plumiRespiratory substrates and RQ: OCR A‑Level Biology A questions
OCR A-Level Biology A past-paper questions on 5.2.2.6 Respiratory substrates and RQ, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 14 questions on Respiratory substrates and RQ, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): A scientist measures the oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output of an athlete on an exercise bike at increasing work rates. The results are shown in the graph.
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q15 (1 mark): Which option about the relative energy values of different foods is not correct? A Carbohydrates have lower energy values because they have a higher oxygen cont
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q20(c)(i) (1 mark): State the two measurements that you would need to make during the experiment to calculate RQ. 1 2 [1]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q20(c)(ii) (3 marks): Explain what Fig. 20.3 shows about the respiratory substrate(s) used at different intensities of exercise. [3]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q19(d) (2 marks): An adult was advised to change their diet to reduce their body mass before undergoing surgery. Over a period of several weeks their body mass reduced by 1 kg. S
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Kendal Mint Cake is made from sugar, flavoured with peppermint, and was famously taken on the 1953 ascent of Mount Everest. Which statement describes why climbe
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q12 (1 mark): Linoleic acid is a fatty acid found in sunflower oil. The equation for oxidation of linoleic acid is: Linoleic acid: C18H32O2 + 25 O2 18 CO2 + 16 H2O What is th
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (4 marks): The table below contains information about three amino acids. Use Fig. 4.1 and Fig. 4.2 and your own knowledge to draw a conclusion about which amino acid is be
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q4(d) (3 marks): A person’s RQ changes when they exercise. Fig. 4.3 shows how RQ changes with the power a person exerts during exercise. Power, measured in watts (W), increases
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q12 (1 mark): The student investigated two types of seed, pea and sunflower: • pea seeds store mainly starch • sunflower seeds store mainly lipid. Which of the following, A t
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q19(a) (3 marks): Use the data in Table 19.1 to suggest the likely diet of each genus of honeypot ant. Justify your answer. Genus Diet Justification Camponotus mainly carbohydrat
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q2(c)(i) (1 mark): Using the information in Fig. 2, calculate the percentage of carbon atoms in the fatty acid that are able to enter the Krebs cycle. Answer = % [1]
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q20(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain how the structure of galactose allows it to be used as a respiratory substrate. [3]
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q2(b)(i) (3 marks): Suggest and explain what conclusions can be drawn from Fig. 2 about the factors that affected the rate and type of respiration carried out by S. cerevisiae in t
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