Respiration: Edexcel International GCSE Biology questions

Every Edexcel International GCSE Biology exam question on Respiration (specification points 2.34–2.39), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 63 questions on Respiration, as a list

November 2024, Paper 1, Q5(b) (2 marks): Explain why the breathing rate would remain high for a few minutes after the exercise has finished. (2)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q4(a) (2 marks): Give the balanced chemical symbol equation for aerobic respiration. (2)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why carbon dioxide needs to be absorbed by the soda lime when measuring the rate of aerobic respiration. (2)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): State how the student could have changed the temperature in this investigation. (1)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean distance moved by the bubble at 30 OC. (2) mean distance = mm
June 2024, Paper 1, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): Explain the effect of increasing the temperature on the movement of the bubble. (3)
June 2023, Paper 1, Q8(a) (1 mark): Give the function of the water bath. (1)
June 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b) (2 marks): Liquid A can be used to identify the gas released during anaerobic respiration by the yeast. Explain which substance can be used as liquid A. (2)
June 2023, Paper 1, Q8(c) (1 mark): A student wants to accurately measure the rate of anaerobic respiration in yeast using this apparatus. State what additional apparatus they would require. (1)
June 2023, Paper 2, Q1(a) (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, Paper 2, Q4(d) (2 marks): In another experiment, the student places a test tube containing a leaf and hydrogen‑carbonate indicator in a 25 °C water bath. The student then places all this
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which row of the table shows the substances produced by yeast during anaerobic respiration? (1) Ethanol Carbon dioxide Lactic acid A ü ü  B ü   C  ü ü D  
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): State the function of the paraffin oil. (1)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Describe a method the student could use to keep the temperature of the yeast and glucose mixture constant. (2)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the rate of bubble production from 0 minutes to 8 minutes when the yeast is at 37 °C. (2) rate of bubble production = bubbles per minute
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(iv) (2 marks): Explain the change in the total number of bubbles produced from 0 minutes to 20 minutes at 25 °C. (2)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(v) (3 marks): Explain the difference in the rate of bubble production between 0 and 10 minutes at 37 °C compared with 25 °C. (3)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(vi) (2 marks): Describe how the student could modify the experiment to give more accurate results. (2)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain what additional apparatus the teacher will need to investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of respiration in this experiment. (2)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (1 mark): State the purpose of the liquid paraffin on the surface of the glucose solution. (1)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b)(iii) (1 mark): Give the name of a suitable chemical that could be used as indicator X to show that the yeast is respiring. (1)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b)(iv) (2 marks): Diazine green changes colour from blue to pink as the oxygen levels in the yeast and glucose solution reduce. Explain how this colour change gives information a
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(c) (4 marks): Explain why the rate of respiration in the yeast will change as the temperature is increased. (4)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the gas produced by yeast during anaerobic respiration. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain the effect that increasing temperature has on the rate of gas production by the yeast. (3)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(b)(iii) (2 marks): Describe how the student could measure the rate of gas production in this experiment. (2)
June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the labelled structures produces ATP? (1) A B C D
January 2022, Paper 1, Q5(a) (2 marks): Explain why increasing acidity can be used as a measure of yoghurt production. (2)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q5(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the changes in percentage acidity are different in the reduced oxygen level and in the normal oxygen level cultures. (2)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage increase in the height of the dough after two hours at a temperature of 35 °C. (2) percentage increase = %
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why yeast causes the bread dough to increase in height. (2)
January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): Sometimes gardeners give their plants too much water. The water fills up the air spaces in the soil around the plant roots. Explain how this can lead to plants
June 2021, Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Which of these equations shows the respiration in the yeast? (1) glucose → ethanol A glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide B glucose + oxygen → ethanol C glucose +
June 2021, Paper 1, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Give two reasons why the rate of ethanol production decreases after 1 day. (2) 1 2
January 2021, Paper 1, Q11 (6 marks): Bread can be produced from flour using yeast. Design an investigation to find out if changing the starch content of the flour causes the bread to expand more. Y
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a) (2 marks): Complete the word equation for aerobic respiration. (2) oxygen + …………………………………………… …………………………………………… + …………………………………………… + ATP
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b) (3 marks): A scientist investigates the rates of aerobic respiration of some animals. The scientist calculates the rate of respiration per gram of each animal. The results
November 2020, Paper 1, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which of these is the balanced chemical symbol equation for aerobic respiration? (1) A C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 B C6H12O6 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 C C6H12O6 + 6CO2 6O2 + 6H2O D
November 2020, Paper 1, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): The coloured water drop moves during the investigation. Explain why the coloured water drop moves during the investigation. (2)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q6(b)(ii) (6 marks): The student compares the aerobic respiration of male and female locusts. He uses three male locusts and three female locusts. He uses locusts of the same age an
November 2020, Paper 1, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): Complete the table by giving the missing mean value. (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q6(c)(ii) (3 marks): Comment on the reliability of the data in the table. (3)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q3(c) (2 marks): The horse breathes faster and deeper when running. Explain why the horse continues to breathe faster and deeper for a period of time after it has stopped runnin
January 2020, Paper 1, Q1(c) (2 marks): The coyote will not catch the deer if too much lactic acid builds up in its muscles. Explain why lactic acid builds up in the coyote’s muscles when it runs. (2)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q3(d)(i) (2 marks): Give two conclusions that can be made from this graph. (2) 1 2
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q3(d)(ii) (2 marks): The respiration rate shown on the graph is measured in cm3 of oxygen used per minute. When the respiration rate is measured in cm3 per minute, a human has a hig
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q3(e) (3 marks): This apparatus can be used to measure the respiration rate of a small animal. syringe scale three-way tap glass tubing 1 cm3 glass coloured small animal tube li
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the process in yeast that produces the gas bubbles. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): What gas is produced by the yeast? (1) A carbon dioxide B nitrogen C oxygen D water vapour
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (5 marks): Plot a graph to show these results. Join the points with straight lines. (5)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q10(c)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why diets are more effective at reducing BMI if combined with regular exercise. (3)
June 2019, Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Suggest why the student opens the tap after obtaining one set of results. (2)
June 2019, Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): What is the function of the soda lime? (1) A it absorbs carbon dioxide B it absorbs oxygen C it releases carbon dioxide D it releases oxygen
June 2019, Paper 1, Q5(b)(iii) (3 marks): The student measures the distance moved by the coloured liquid and converts this to volume of oxygen absorbed. The volume of oxygen absorbed can be calculated u
June 2019, Paper 1, Q5(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage increase in the rate of oxygen absorption at 22 °C compared to the rate of oxygen absorption at 12 °C. (2) percentage =
June 2019, Paper 1, Q5(c)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest why the rate of oxygen absorption is greater at 22 °C than at 12 °C. (2)
June 2019, Paper 1, Q8(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the breathing rates of persons P and Q remain high for five minutes after they have finished exercising. (2)
June 2019, Paper 2, Q4(b)(iii) (1 mark): Kangaroo rats rarely drink water. Suggest where they get their water from. (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the fat deposit would affect the type of respiration in the heart muscle. (2)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q6(b) (1 mark): Name the acid produced when making yoghurt. (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q6(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the rate of acid production between 2 and 4 hours at 37 °C and high oxygen. (2) rate = arbitrary units per hour
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q6(c)(ii) (3 marks): Using information from the graphs, give three conclusions about the effects of temperature and the effects of dissolved oxygen on acid production in yoghurt. (3
June 2019 (R), Paper 2, Q5(a) (2 marks): Explain why dogs with PFK find it difficult to exercise. (2)

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