plumiHow does the nervous system help us respond to changes?: OCR GCSE Biology B questions
Every OCR GCSE Biology B exam question on B5.2 How does the nervous system help us respond to changes?, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q3(a)
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Q3(b)(i)
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Q6(a)
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Q7(c)(ii)
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Q1(b)
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The whole paper ↗Q5(a)
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All 63 questions on How does the nervous system help us respond to changes?, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a) (2 marks): Which of these statements apply to the nervous system and which apply to the hormonal system? Tick (✓) one box in each row. Nervous Hormonal system system Respo
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Which labelled structure, A, B, C or D is the axon? [1]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which labelled structure A, B, C or D is the fatty sheath? [1]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(iii) (1 mark): What is the function of the fatty sheath? [1]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c) (1 mark): The brain consists of billions of neurons. Fig. 3.2 shows a diagram of the brain. Fig. 3.2 E F G Which labelled structure E, F or G is the cerebellum? [1]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(d)(i) (1 mark): A patient is given some medication. Their breathing and heart rate slow down. Which part of the brain must the medication be affecting? Tick (✓) one box. Brain
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(d)(ii) (1 mark): A nerve block is injected into the space around the spinal cord of another patient. The patient is then unable to move their legs. Which type of neuron must the
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a) (4 marks): Which of these statements are true for hormones, nerve impulses or both? Tick (✓) one box in each row. Only true for Only true for True for both hormones nerve
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q6(a) (2 marks): The human body has two communication systems: • the hormonal system • the nervous system. State two ways that the response generated by the hormonal system is d
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): Which type of neuron is affected by Botox? Tick (3) one box. Motor Receptor Relay Sensory [1]
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest why some people may be concerned about using Botox to treat their condition. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a) (1 mark): Structure A allows us to sense the things we touch. What is the name of structure A? Put a ring around the correct option. CNS Effector Motor neuron Sensory neu
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(b) (1 mark): The muscle contracts to move the arm when it receives a nerve impulse from the brain. What type of structure is the muscle? Put a ring around the correct option
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(c) (1 mark): Structure B carries nerve impulses from the brain to the muscle. What is the name of structure B? Put a ring around the correct option. Motor neuron Reflex arc
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(d) (2 marks): Fig. 1.2 shows a diagram of the human brain. Fig. 1.2 Cerebral cortex Cerebellum Brain stem Draw lines to connect each part of the brain with the function it co
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q5(a) (3 marks): The components of the nervous system work together allowing it to function. Draw lines to connect each component with its correct role in nervous system functio
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q5(b) (1 mark): Wobblers disease in dogs is a condition that affects the spinal cord. • It can be caused by compression of the spinal cord. • It causes problems with the functi
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q5(c) (1 mark): When diagnosing wobblers disease vets use imaging techniques. They look for areas where the spinal cord appears to be squeezed by the vertebrae of the spine (ba
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q5(d) (1 mark): Surgery is the only treatment option for dogs with wobblers disease. Suggest one factor that would need to be considered when deciding whether to operate. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q5(e) (2 marks): Some dog owners train their dogs in dog agility. The dogs are trained to react rapidly to certain commands. Explain why this rapid response is not classed as a
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a) (1 mark): A neuron that connects a receptor to the central nervous system. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(f) (1 mark): The part of the brain that regulates heart rate. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(b) (2 marks): The pupil changing size is a reflex action that happens in response to light. It uses a reflex arc in the nervous system. The pupil reflex arc includes a sensor
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(d)(i) (1 mark): What was the diameter of the person’s pupil in complete darkness? Diameter = mm [1]
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(d)(ii) (2 marks): What would you conclude is the smallest possible diameter of the person’s pupil? Explain your answer. Smallest possible diameter = mm Explanation [2]
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(d)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the rate at which the pupil diameter changed between 25% and 50% light brightness. Rate = mm / % [2]
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(e) (6 marks): The pupil of the human eye changes size in different light levels. (e)* Describe a method that can be used to collect the data shown in Fig. 7.3. Assume that 10
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(a)(i) (3 marks): Draw lines to connect each labelled part of the brain to its name and function. Name Label Function Cerebellum A Conscious movement Brain stem Intelligence, mem
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Name two additional parts of the brain and state their functions. 1 2 .... [2] Dementia is a term used to describe a decline in mental ability. Fig. 7.2 shows t
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): What name is given to the cells found in the brain? [1] The build-up of these proteins reduces the amount of transmitter substance produced in the brain.
