Stellar evolution: Edexcel International GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel International GCSE Physics exam question on Stellar evolution (specification points 8.7–8.12), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 68 questions on Stellar evolution, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how the stars in table 2 can be classified according to their colour. (3)
June 2025, Paper 1, Q2(b)(iii) (3 marks): Describe the likely future evolution of Antares. (3)
June 2025, Paper 1, Q2(b)(iv) (2 marks): Describe what additional information is needed to predict the next evolutionary stage for Vega. (2)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q1(d) (2 marks): Diagram 2 shows the region around the Sun, a yellow star, where liquid water can exist on the surface of planets. This is because the surface temperature of the
November 2024, Paper 1, Q11(b) (4 marks): The table lists the stages of development of a star that has a very much larger mass than the Sun. Give the stages in the correct order, using numbers 1 to 5. (
November 2024, Paper 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Draw a cross to show the position of the Sun on the HR diagram. (1)
November 2024, Paper 2, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): In approximately 4 billion years, the Sun will enter the next stage of its evolution. Draw a circle on the HR diagram around the area that will include the Sun
November 2024, Paper 2, Q4(b) (2 marks): Describe the stars that are in the top left corner of the HR diagram. (2)
November 2024, Paper 2, Q4(c)(iii) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term absolute magnitude. (1)
November 2024, Paper 2, Q4(c)(iv) (2 marks): Star A and star B have the same absolute magnitude but star A is always brighter than star B in the night sky. Explain how this is possible. (2)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q4(a) (4 marks): A main sequence star is created in a collapsing region of a nebula. The table gives different energy stores for the gases in the collapsing nebula, from when th
June 2024, Paper 1, Q4(b) (1 mark): At the end of the main sequence stage of a star’s evolution, the star can become a red giant or a red supergiant. Give the property of a star that determines wh
June 2024, Paper 1, Q4(c) (4 marks): A red giant star eventually becomes a white dwarf star. Discuss the differences between a red giant star and a white dwarf star. (4)
June 2024, Paper 2, Q1(a) (3 marks): Three regions in the HR diagram are labelled P, Q and R. The boxes show the three regions and different astronomical objects. Draw a straight line from each reg
June 2024, Paper 2, Q1(b) (2 marks): Define the term absolute magnitude. (2)
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q4(a) (4 marks): The table shows the different stages in the evolution of stars of different masses. Complete the table by adding ticks (ü) to show which stages of evolution occ
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b) (2 marks): When viewed from Earth, the surface of the Sun is yellow in colour. The surface of another star, Betelgeuse, is red in colour. Explain the difference between th
June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a) (2 marks): Label the axes on the diagram. (2)
June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): There are three shaded areas on the diagram. State the name of the shaded area that contains the Sun. (1)
June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q1(c) (1 mark): Which star is a white dwarf? (1) A B C D
June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q1(d) (1 mark): At a standard distance from the Earth, which star is brighter than the Sun and has a greater surface temperature than the Sun? (1) A B C D
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Star C is much more powerful than star A. Stars A and C appear to have the same brightness when viewed from Earth. Suggest how this is possible. (1)
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q8(a)(ii) (3 marks): Using information from the table, explain which star is in the supernova stage of its evolution. (3)
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q8(b) (3 marks): Explain how a main sequence star evolves into a supernova. (3)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(a) (2 marks): Explain which of these stars has the highest surface temperature. (2)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b) (6 marks): Discuss the evolution of the stars Rigel and Sirius. (6)
January 2023, Paper 2, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why the decreases in light intensity are not all the same. (1)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(d) (4 marks): Describe the evolution of the Sun from the first stage of its evolution to the final stage of its evolution. (4)
January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a) (1 mark): The y‑axis label is missing. Which of these is the correct label for the y‑axis? (1) A absolute magnitude B apparent magnitude C scalar magnitude D vector magni
January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q1(b) (3 marks): The box contains words to identify the shaded areas P, Q and R on the Hertzsprung‑Russell diagram. white dwarfs main sequence red giants black holes supernovae
January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q1(c) (2 marks): Explain which side of the diagram contains stars with the highest surface temperature. (2)
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(a) (3 marks): Complete table 2 by giving the stars in order of increasing surface temperature. The hottest star, Rigel, has been done for you. (3) Coolest Hottest Rigel Table
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b) (3 marks): A star has a much larger mass than the Sun. Describe the evolution of this star after it has left the main sequence. (3)
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(c) (4 marks): The graph shows the relationship between the peak wavelength of light emitted by a star and the surface temperature of the star. 1000 800 600 Peak wavelength in
