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Respiration: OCR GCSE Combined Science A questions

Every OCR GCSE Combined Science A exam question on B1.3 Respiration, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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3,411 questions

  1. Q3

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗
    Your answer

  2. Q4

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 7 Higher

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗
    Your answer

  3. Q15(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 8 Higher

    2 marksB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  4. Q15(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 8 Higher

    3 marksB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  5. Q15(b)(iii)

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 8 Higher

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  6. Q15(c)(i)

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 8 Higher

    2 marksB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  7. Q15(c)(ii)

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 8 Higher

    2 marksB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  8. Q8

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 7 Higher

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗
    Your answer

  9. Q13(b)

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 8 Higher

    3 marksB1.4 PhotosynthesisB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  10. Q16(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  11. Q16(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  12. Q16(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  13. Q16(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  14. Q16(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 1 Foundation

    3 marksB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  15. Q16(b)(iii)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  16. Q16(b)(iv)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksB1.3 RespirationB1.2 What happens in cells (and what do cells need)?
    The whole paper ↗

  17. Q16(b)(v)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  18. Q11(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 7 Higher

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  19. Q11(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 7 Higher

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗

  20. Q11(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 7 Higher

    1 markB1.3 Respiration
    The whole paper ↗
All 48 questions on Respiration, as a list
  1. June 2025, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q3 (1 mark): Which statement is correct about anaerobic respiration in plants? A It produces glucose. B It produces carbon dioxide. C It produces lactic acid. D It produces
  2. June 2025, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q4 (1 mark): The graph shows the mass of carbon dioxide exchanged by a plant with the air during 24 hours. Which letter shows when the plant is respiring but not photosynthe
  3. June 2025, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q15(b)(i) (2 marks): State the independent variable, dependent variable and a control variable in this investigation. Type of variable Correct variable Independent Dependent Control
  4. June 2025, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q15(b)(ii) (3 marks): Plot the mean results from the table onto the grid. Choose a suitable scale for both axes. [3]
  5. June 2025, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q15(b)(iii) (1 mark): Draw a curve of best fit through the points. [1] Mean increase in height (mm) Temperature (°C)
  6. June 2025, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q15(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain how the results support this conclusion. Include data. [2]
  7. June 2025, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q15(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the results do not support this conclusion. [2]
  8. June 2024, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): The table shows some information about respiration. Which row is correct about anaerobic respiration in fungi? Endothermic Products Site of reaction or Exotherm
  9. 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]
  10. June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why the scientist used fresh sugar solution each time. [1]
  11. June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify one variable the scientist should keep constant throughout the experiment. Tick (3) one box. Number of alginate beads Position of the gas syringe at th
  12. June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which gas is collected by the scientist in the gas syringe? [1]
  13. June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(b)(i) (1 mark): When calculating the mean for 55 °C, they did not include Trial 1. Give the reason why. [1]
  14. June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(b)(ii) (3 marks): Plot the mean values from the table on the graph. [3]
  15. June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(b)(iii) (1 mark): Draw a curve of best fit. [1] 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Temperature (°C)
  16. June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(b)(iv) (2 marks): Anaerobic respiration is an enzyme-controlled reaction. Explain the results between 15 °C and 35 °C. Include ideas about enzyme particles. [2]
  17. June 2023, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(b)(v) (2 marks): The scientist concludes that the best temperature for anaerobic respiration is approximately 40 °C. How could they alter their investigation to identify a more
  18. June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why the scientist used fresh sugar solution each time. [1]