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(c)(ii) (1 mark): What is the role of a transmitter substance? [1]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(c)(iii) (1 mark): The level of transmitter substance released by brain cells is lower in people with Alzheimer’s. Suggest how this could affect the person with Alzheimer’s. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q1(b) (2 marks): The pupil changing size is a reflex action that happens in response to light. It uses a reflex arc in the nervous system. The pupil reflex arc includes a sensor
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q9(b) (1 mark): Multiple sclerosis is a disease which causes the fatty sheath surrounding neurons to break down. What is the role of the fatty sheath? [1]
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7 (6 marks): 7* Nina is walking in her garden with no shoes or socks on. She steps on a sharp stone. The sharp stone hurts Nina. Her foot moves away from the sharp stone qui
- November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q9(c) (3 marks): The optic nerve sends electrical impulses from the retina of the eye to the neurons in the brain. Explain how nerve cells are adapted to transmit electrical imp
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(a) (3 marks): Name the structures labelled A, B and C. Name of structure A B C [3]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(b) (1 mark): Write down one advantage of a reflex arc not involving the brain. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c)(i) (1 mark): Write down one reason why student B’s method is better than student A’s. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c)(ii) (2 marks): Write down two variables that both students would need to keep the same. 1 2 [2]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c)(iii) (1 mark): Both students decide to repeat their experiment. Explain why. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(d)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following shows 119 written in standard form? Tick (3) one box. 1.19 × 102 1.19 × 10–2 11.9 × 101 119 × 10 [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(d)(ii) (1 mark): Which part of a neuron speeds up transmission of a nerve impulse? Tick (3) one box. Axon Fatty sheath Neurotransmitter Synapse [1]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q1(a) (3 marks): Name the structures labelled A, B and C. Name of structure A B C [3]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q1(b) (1 mark): Write down one advantage of a reflex arc not involving the brain. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q1(c)(i) (1 mark): Write down one reason why student B’s method is better than student A’s. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q1(c)(ii) (2 marks): Write down two variables that both students would need to keep the same. 1 2 [2]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q1(c)(iii) (1 mark): Both students decide to repeat their experiment. Explain why. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q1(d)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following shows 119 written in standard form? Tick (3) one box. 1.19 × 102 1.19 × 10–2 11.9 × 101 119 × 10 [1]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q1(d)(ii) (1 mark): Which part of a neuron speeds up transmission of a nerve impulse? Tick (3) one box. Axon Fatty sheath Neurotransmitter Synapse [1]
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean pupil size. Mean pupil size = mm [2] Amir reads an article that suggests the average pupil size in bright light should be in the range of 2 –
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Amir thinks one of his results is an anomalous result. Which result is most likely to be the anomalous result? Give a reason for your choice. [2]
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): What can Amir do to make his results more precise? [1]
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(iv) (1 mark): To create dark conditions Amir asks his friend to put on sunglasses. Amir draws two diagrams (Fig. 1.1 and Fig. 1.2) to show how the pupil changes when the ligh
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(v) (1 mark): The change in pupil size is an example of a reflex. Which statement best describes a reflex? Tick (3) one box. A rapid and involuntary response. A rapid and vol
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(vi) (1 mark): What name is given to the structure that transmits electrical impulses from the eye to the central nervous system? Put a ring around the correct answer. effecto
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a) (3 marks): Neonics block receptors in synapses in the nervous system of an insect. This stops the transmission of a nerve impulse across the synapse. The diagram shows the
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): The table describes the functions of areas A, B and C. Complete the table by writing the correct area of the brain for each function. Area of the brain Function
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Scientists want to find out more about the functions of the brain. One way they can do this is to use patients with brain damage. Suggest why there are concerns
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q3(a)(iii) (1 mark): Write down one other way scientists could study the brain. [1]
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q3(b) (2 marks): The cerebral cortex is a highly folded area of the brain made up of billions of neurons. Describe the features of a neuron that allow it to transmit electrical
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): Dopamine acts as a transmitter substance in parts of the brain and nervous system that control movement. Which neurons are most likely to be affected by Parkins
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q3(c)(ii) (1 mark): At a synapse, transmitter substances are released from the first neuron. Which word describes how the transmitter substances move across the gap from the first
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