galactose C maltose carbohydrates D sucrose
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): energy store in animals A amylose B fructose C glycogen polysaccharides D sucrose
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q1(b)(iv) (1 mark): 1 - 6 glycosidic bonds present A amylose B amylopectin C fructose D maltose
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.