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Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules: Eduqas A‑Level Biology questions

Every Eduqas A-Level Biology exam question on 1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,061 questions

  1. Q3(b)(v)

    June 2025 · Component 1

    5 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 1, question 3(b)(v): Iron is essential for the transfer of electrons from photosystem I to the final electron acceptor. Manganese is involved in reactions that result in the photoly

  2. Q2(a)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    4 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 2(a): In the box below, produce a scientific drawing of the granum shown in Image 2.1. Label the stroma and thylakoid membrane on your diagram. [4]

  3. Q2(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    1 mark1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 2(b)(ii): Carbon dioxide is taken in by the leaf and is fixed to form sugars. Rubisco is the enzyme that catalyses the reaction between ribulose bisphosphate and carbon d

  4. Q2(b)(iii)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    3 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 2(b)(iii): Use Graph 2.3 to describe and explain why tobacco grows faster than wheat. [3] The scientists have found that the structure of Rubisco in tobacco is slightly di

  5. Q2(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    3 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 2(b)(ii): Wavelengths of light between 650 and 750 nm (red light) are absorbed more readily by water than shorter wavelengths (blue light). Use this information and your

  6. Q4(a)(iii)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    2 marksC.3 Cell membranes and transport1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 4(a)(iii): Carotene is a hydrophobic molecule. Suggest why carotene molecules are found embedded in thylakoid membranes rather than in the stroma. [2]

  7. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    1 mark1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 4(b)(i): Propanone is one of the solvents used to extract and separate the pigments. The safety symbol shown in Image 4.3 is shown on bottles containing this solvent. Im

  8. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    1 mark1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 4(b)(ii): Explain why a pencil is used to draw the origin line on the chromatography paper.  [1]

  9. Q4(c)(i)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    3 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 4(c)(i): I. Use the following formula to calculate the Rf value for pigment b.  [2] distance travelled by pigment Rf = distance travelled by solvent front Rf = II. Use

  10. Q4(c)(ii)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    3 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 4(c)(ii): Suggest why it is important that the calculated Rf values are compared to reference Rf values obtained using the same solvent and chromatography paper.  [3]

  11. Q4(d)(i)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    1 mark1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 4(d)(i): State the term used to describe the particles of light energy. [1]

  12. Q4(d)(ii)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    2 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 4(d)(ii): Product S is synthesised via an electron transport chain while product T is synthesised from the final electron acceptor of this series of reactions. Name produ

  13. Q4(d)(iii)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    3 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 4(d)(iii): At high light intensities, carotene passes energy to other electron acceptor molecules rather than to chlorophyll a. This reduces the rate of photolysis to prev

  14. Q2(b)

    June 2023 · Component 1

    3 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 1, question 2(b): Use all the information provided to suggest which two photosynthetic pigments might be found in higher concentrations in the leaves of plants growing on the flo

  15. Q2(d)(iii)

    June 2023 · Component 1

    3 marks3.1 Adaptations for gas exchange1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 1, question 2(d)(iii): Use Graph 2.4 to conclude which tree was more likely to have been growing under the tree canopy. Use your knowledge of leaf adaptations to give two reasons to e

  16. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Component 1

    2 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Component 1, question 6(a)(i): With reference to the equation explain why this statement could be correct. [2] An experiment, shown in Image 6.1, was carried out to confirm the origin of the

  17. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2022 · Component 1

    2 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Component 1, question 6(a)(ii): Using evidence from this experiment and your knowledge of photosynthesis, deduce the actual origin of the atoms in the oxygen molecules. Explain your answer. [2

  18. Q6(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Component 1

    3 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Component 1, question 6(b)(i): State what is represented by the following letters in Image 6.2. [3] A B C D E and F

  19. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Component 1

    2 marks1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Component 1, question 6(b)(ii): State the type of reaction occurring at G. Explain your answer. [2]