June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a) (4 marks): The boxes give four points, A, B, C and D, and four star classifications. Draw lines connecting each point to the correct star classification. (4) Point Star cl
June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q1(b) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by the term absolute magnitude. (2)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): Stars can be classified using their surface temperature. Complete Table 2 by giving the four stars in order of increasing surface temperature. (3) Coolest Hotte
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the star in Table 1 that does not follow a similar evolutionary path to the Sun. (1)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q6(b) (3 marks): The life cycle of a star begins in a nebula. Describe how a main sequence star is formed from a nebula. (3)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q6(c) (4 marks): Describe how a main sequence star becomes a white dwarf. (4)
November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): The Sun will become a red giant star when it leaves the main sequence. Which row correctly describes how the surface temperature and brightness of the Sun will
November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(c) (2 marks): Astronomical objects can be classified by their absolute magnitude. State what is meant by the term absolute magnitude. (2)
June 2021, Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these coloured stars has the highest surface temperature? (1) A orange B red C white D yellow
June 2021, Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these is a stage in the life cycle of the Sun? (1) A black hole B neutron star C supernova D white dwarf
June 2021, Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which of these is the stage nearest the end of the life cycle of a star with a mass much greater than the Sun? (1) A main sequence B protostar C supernova D whi
June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these is in the shaded area of the diagram? (1) A black holes B main sequence stars C neutron stars D protostars
June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): On the diagram, draw the area to show the position of white dwarf stars. Label this area WD. (1)
June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): On the diagram, draw the area to show the position of red giant stars. Label this area RG. (1)
June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(iv) (2 marks): State what is meant by the term absolute magnitude. (2)
January 2021, Paper 1, Q1 (6 marks): The passage describes the evolution of a star with a mass that is much larger than the mass of the Sun. Use words or phrases from the box to complete the passag
January 2021, Paper 2, Q6(a) (1 mark): Star W is a white dwarf. Add a W to the Hertzsprung‑Russell diagram to show the position of star W. (1)
January 2021, Paper 2, Q6(b) (1 mark): Star X is a red giant. Add an X to the Hertzsprung‑Russell diagram to show the position of star X. (1)
January 2021, Paper 2, Q6(c) (1 mark): Star Y is a main sequence star that is much larger than the Sun. Add a Y to the Hertzsprung‑Russell diagram to show the position of star Y. (1)
January 2021, Paper 2, Q6(d) (1 mark): Star Z has the same surface temperature as the Sun, but would be dimmer than the Sun if it were the same distance away from Earth as the Sun. Add a Z to the Her
January 2021, Paper 2, Q6(e) (1 mark): The Moon is the brightest object in the night sky. Suggest why the Moon cannot be shown on the Hertzsprung‑Russell diagram. (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q3(a) (4 marks): Describe the stages in the evolution of a star similar in mass to the Sun. (4)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q4(a) (1 mark): Stars can appear as different colours because of their different surface temperatures. Which of these colours shows the highest surface temperature for a star?
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b) (2 marks): Describe how a star is formed in a nebula. (2)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q4(d)(i) (1 mark): Which property of a star determines whether it will become a supernova? (1) A colour B distance from Earth C mass D temperature
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q4(d)(ii) (3 marks): Describe the evolution of Rigel after it leaves the main sequence. (3)
January 2020, Paper 2, Q6(a) (2 marks): Astronomers measure the absolute magnitude of stars. State what is meant by the term absolute magnitude. (2)
January 2020, Paper 2, Q6(b) (5 marks): The evolution of stars can be shown on a Hertzsprung‑Russell diagram (HR diagram). Complete the HR diagram by ● labelling the x‑axis ● completing the absolute m
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q4 (5 marks): Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star. Betelgeuse has a mass that is much larger than the Sun. Describe the evolution of Betelgeuse through its entire life cycle.
June 2019, Paper 1, Q6(b)(iii) (1 mark): The colour of a star is related to its surface temperature. The Sun is yellow. Use the student's results to identify a colour for a star that is cooler than the
June 2019, Paper 2, Q1(c) (1 mark): Which of these represents the brightness of stars at a standard distance? (1) A absolute magnitude B colour C diameter D temperature
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q1(c) (2 marks): Physicists classify stars according to their colour. Each group of stars of similar colour is called a spectral class. The table gives information about colour
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q1(d) (3 marks): There are stars in the universe with masses much greater than the mass of the Sun. Describe what happens to these high-mass stars when they leave the main seque
June 2019 (R), Paper 2, Q4 (6 marks): A Hertzsprung‑Russell diagram shows how different astronomical objects may be classified according to their colour and absolute magnitude. –5 0 red giants main

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 Physics paper.

Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.

1,978 questions