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Homeostasis and the kidney: WJEC A‑Level Biology questions

Every WJEC A-Level Biology exam question on 3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,223 questions

  1. Q3(a)(i)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 3(a)(i): Identify the plane of the section shown in Image 3.1B. [1]

  2. Q3(a)(ii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 3(a)(ii): Name the two blood vessels labelled in Image 3.1B. [1]

  3. Q3(a)(iii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 3(a)(iii): State which of the regions of the kidney, labelled X, Y or Z, on Image 3.1B is the site of ultrafiltration. [1] The filtration barrier in a nephron has three co

  4. Q3(b)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 3(b): With reference to Image 3.2 and Table 3.3, complete Table 3.4 to explain the presence or absence of albumin and glucose in the glomerular filtrate. [2] Table 3.

  5. Q3(c)(i)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 3(c)(i): The total length of the capillaries in a single glomerulus is 95 mm, and one kidney contains one million glomeruli. The mean radius of glomerular capillaries is

  6. Q3(c)(ii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 3(c)(ii): Give one reason why the estimate of the area for the dialysis filter is likely to be more accurate than the calculated area for the capillary walls of the kidne

  7. Q3(c)(iii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 3(c)(iii): Explain why having a large surface area is important in ultrafiltration. [1]

  8. Q3(d)(i)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 3(d)(i): Suggest how the filtration rate would be affected in Alport syndrome. Explain your answer. [1]

  9. Q7

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    9 marks3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 7: Feedback loops are essential to homeostasis. Image 7.1 shows a generalised feedback loop and Image 7.2 is a photograph of a person suffering from a condition ca

  10. Q5(a)(i)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 5(a)(i): Use labelled lines on Image 5.1 to show the sites of: [2] I. ultrafiltration II. selective reabsorption

  11. Q5(a)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 5(a)(ii): Structures labelled X and Y in Image 5.1 are involved in homeostasis. Name structures X and Y and the homeostatic process in which they are involved. [2] X Y Ho

  12. Q5(b)(i)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 5(b)(i): Use Graph 5.2 to explain the change in concentrations for urea and chloride ions along the tubule. [2] The experiment was repeated but concentrations of glucose

  13. Q5(b)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    4 marks3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 5(b)(ii): Use Graph 5.3, to explain the change in concentration along the tubule for glucose with and without the respiratory inhibitor oligomycin. [4] A third experiment

  14. Q5(c)(i)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 5(c)(i): Explain why these locations were chosen for sampling. [1]

  15. Q5(c)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    4 marks3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 5(c)(ii): The Na+ concentration in the sample taken from location 1 was higher than the sample taken from location 2 Use your knowledge of the function of both limbs of t

  16. Q4(a)(i)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 3

    4 marks3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 3, question 4(a)(i): the source of the nerve impulses;

  17. Q4(a)(ii)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 3

    3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 3, question 4(a)(ii): the endocrine gland;

  18. Q4(a)(iii)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 3

    3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 3, question 4(a)(iii): the hormone;

  19. Q4(a)(iv)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 3

    3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 3, question 4(a)(iv): the precise location of the target cells.

