plumiCycles within ecosystems: Edexcel International GCSE Biology questions
Every Edexcel International GCSE Biology exam question on Cycles within ecosystems (specification points 4.10–4.11), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q1(f)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q5(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(c)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ8(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ8(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ4(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ4(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ5(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q2(a)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)
The whole paper ↗Q3(d)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
All 35 questions on Cycles within ecosystems, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q1(f)(i) (2 marks): Read the passage below. Use the information in the passage and your own knowledge to answer the questions that follow. Rivers – the arteries of the world Rivers
- November 2023, Paper 2, Q5(a)(ii) (3 marks): Name the processes V, X and Y. (3) V X Y
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q1(c) (1 mark): Read the passage below. Use the information in the passage and your own knowledge to answer the questions that follow. When the Oceans Glow In some areas of the
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Which letter in the diagram represents respiration? (1) A T B X C Y D Z
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the process labelled W. (1)
- June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which stage shows nitrogen fixation? (1) A P B Q C T D V
- June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which stage shows nitrification? (1) A Q B U C T D W
- June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which stage shows denitrification? (1) A P B T C V D W
- January 2023, Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): Describe the role of microorganisms in the conversion of organic waste into nitrate ions in the river. (3)
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q2(a) (1 mark): Give the independent variable in the investigation. (1)
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Suggest why the student poured water through the soil samples for five minutes before adding the ammonium salts. (2)
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q2(b)(ii) (4 marks): Comment on the results of the nitrate tests on the two soil samples three days after adding ammonium salts. (4)
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(a) (1 mark): Give the name of the cycle. (1)
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Which process is represented by the letter W? (1) A combustion B decomposition C feeding D respiration
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which process is represented by the letter X? (1) A combustion B decomposition C feeding D respiration
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(c) (1 mark): Name a group of organisms that is responsible for decomposition. (1)
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(d) (6 marks): Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by the decomposition of organic material. The rate of this decomposition depends on a number of factors. Design a
- January 2022, Paper 2, Q4(b) (2 marks): Fish farming systems can often release ammonia into the water. The ammonia is converted into nitrates. Describe how ammonia is converted into nitrates. (2)
- January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a) (3 marks): Name the processes labelled A, B and C. (3) A . B C
- January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Some of these processes remove nitrogen from the atmosphere. Calculate the total mass of nitrogen removed from the atmosphere by these processes. Give your answ
- January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage of the nitrogen released into the atmosphere that comes from burning of biomass. (2) percentage =
- January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain how burning biomass returns nitrogen to the atmosphere. (2)
- June 2021, Paper 2, Q5(c) (5 marks): Describe the role of the other bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle. (5)
- January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which process is nitrogen fixation? (1) A B C D
- January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which process is decomposition? (1) A B C D
- January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which process is nitrification? (1) A B C D
- January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a)(iv) (1 mark): Name a type of organism that carries out process C. (1)
- November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q2(a) (4 marks): Explain the results obtained by the student. (4)
- November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q2(b) (3 marks): Calculate the difference between the rate of decomposition in sample P and the rate of decomposition in sample Q. (3) Give your answer in kg per month. differen
- November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q2(c) (2 marks): The student needs to control biotic variables in her investigation. Give two biotic variables she should control. (2) 1 2
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q6(c)(i) (2 marks): Describe how saprotrophs cause decomposition. (2)
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q11(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of this cycle. (1)
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q11(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which process reduces CO2 in the atmosphere? (1) A B C D
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q11(a)(iii) (2 marks): Name the two groups of microorganisms that carry out process B. (2) 1 2
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q11(b) (6 marks): The breakdown of dead plant material by microorganisms is affected by many factors. Design an investigation to determine the temperature at which plant material
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.