plumiRespiration: OCR GCSE Biology A questions
Every OCR GCSE Biology A exam question on B1.3 Respiration, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
- Your answer
- Your answer
- Your answer
- Your answer
Q17(a)
The whole paper ↗Q17(c)
The whole paper ↗Q18(b)
The whole paper ↗Q21(c)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
Q17(b)
The whole paper ↗Q25(a)
The whole paper ↗Q25(b)
The whole paper ↗Q19(c)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
- Your answer
- Your answer
Q21(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q21(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
- Your answer
All 44 questions on Respiration, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3 (1 mark): Which molecule supplies cells with their energy requirements? A Amino acid B ATP C Auxin D DNA Your answer [1]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6 (1 mark): Which two substances are products of anaerobic respiration in plants? A Ethanol and carbon dioxide B Glucose and carbon dioxide C Lactic acid and carbon dioxide
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): The graph shows the rate of photosynthesis and respiration in a plant over 24 hours. Rate of photosynthesis Rate of reaction Rate of plant respiration 00:00 02:
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q11 (1 mark): Which reaction produces ethanol? A Aerobic respiration in animal cells B Aerobic respiration in yeast cells C Anaerobic respiration in animal cells D Anaerobic
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(a) (4 marks): Describe how cells make ATP. In your answer include: • the name of the process • the substances that are used and made. [4]
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(c) (1 mark): During the race, the athlete produces a substance that causes pain in their leg muscles. Which substance causes this pain? Put a ring around the correct answer.
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(b) (1 mark): The hen’s egg is covered in an eggshell that lets gases through. Why is it important that the eggshell lets gases through? [1]
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(c) (1 mark): The cells in the image are baker’s yeast. Baker’s yeast is used to make bread. The yeast respires anaerobically. Which product of this process will help the bre
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q12 (1 mark): Bacteria can get into deep wounds in the skin and cause infection. There is little oxygen in these wounds. How will a lack of oxygen affect the type of bacteria
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q17(b) (4 marks): Mole rats spend most of their time burrowing underground in tunnels. The tunnels may have only 5% oxygen in the air compared with 21% above ground. Complete the
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q25(a) (2 marks): Two students are discussing respiration. One student says, ‘I know all animals respire but I don’t think plants need to.’ Explain why the student’s statement is
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q25(b) (2 marks): Scientists researching how mitochondria produce ATP came up with a theory. Their theory said: • Hydrogen ions are transported into the space between the two mem
- June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q19(c) (6 marks): The table shows the mean mass of four types of rodent and the mean number of years they live. Mean number of Type of rodent Mean mass (g) years they live Gerbil
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2 (1 mark): Which molecule is produced in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration in animals? A ATP B Glucose C Lactic acid D Oxygen Your answer [1]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q14 (1 mark): Which row shows the correct type of reaction for photosynthesis and for respiration? Photosynthesis Respiration Type of A endothermic endothermic Reaction B exo
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q1 (1 mark): Which row shows the correct type of reaction for photosynthesis and for respiration? Photosynthesis Respiration Type of A endothermic endothermic Reaction B exo
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(a)(i) (2 marks): Cellular respiration is an important biological process. Describe what is meant by the term cellular respiration. [2]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(a)(ii) (2 marks): Cells can use glucose, lipid or protein as respiratory substrates. The respiratory substrates being used can be found using this ratio: volume of carbon dioxide
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q11 (1 mark): The diagram shows the apparatus used to demonstrate a biological process. Insulated flask Dead seeds Living seeds starting to germinate Cotton wool Thermometer
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q4 (1 mark): Which statement explains why mitochondria are important in respiration? A They contain mitochondrial DNA. B They have a larger surface area to volume ratio than
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): The apparatus has been set up to compare aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Thermometer Cotton wool Liquid to remove Insulated container oxygen retains heat fro
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain how muscle cells get the energy needed to work during exercise. [2]
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(d)(i) (1 mark): Why do cells need respiration? [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(d)(ii) (2 marks): Cells use aerobic respiration when oxygen is available. What are the two products of aerobic respiration? 1 2 [2]
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(d)(iii) (1 mark): Aerobic respiration releases heat energy. What term describes a reaction that releases heat energy? [1]
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q20(d)(iv) (2 marks): Which two statements explain this difference in temperature between the two types of compost? Tick (3) two boxes. Both types of compost are made by aerobic resp
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q15 (1 mark): Pond snails and pondweed are living in water in sealed test tubes. 1 2 3 4 pond water sunlight sunlight sunlight sunlight pond snail pondweed Carbon dioxide dis
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(a) (1 mark): Complete the word equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast. glucose + [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(b) (2 marks): Write down two ways in which anaerobic respiration in yeast cells is different from anaerobic respiration in human muscle cells. 1 2 [2]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(c)(i) (1 mark): Which sugar is not fermented by either strain of yeast? Tick (✓) one box. Fructose Glucose Sucrose [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(c)(ii) (2 marks): After 24 hours, how many times higher is the fermented product yield of yeast A compared to yeast B? Number of times higher = [2]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(c)(iii) (1 mark): Which sugar would increase fermentation the most if added to either yeast A or yeast B? Tick (✓) one box. Fructose Glucose Sucrose [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(c)(iv) (2 marks): Fermented dates are used to supply both fructose and fermented product. Explain why it would be best to use yeast B to ferment dates to supply both fructose and
- June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q20(d) (3 marks): Scientists are now trying to find another poison to use on rats. They have introduced a chemical called phosphine. This blocks the action of mitochondria in rat
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q2 (1 mark): Pond snails and pondweed are living in water in sealed test tubes. 1 2 3 4 pond water sunlight sunlight sunlight sunlight pond snail pondweed Carbon dioxide dis
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): Aerobic respiration occurs all the time in plant cells but photosynthesis only occurs in daylight. Why is more energy released by a plant cell during the night?
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(a) (1 mark): Complete the word equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast. glucose + [1]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(b) (2 marks): Write down two ways in which anaerobic respiration in yeast cells is different from anaerobic respiration in human muscle cells. 1 2 [2]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(c)(i) (1 mark): Which sugar is not fermented by either strain of yeast? Tick (✓) one box. Fructose Glucose Sucrose [1]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(c)(ii) (2 marks): After 24 hours, how many times higher is the fermented product yield of yeast A compared to yeast B? Number of times higher = [2]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(c)(iii) (1 mark): Which sugar would increase fermentation the most if added to either yeast A or yeast B? Tick (✓) one box. Fructose Glucose Sucrose [1]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(c)(iv) (2 marks): Fermented dates are used to supply both fructose and fermented product. Explain why it would be best to use yeast B to ferment dates to supply both fructose and
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1 (1 mark): Which two substances are products of anaerobic respiration in yeast? A Carbon dioxide and ethanol B Carbon dioxide and water C Oxygen and ethanol D Oxygen and w
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(a) (3 marks): In angina the heart muscle starts to carry out anaerobic respiration. Explain why this happens. Use the information in the diagram and your biological knowledge
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