plumiSynapses: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 8.2.1 Synapses, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q1(b)
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All 11 questions on Synapses, as a list
- 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, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which chemical would increase the likelihood of a nerve impulse being initiated at a post‑synaptic membrane? (1) A auxin B dopamine C gibberellin D statin
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q5(a) (4 marks): Describe how a neurotransmitter allows an impulse to be transferred to an adjacent neurone. (4)
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q3(c) (4 marks): Explain how the nerve impulse is transmitted across a synapse. (4)
- 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(c) (4 marks): Mutations in the genes coding for voltage‑gated calcium ion channels have been linked to neurological conditions. Explain how these mutations might cause these
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q8(b) (3 marks): Explain how neurones can respond to different neurotransmitter substances (paragraph 4). (3)
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which substance can transmit a nerve impulse from one neurone to the next one? (1) A acetylcholine B ADP C cholesterol D NADP
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q7(a)(i) (4 marks): Describe how a neurotransmitter transmits a nerve impulse across a synapse. (4)
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q7(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why the release of reduced quantities of dopamine by presynaptic neurones could result in motor symptoms. (3)
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q7(b) (2 marks): It has been suggested that in Parkinson’s disease dopamine-producing neurones die because of a failure to release dopamine. Suggest how the release of dopamine
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