  19. June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify one variable the scientist should keep constant throughout the experiment. Tick (3) one box. Number of alginate beads Position of the gas syringe at th
  20. June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which gas is collected by the scientist in the gas syringe? [1]
  21. June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(b)(i) (1 mark): When calculating the mean for 55 °C, they did not include Trial 1. Give the reason why. [1]
  22. June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(b)(ii) (3 marks): Plot the mean values from the table on the graph. [3]
  23. June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(b)(iii) (1 mark): Draw a curve of best fit. [1] 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Temperature (°C)
  24. June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(b)(iv) (2 marks): Anaerobic respiration is an enzyme-controlled reaction. Explain the results between 15 °C and 35 °C. Include ideas about enzyme particles. [2]
  25. June 2023, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q11(b)(v) (2 marks): The scientist concludes that the best temperature for anaerobic respiration is approximately 40 °C. How could they alter their investigation to identify a more
  26. June 2022, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q14(a)(i) (1 mark): The student finds the energy content by measuring the change in temperature of the water. Identify the piece of apparatus labelled X in the diagram. [1]
  27. June 2022, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q14(a)(ii) (2 marks): The table shows the change in temperature for one type of food. Temperature Temperature at the start at the end (°C) (°C) 20 65 Calculate the energy content of
  28. June 2022, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q14(b)(i) (1 mark): What is the energy content of food type D? kJ per gram [1]
  29. June 2022, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q14(b)(ii) (2 marks): Eating food type B provides the body with more ATP molecules than eating the same mass of food type E. Use your knowledge of cellular respiration to explain why
  30. June 2022, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q14(a)(i) (2 marks): The scientist wants to obtain more accurate results for the rate of anaerobic respiration in yeast. Describe two ways the scientist could improve their investig
  31. June 2022, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q14(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how the scientist could use the apparatus in the diagram to find the effect of glucose concentration on the rate of anaerobic respiration. [2]
  32. June 2022, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q14(b)(i) (1 mark): Which sugar results in the fastest rate of anaerobic respiration? [1]
  33. June 2022, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q14(b)(ii) (2 marks): Yeast takes time to process fructose before anaerobic respiration can occur. Explain how the graph shows evidence of this. [2]
  34. June 2022, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q14(c) (2 marks): Compare the products of anaerobic respiration in yeast with anaerobic respiration in humans. [2]
  35. November 2021, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): Look at the table. Endothermic Substrate(s) Product(s) Relative yield of ATP or exothermic A glucose + oxygen lactic acid + carbon dioxide less than aerobic res
  36. November 2020, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): What are the product(s) of anaerobic respiration in animals? A Alcohol B Alcohol and carbon dioxide C Lactic acid D Lactic acid and carbon dioxide Your answer [
  37. November 2020, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q16(c) (3 marks): Compare the process of photosynthesis with the process of aerobic respiration. [3]
  38. June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q1 (1 mark): Which process supplies ATP in all living cells? A Circulation B Photosynthesis C Protein synthesis D Respiration Your answer [1]
  39. June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q8 (1 mark): Which of these statements describes aerobic respiration in fungi? A An endothermic reaction that produces carbon dioxide and water. B An endothermic reaction th
  40. June 2019, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q12(a)(ii) (2 marks): Use ideas about aerobic respiration to explain the change in blood flow to muscle during exercise. [2]
  41. June 2018, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q2 (1 mark): The drawing shows some of the structures found in an animal cell. A B D C Which labelled structure contains enzymes for cellular respiration? Your answer [1]
  42. June 2018, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q15(a) (1 mark): Which gas makes the bubbles? [1]
  43. June 2018, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q15(b) (6 marks): Two students investigate the effect of temperature on respiration in yeast. This is what they do: • Put some yeast and sugar solution into a boiling tube • Put
  44. June 2018, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q15(c)(i) (2 marks): Plot the results on the grid. [2] Mean number of bubbles per minute Temperature (°C)
  45. June 2018, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q15(c)(ii) (1 mark): Draw a line of best fit. [1]
  46. June 2018, Biology Paper 1 Foundation, Q15(d) (4 marks): Respiration is an enzyme controlled reaction. Use ideas about enzymes to explain the pattern in the results. [4]
  47. June 2018, Biology Paper 7 Higher, Q14(b)(ii) (6 marks): The diagrams show the molecular structure of glucose and sucrose. CH2OH CH2OH O O O H HOCH2 H H H H H H OH H OH H H HO O HO OH HO CH2OH H OH H OH OH H Glucose S
  48. June 2018, Biology Paper 8 Higher, Q12(a)(ii) (2 marks): Angina is a symptom of CVD. Pain from angina is caused by cardiac muscle respiring anaerobically. Explain why angina causes pain. [2]

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