  20. Q6(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Component 1

    1 mark1.2 Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Component 1, question 6(b)(iii): The events shown in Image 6.2 take place in chloroplasts, which act as transducers. With reference to Image 6.2, explain how chloroplasts act as transducers in
All 73 questions on Photosynthesis uses light energy to synthesise organic molecules, as a list
  1. June 2025, Component 1, Q3(b)(v) (5 marks): Iron is essential for the transfer of electrons from photosystem I to the final electron acceptor. Manganese is involved in reactions that result in the photoly
  2. June 2025, Component 2, Q2(a) (4 marks): In the box below, produce a scientific drawing of the granum shown in Image 2.1. Label the stroma and thylakoid membrane on your diagram. [4]
  3. June 2025, Component 2, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): Carbon dioxide is taken in by the leaf and is fixed to form sugars. Rubisco is the enzyme that catalyses the reaction between ribulose bisphosphate and carbon d
  4. June 2025, Component 2, Q2(b)(iii) (3 marks): Use Graph 2.3 to describe and explain why tobacco grows faster than wheat. [3] The scientists have found that the structure of Rubisco in tobacco is slightly di
  5. June 2024, Component 1, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Wavelengths of light between 650 and 750 nm (red light) are absorbed more readily by water than shorter wavelengths (blue light). Use this information and your
  6. June 2024, Component 1, Q4(a)(iii) (2 marks): Carotene is a hydrophobic molecule. Suggest why carotene molecules are found embedded in thylakoid membranes rather than in the stroma. [2]
  7. June 2024, Component 1, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Propanone is one of the solvents used to extract and separate the pigments. The safety symbol shown in Image 4.3 is shown on bottles containing this solvent. Im
  8. June 2024, Component 1, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why a pencil is used to draw the origin line on the chromatography paper.  [1]
  9. June 2024, Component 1, Q4(c)(i) (3 marks): I. Use the following formula to calculate the Rf value for pigment b.  [2] distance travelled by pigment Rf = distance travelled by solvent front Rf = II. Use
  10. June 2024, Component 1, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): Suggest why it is important that the calculated Rf values are compared to reference Rf values obtained using the same solvent and chromatography paper.  [3]
  11. June 2024, Component 1, Q4(d)(i) (1 mark): State the term used to describe the particles of light energy. [1]
  12. June 2024, Component 1, Q4(d)(ii) (2 marks): Product S is synthesised via an electron transport chain while product T is synthesised from the final electron acceptor of this series of reactions. Name produ
  13. June 2024, Component 1, Q4(d)(iii) (3 marks): At high light intensities, carotene passes energy to other electron acceptor molecules rather than to chlorophyll a. This reduces the rate of photolysis to prev
  14. June 2023, Component 1, Q2(b) (3 marks): Use all the information provided to suggest which two photosynthetic pigments might be found in higher concentrations in the leaves of plants growing on the flo
  15. June 2023, Component 1, Q2(d)(iii) (3 marks): Use Graph 2.4 to conclude which tree was more likely to have been growing under the tree canopy. Use your knowledge of leaf adaptations to give two reasons to e
  16. June 2022, Component 1, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): With reference to the equation explain why this statement could be correct. [2] An experiment, shown in Image 6.1, was carried out to confirm the origin of the
  17. June 2022, Component 1, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Using evidence from this experiment and your knowledge of photosynthesis, deduce the actual origin of the atoms in the oxygen molecules. Explain your answer. [2
  18. June 2022, Component 1, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): State what is represented by the following letters in Image 6.2. [3] A B C D E and F
  19. June 2022, Component 1, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): State the type of reaction occurring at G. Explain your answer. [2]
  20. June 2022, Component 1, Q6(b)(iii) (1 mark): The events shown in Image 6.2 take place in chloroplasts, which act as transducers. With reference to Image 6.2, explain how chloroplasts act as transducers in
  21. June 2022, Component 1, Q6(b)(iv) (4 marks): Weeds are commonly controlled by using herbicides. Diuron is a herbicide which binds to a molecule preventing the flow of electrons, as shown by X in Image 6.3.
  22. June 2022, Component 1, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): State the role of the buffer in this experiment. [1]
  23. June 2022, Component 1, Q6(c)(iii) (4 marks): Explain why each of the experimental tubes 1–4 were included in this investigation and conclude whether the results prove that electrons are released by chlorop
  24. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): State the precise location of photosystems in plants. [1]
  25. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q1(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how the arrangement of pigments in photosystems harvests light energy.  [3]
  26. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the origin line is drawn in pencil and why the level of the solvent used is below the origin line. [2]
  27. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Describe the method by which the pigment is concentrated on the origin line. [1]
  28. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): Complete the risk assessment below for this experiment. [1] Hazard Risk Control measure Solvents are irritants
  29. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q1(b)(iv) (1 mark): State one variable which would need to be controlled if this method was used to compare the pigments in leaves of two different species of plant. [1]
  30. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the Rf value for pigment X in image 1.2 and use table 1.3 to identify the pigment. Show all your working. [2] Rf value = Pigment =
  31. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q1(c)(ii) (2 marks): You are provided with a pure solution of each pigment. Describe how you could confirm that your identification of pigment X using the Rf value was correct. [2]
  32. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why cold water was placed between the light source and plant chamber.  [1]
  33. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why it is important that the same ten plants were used in all tests. [1]
  34. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q3(a)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest a suitable control for this experiment. [2]
  35. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q3(a)(iv) (1 mark): Describe how the experiment could be modified to determine the mass of CO2 released by respiration. [1] The results of the experiments are shown in table 3.2. T