  20. Q4(b)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.7 Homeostasis and the kidney
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 3, question 4(b): Explain how the hormone involved in the process shown in Image 4.1 affects the target cells and how it prevents excessive water loss. [3] The release of the hor
All 42 questions on Homeostasis and the kidney, as a list
  1. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Identify the plane of the section shown in Image 3.1B. [1]
  2. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the two blood vessels labelled in Image 3.1B. [1]
  3. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q3(a)(iii) (1 mark): State which of the regions of the kidney, labelled X, Y or Z, on Image 3.1B is the site of ultrafiltration. [1] The filtration barrier in a nephron has three co
  4. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q3(b) (2 marks): With reference to Image 3.2 and Table 3.3, complete Table 3.4 to explain the presence or absence of albumin and glucose in the glomerular filtrate. [2] Table 3.
  5. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q3(c)(i) (3 marks): The total length of the capillaries in a single glomerulus is 95 mm, and one kidney contains one million glomeruli. The mean radius of glomerular capillaries is
  6. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q3(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give one reason why the estimate of the area for the dialysis filter is likely to be more accurate than the calculated area for the capillary walls of the kidne
  7. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q3(c)(iii) (1 mark): Explain why having a large surface area is important in ultrafiltration. [1]
  8. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q3(d)(i) (1 mark): Suggest how the filtration rate would be affected in Alport syndrome. Explain your answer. [1]
  9. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q7 (9 marks): Feedback loops are essential to homeostasis. Image 7.1 shows a generalised feedback loop and Image 7.2 is a photograph of a person suffering from a condition ca
  10. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): Use labelled lines on Image 5.1 to show the sites of: [2] I. ultrafiltration II. selective reabsorption
  11. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Structures labelled X and Y in Image 5.1 are involved in homeostasis. Name structures X and Y and the homeostatic process in which they are involved. [2] X Y Ho
  12. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Use Graph 5.2 to explain the change in concentrations for urea and chloride ions along the tubule. [2] The experiment was repeated but concentrations of glucose
  13. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q5(b)(ii) (4 marks): Use Graph 5.3, to explain the change in concentration along the tubule for glucose with and without the respiratory inhibitor oligomycin. [4] A third experiment
  14. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): Explain why these locations were chosen for sampling. [1]
  15. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q5(c)(ii) (4 marks): The Na+ concentration in the sample taken from location 1 was higher than the sample taken from location 2 Use your knowledge of the function of both limbs of t
  16. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q4(a)(i) (4 marks): the source of the nerve impulses;
  17. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q4(a)(ii): the endocrine gland;
  18. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q4(a)(iii): the hormone;
  19. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q4(a)(iv): the precise location of the target cells.
  20. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q4(b) (3 marks): Explain how the hormone involved in the process shown in Image 4.1 affects the target cells and how it prevents excessive water loss. [3] The release of the hor
  21. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q4(d) (2 marks): Explain why it is important to remove excess fluid during haemodialysis. [2]
  22. Summer 2019, Unit 3, Q7 (9 marks): The kidneys have an important role to play in the removal of urea and homeostasis in the body. Along the length of a nephron there are mechanisms which regulate
  23. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): On Image 1, label with a P the part of the nephron where the structures shown in Image 2 would be found. [1]
  24. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Using the scale bar on Image 2 only, calculate the magnification of this electron micrograph. [2] magnification = x
  25. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the pressure forming the glomerular filtrate. [1]
  26. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): Use the information provided to suggest how a low protein diet could affect the rate at which glomerular filtrate is formed. [3]
  27. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): The pressure forming the glomerular filtrate can be regulated. The muscles in the walls of the afferent and efferent arterioles are under hormonal and nervous c
  28. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(c) (2 marks): In diseases such as diabetes mellitus and glomerulonephritis the membranes in the glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule are damaged and they become more permeable to
  29. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(d)(i) (1 mark): Explain why the urea concentration increases. [1]
  30. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(d)(ii) (2 marks): If the concentration of urea along the proximal convoluted tubule is plotted on a graph, the line of best fit would follow the equation shown below: y = mx + c
  31. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(e)(i) (2 marks): Explain why there are many of the organelles labelled X in the cells shown. [2]
  32. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(e)(ii) (1 mark): Explain the presence of structures Z on the cell surface. [1]
  33. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(f) (4 marks): Lungfish survive the drying out of their habitats by burrowing into the mud and decreasing their metabolic rate. Explain why, when in water, they release the pr
  34. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why oestrogen treatment might be given to Turners Syndrome patients. [2]
  35. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): Turners Syndrome patients have a DEXA scan to assess Bone Mineral Density (BMD). The scan compares density to that of a healthy person of the same age. The diff
  36. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q7(b)(iv) (2 marks): With reference to the graph, explain why is it difficult to confidently diagnose a 10-year-old girl with Turners Syndrome using the BMD test alone. [2]
  37. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q7(b)(vi) (1 mark): It is estimated that there is a 25% increase in the risk of fractures in Turners Syndrome patients, especially of the long bones of the forearm. What would be t
  38. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q7(c)(iii) (1 mark): When testing patients, state the factor that would need to be taken into account to make a valid conclusion. [1] Option C: Neurobiology and Behaviour
  39. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q3(a) (4 marks): With reference to the diagram above, describe and explain how the dialysis machine makes filtration more efficient. [4]
  40. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): State precisely from where ADH is released into the blood stream of a human. [1] collecting duct lumen permanent aquaporin H2O H2O H2O vesicle blood capillary e
  41. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q3(b)(iii) (5 marks): Using the diagram above and your own knowledge explain how the release of more ADH causes a smaller volume of concentrated urine to be produced. [5] Diabetes in
  42. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q3(c) (1 mark): Suggest how this causes diabetes insipidus. [1] Another form of diabetes insipidus is nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. This is a genetic condition caused by a do

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