Photosynthesis: OCR GCSE Combined Science A questions

Every OCR GCSE Combined Science A exam question on B1.4 Photosynthesis, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 64 questions on Photosynthesis, as a list

June 2025, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q10 (1 mark): Which substance has a net outward movement from plants during the day? A Nitrates B Nitrogen C Oxygen D Urea Your answer [1] Section B
June 2025, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q2 (1 mark): Which substance has a net outward movement from plants during the day? A Nitrates B Nitrogen C Oxygen D Urea Your answer [1]
June 2025, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q13(a) (3 marks): Photosynthesis is affected by many factors. The graph shows how the rate of photosynthesis in a plant is affected by varying light intensity. C Rate of B photos
June 2025, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q13(b) (2 marks): A student set up the apparatus below to measure how light intensity affects the rate of photosynthesis in a pond plant. Suggest two variables they should have c
June 2024, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q12(a) (2 marks): Oxygen is a product of photosynthesis. What are the two reactants in photosynthesis? 1 2 [2]
June 2024, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q12(b) (2 marks): Which statements about photosynthesis are true and which are false? Tick (3) one box in each row. True False Carbohydrates are produced in photosynthesis. Photo
June 2024, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q12(c)(i) (2 marks): A student counts the number of oxygen bubbles released from the pondweed. They count 23 bubbles in 3 minutes. Calculate the rate of photosynthesis. Give your an
June 2024, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q12(c)(ii) (3 marks): The student develops their investigation to find the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis. Describe how they should develop their investigati
June 2024, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q15(a) (2 marks): A student counts the number of oxygen bubbles released from the pondweed in 2 minutes. They use their result to correctly calculate a rate of 0.525 bubbles per
June 2024, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q15(b) (6 marks): The diagram shows apparatus used to investigate photosynthesis. Oxygen bubbles Water Pondweed Lamp The number of oxygen bubbles released each second indicates t
June 2024, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q13(b) (3 marks): Powdery mildew reduces the efficiency of chloroplasts. Explain how this might reduce the rate of respiration in a plant. [3]
June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q13(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how this apparatus and iodine solution are used to prove that carbon dioxide is needed for photosynthesis. [2]
June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q13(a)(ii) (1 mark): What is the expected result for this experiment? Result for Plant A Result for Plant B [1]
June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q13(b)(i) (1 mark): A student then investigates the effect of changing the carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis. Fig. 13.2 is a sketch of the expected results
June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q13(b)(ii) (1 mark): What is the dependent variable for this investigation? [1]
June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q13(c) (2 marks): Oxygen is one product of photosynthesis. The other product of photosynthesis is a monomer. This monomer is then used to make a polymer. The polymer is then used
June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q5 (1 mark): A student measures the effect of light intensity on photosynthesis. They place a lamp at different distances from pondweed in a beaker of water. The student use
June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q14(a)(i) (1 mark): Solution X contains a chemical that releases carbon dioxide. Suggest how solution X could be used to change the availability of carbon dioxide. [1]
June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q14(a)(ii) (1 mark): What is the dependent variable for this investigation? [1]
June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q14(b) (2 marks): The student sketches this graph to show their results. Rate of photosynthesis Carbon dioxide concentration Explain the pattern in the graph. [2]
June 2022, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q13(b)(i) (1 mark): The scientist decides to repeat the investigation for 20 °C. Suggest why. [1]
June 2022, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q13(b)(ii) (2 marks): When the scientist repeats the investigation at 20 °C the result is 26 bubbles. Use this result and the results in the table to describe the effect of temperatu
June 2022, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q13(c) (2 marks): The scientist decides to use the apparatus to investigate the effect of light intensity on photosynthesis. Describe how they could use the apparatus to change l
June 2022, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): Photosynthesis is affected by light intensity. The relative light intensity can be calculated using the inverse square law. 1 relative light intensity = (distan
June 2022, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q13(a)(i) (3 marks): Describe the process of photosynthesis. [3]
June 2022, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q13(b)(i) (2 marks): Look at the mean the student has calculated for 35 °C. Explain why there is a second mean in brackets. [2]
June 2022, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q13(b)(ii) (6 marks): Photosynthesis is an enzyme-controlled process. Explain the student’s results. [6]
June 2022, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q13(c) (1 mark): The graph shows the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis. Rate of photosynthesis Light intensity Explain why the graph levels off. [1]
November 2021, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q12(a) (1 mark): The bubbles of gas are made during photosynthesis. Which is the main gas in the bubbles? [1]
November 2021, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q12(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean number of bubbles. Give your answer to the nearest whole number. Write your answer in the table. [2]