  36. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Explain why both the mass of carbon dioxide absorbed during photosynthesis and the mass of carbon dioxide produced during respiration are needed to determine th
  37. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): Complete table 3.2 to show the CO2 absorbed at temperatures 15 °C – 40 °C. [1] The sugar content of tomatoes varies depending on the temperature at which they a
  38. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q3(c)(i) (4 marks): Use the data in table 3.2 to describe and explain how the temperature at which tomato plants are grown affects the sugar content of the tomato. [4]
  39. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q4(c) (3 marks): Nitrifying bacteria are chemoautotrophs. From your knowledge of the light independent reactions of photosynthesis (Calvin cycle), suggest how the bacteria use t
  40. Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q2(b)(vi) (5 marks): I. Cadmium has been found to interfere with potassium ion movement in plant cells. Using your knowledge of stomatal opening, suggest an explanation for the resu
  41. Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q2(c) (3 marks): Cadmium is also thought to affect enzymes involved in the light-independent stage of photosynthesis. Palisade mesophyll cells taken from a plant grown in high c
  42. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Using information in image 1.1, describe the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll a. [2]
  43. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest the advantage to photosynthetic cells of having several different light absorbing pigments. [1] Prochlorococcus is a species of cyanobacterium and is th
  44. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q1(c) (2 marks): In the light dependent stage of photosynthesis, molecules of chlorophyll a emit electrons. Describe how these electrons are replaced in non-cyclic photophosphor
  45. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q1(d) (2 marks): Prochlorococcus is found at depths between 0 and 200 m in oceans around the world. Different proportions of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b are produced by Proc
  46. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): State the names of the two substrates that form an enzyme-substrate complex with RuBisCO. [2]
  47. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): State the names of the following molecules: I. the first 3-carbon phosphorylated sugar produced by the Calvin cycle; [1] . II. one organic molecule formed from
  48. Autumn 2020, Component 2, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Ferns have chloroplasts with the same structure and photosynthetic pigments as flowering plants. Name two photosynthetic pigments found in ferns and state preci
  49. June 2019, Component 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Identify using a clearly labelled arrow where photosystems are found on the electron micrograph above. [1] The diagram below represents one photosystem. Photosy
  50. June 2019, Component 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify the pigment found at X. [1]
  51. June 2019, Component 1, Q3(b) (3 marks): Explain the role of photosystems in the light dependent stage of photosynthesis. [3] Many micro-organisms living in dark regions of the oceans use chemosynthesi
  52. June 2019, Component 1, Q3(c) (4 marks): Complete the table to state four differences between chemosynthesis and photosynthesis. [4] Chemosynthesis Photosynthesis
  53. June 2019, Component 1, Q3(e) (4 marks): Herbicides inhibit photosynthesis in many ways. One group of herbicides block electron transport, so chlorophyll continues to absorb light energy but cannot pas
  54. June 2019, Component 3, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Explain why leaves and chloroplasts change their orientation during the day. [1]
  55. June 2018, Component 1, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): Plot the data on the grid below. [2] 0.4 0.3 0.2 Light absorbance / a.u. 0.1 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 – 0.1 – 0.2 Light intensity as a percentage of maximum / %
  56. June 2018, Component 1, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): Use the graph to determine the compensation point. [1]
  57. June 2018, Component 1, Q5(a)(iii) (4 marks): With reference to the biochemical pathways of photosynthesis and respiration, explain how a light absorbance of 0 a.u. could be observed in this experiment. [4]
  58. June 2018, Component 1, Q5(b) (1 mark): Explain why the colorimeter was used rather than visually assessing the change in colour of the indicator. [1]
  59. June 2018, Component 1, Q5(c) (2 marks): State two other variables that should have been controlled in this experiment. [2]
  60. June 2018, Component 1, Q5(d) (2 marks): A shade plant such as primrose must be able to photosynthesise effectively at lower light intensities, whilst grass species such as maize grow on open land. How
  61. June 2018, Component 2, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): there is a saying amongst farmers, “When you think the crop is ready to harvest, take a holiday”; [1]
  62. June 2018, Component 2, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): the use of nitrate fertiliser to increase grain size; [3]
  63. June 2018, Component 2, Q4(c)(iii) (2 marks): the use of fungicide to increase grain size. [2]
  64. June 2017, Component 1, Q4(a)(i) (3 marks): Describe the process at A which replaces the electrons lost from photosystem II and explain how electrons are used at B and C. [3]
  65. June 2017, Component 1, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Draw a clear line labelled X on the Z-scheme diagram above, to indicate the movement of electrons in cyclic photophosphorylation. [1]
  66. June 2017, Component 1, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Apart from chlorophyll a, name three other pigments you would expect to be present in a photosystem. [2]
  67. June 2017, Component 1, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): State precisely where a photosystem would be found in a plant cell. [1]
  68. June 2017, Component 1, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the mean time taken for the 15 dark green discs to float and insert your answer in the table. [1]
  69. June 2017, Component 1, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain what caused the discs to rise in the solution. [2]
  70. June 2017, Component 1, Q4(c)(iii) (4 marks): Explain why the darker green leaf discs rose faster than the lighter green discs. [4]
  71. June 2017, Component 1, Q4(d)(i) (4 marks): Describe how would you use the technique described in (c) to investigate the effect of light wavelength on photosynthesis. [4]
  72. June 2017, Component 1, Q4(d)(ii) (2 marks): Predict the results that you would expect from this experiment. [2]
  73. June 2017, Component 1, Q9 (9 marks): Biochemical reactions in cells often involve cyclic metabolic pathways which occur within compartments inside cells. Compare the Krebs cycle and Calvin cycle in

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