plumiCell structure: Edexcel International GCSE Biology questions
Every Edexcel International GCSE Biology exam question on Cell structure (specification points 2.2–2.6), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q1(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)(iv)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)
The whole paper ↗Q1(d)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(d)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)
The whole paper ↗Q6(b)
The whole paper ↗Q6(c)
The whole paper ↗
All 60 questions on Cell structure, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which structure is the site of respiration? (1) A P B R C T D U
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which structure contains chromosomes? (1) A P B Q C R D T
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q1(a)(iv) (1 mark): Which structure is the cell membrane? (1) A P B Q C R D U
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q1(b) (1 mark): Euglena has some structures that are found in plant cells but not in animal cells. Which labelled structure is found in plant cells but not in animal cells? (1)
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q1(d) (3 marks): Explain which two labelled structures allow Euglena to move through water. Refer to the diagram and your own knowledge in your answer. (3) 1 2
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): In which of the labelled structures does protein synthesis occur? (1) A cell membrane B mitochondrion C nucleus D ribosome
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): All cells have cell membranes. Which of the labelled structures are also found in plant cells? (1) A mitochondrion and nucleus only B mitochondrion and ribosome
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): The volume of a villus cell is 2500 µm3. Calculate the ratio of the volume of a villus cell to the volume of a sperm cell. Give your answer in the form n : 1 (3
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q3(b)(ii) (4 marks): Using the information in the table, comment on the importance of mitochondria to the activities of different cell types. (4)
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): The actual diameter of the Chlorella is 10 µm. Calculate the magnification of the diagram. [1 mm = 1000 µm] (2) magnification =
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the volume of the Chlorella. Assume Chlorella is a sphere with a radius (r) of 5.00 µm. [volume of sphere = 4 3 πr3 π = 3.14] (2) volume = µm3
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): The cytoplasm contains a very large chloroplast. Describe the function of the chloroplast. (2)
- November 2024, Paper 2, Q3(a) (2 marks): Describe how stem cells are different from most body cells. (2)
- November 2024, Paper 2, Q3(d) (3 marks): Blood stem cells can be used to treat blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia which affects red blood cells and leukaemia which affects white blood cells. E
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): The actual length of the tick, as shown by line A-B, is 3.5 mm. Calculate the magnification of the image of the tick. (2) magnification = ×
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Some structures in these onion cells are also found in human red blood cells. Which row in the table is correct for human red blood cells? (1) Cell wall Cytopla
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(b) (2 marks): The line P–Q shown on the diagram has an actual length of 25 µm. [1000 µm = 1 mm] Calculate the magnification of the diagram. (2) magnification = ×
- November 2023, Paper 2, Q6(a) (2 marks): Describe how stem cells are different from other cell types. (2)
- November 2023, Paper 2, Q6(b) (3 marks): Stem cells from a donor can be used for stem cell therapy. Human blood cells are produced in bone marrow. Explain how using stem cells from the bone marrow enab
- November 2023, Paper 2, Q6(c) (2 marks): One type of stem cell transplant uses a patient’s own stem cells. They can be used if the patient is producing enough healthy bone marrow cells. These cells can
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Which structure is the cell vacuole? (1) A P B R C S D T
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which structure is the site of photosynthesis? (1) A P B Q C R D T
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q3(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which structure is the cell wall? (1) A P B Q C S D T
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q3(a)(iv) (1 mark): Structure U is the site of protein synthesis in the cell. What is the name of structure U? (1) A chloroplast B mitochondrion C ribosome D starch granule
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): What is the function of ribosomes? (1) A photosynthesis B protein synthesis C respiration D storage of cell sap
- June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which structure is the vacuole? (1) A F B G C H D I
- June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which structure is the nucleus? (1) A F B G C H D J
- June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q2(b) (3 marks): The actual length of the root cell from P to Q is 80 µm. Determine the magnification of the diagram. [1000 µm = 1 mm] (3) magnification = ×
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Which structure is labelled M? (1) A cell membrane B cell wall C nucleus D vacuole
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which structure is labelled N? (1) A cell membrane B cell wall C cytoplasm D vacuole
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these labelled structures would also be present in an animal cell? (1) A cell membrane and chloroplast B cell membrane and mitochondrion C cell wall an
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which structure is the nucleus? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which structure is not found in human white blood cells? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b) (3 marks): The actual width of the cell from P to Q is 125 μm. Determine the magnification of the diagram. [1 mm = 1000 μm] (3) magnification =
- January 2022, Paper 2, Q1(g)(i) (2 marks): Read the passage below. Use the information in the passage and your own knowledge to answer the questions that follow. Making Enough Blood for the World A blood
- January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): In which of the labelled structures in the yeast cell does aerobic respiration occur? (1) A mitochondrion B nucleus C ribosome D vacuole
- January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q3(a) (4 marks): Give the names of structures labelled W, X, Y and Z. (4) W X Y Z
- January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q3(b) (2 marks): The actual length of the cell, along the line between A and B, is 1000 µm. Calculate the magnification of this drawing. (2) magnification =
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q6(a) (1 mark): State the role of the cell membrane. (1)
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q7(a) (2 marks): Explain the importance of cell differentiation in the development of the growing embryo. (2)
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Which of these is a feature of adult stem cells? (1) A they do not divide B they divide by meiosis C they can become all cell types D they are found in some tis
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Adult stem cells or embryonic stem cells can be used in medical treatments. Explain why the choice between these two types of stem cells can cause issues for do
- June 2021, Paper 1, Q1(a) (4 marks): Complete the table by naming pieces of laboratory apparatus that can be used to help obtain these values. The first one has been done for you. (4) Value Apparat
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q1(b) (2 marks): The middle piece of the sperm cell contains mitochondria. Explain the function of these mitochondria. (2)
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q10(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name the structure labelled A in the diagram. (1)
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q3(a) (1 mark): A student uses a light microscope to look at a human cheek cell. The student makes this drawing of the cell. Name the organelle shown in the drawing. (1)
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q3(b) (2 marks): Mitochondria are organelles that are too small to be seen using a light microscope. The drawing shows a mitochondrion that has been magnified. 60 mm The actual
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): What is the mean number of mitochondria per µm3 in a heart muscle cell? (1) A 0.33 B 3 C 10 000 D 75 000 000
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): Comment on the differences in the data for the sperm and for the egg. (3)
- November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these structures is not found in animal cells? (1) A cell membrane B cell wall C mitochondrion D nucleus
- November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (4 marks): Describe the function of the parts labelled A, B, C and D. (4) A B C. D
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain why stem cells could repair a damaged heart. (2)
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): The stem cells are obtained from the person who has the damaged heart. Explain why using stem cells from the same person is better than using stem cells from a
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q1(a) (4 marks): Name the structures labelled A, B, C, and D. (4) A B C D
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the letter of another structure shown in the diagram but not found in animal cells. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why some plant cells contain many chloroplasts, some plant cells contain few chloroplasts and some plant cells contain no chloroplasts. (3)
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q1(c) (1 mark): Ribosomes are found in plant cells and in animal cells. Name the process that occurs at the ribosomes. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the structures found in part B. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q6(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why part A contains many mitochondria. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q7(b) (2 marks): In micropropagation, small pieces of plant tissue can grow into new individuals. Explain why small pieces of animal tissue cannot grow into new individuals. (2)
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? Every Edexcel International GCSE Biology paper.
Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.