November 2021, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q12(b)(ii) (2 marks): There is one anomaly in the results. Identify the anomaly and suggest one reason other than human error that may have caused it. Anomaly Reason [2]
November 2021, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q12(c) (6 marks): Describe how the student could develop their investigation to show how light intensity affects the number of bubbles made. In your answer include ideas about va
November 2021, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q12(a) (1 mark): Suggest why the student places a container of water between the lamp and the beaker. [1]
November 2021, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q12(b)(i) (2 marks): The relative light intensity when the lamp distance is 0.1 m is 100. Use the inverse square law to calculate the relative light intensity for 0.4 m. Give your a
November 2021, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q12(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain the patterns shown in the data. [3]
November 2021, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q12(c) (6 marks): Evaluate the student’s investigation and describe improvements to the equipment and method to increase the accuracy and precision. [6]
November 2021, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q12(c) (3 marks): Plants are an important part of any community. Fig. 12.2 shows the effect of abiotic factors on the rate of photosynthesis by plants. High concentration of CO2
November 2020, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q3 (1 mark): A student investigates the rate of photosynthesis. They collect the gas produced during the reaction in a gas syringe. The diagrams show the volume of gas in th
November 2020, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q16(a)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why chloroplasts are needed for photosynthesis. [1]
November 2020, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q16(b) (2 marks): Fig. 16.2 shows algae growing on the surface of a lake. Fig. 16.2 In the summer the area covered by the algae increases. Other plants growing at the bottom of t
November 2020, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q16(c) (3 marks): Compare the process of photosynthesis with the process of aerobic respiration. [3]
November 2020, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q13(a)(i) (5 marks): Plot the results for 25 °C and 35 °C on the grid, and draw two lines of best fit. [5]
November 2020, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q13(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the trends shown in the graph. [2]
June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q5 (1 mark): A student investigates the rate of reaction for photosynthesis using pondweed. The student records the time it takes pondweed to produce 30 bubbles of oxygen. T
June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the mean for 40 beads. Give your answer to the nearest whole number. Mean = [1]
June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(a)(ii) (2 marks): Look at the mean for 30 beads. Explain why the student did not use the result for trial 2 when calculating the mean. [2]
June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(b) (1 mark): Look at the results for 10, 20 and 40 beads. Which set of data is the most precise? Explain your answer. [1]
June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(c) (1 mark): Explain why the student sets up a bottle with zero algae beads in. [1]
June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(d) (3 marks): Use ideas about photosynthesis to explain the pattern in the results. [3]
June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(e)(i) (1 mark): The student also uses a large beaker and a kettle of hot water. Explain why the student uses the beaker and kettle of hot water. [1]
June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(e)(ii) (3 marks): Describe how the student could develop her method to find the best temperature for photosynthesis. [3]
June 2019, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): The rate of photosynthesis is affected by light intensity. When you increase distance between a light source and a plant, light intensity decreases. The relativ
June 2019, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the mean for 40 beads. Give your answer to the nearest whole number. Mean = [1]
June 2019, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(a)(ii) (2 marks): Look at the mean for 30 beads. Explain why the student did not use the result for trial 2 when calculating the mean. [2]
June 2019, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(b) (1 mark): Look at the results for 10, 20 and 40 beads. Which set of data is the most precise? Explain your answer. [1]
June 2019, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(c) (1 mark): Explain why the student sets up a bottle with zero algae beads in. [1]
June 2019, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(d) (3 marks): Use ideas about photosynthesis to explain the pattern in the results. [3]
June 2019, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(e)(i) (1 mark): The student also uses a large beaker and a kettle of hot water. Explain why the student uses the beaker and kettle of hot water. [1]
June 2019, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(e)(ii) (3 marks): Describe how the student could develop her method to find the best temperature for photosynthesis. [3]
June 2018, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q3 (1 mark): Photosynthesis is a process that occurs in plants. Type of reaction Substrates Products A Endothermic Carbon dioxide and water Oxygen and glucose B Exothermic C
June 2018, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q1 (1 mark): Which of these statements about photosynthesis is correct? A Single stage endothermic reaction B Single stage exothermic reaction C Two stage endothermic reacti
June 2018, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q2 (1 mark): The graph shows how one limiting factor affects the rate of photosynthesis. Rate of photosynthesis Limiting factor Which limiting factor is having the effect sh
June 2018, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q13(c)(i) (3 marks): Describe all the stages required to test the leaves for the presence of starch. [3]
June 2018, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q13(c)(ii) (3 marks): What are the expected results of the starch test on each plant? Write down reasons for your answers. [3]

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