Nutrient cycles: past paper questions
Real questions on nutrient cycles
The newest 20 of 28 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0610/41 · May/June 2026 · Q5c[4]
One consequence of farming can be deforestation. Explain how deforestation can contribute to climate change.
See it on the paper → - 0610/31 · October/November 2025 · Q8a(ii)[1]
State the name of the process that involves microorganisms transferring carbon in dead organisms to the atmosphere.
See it on the paper → - 0610/41 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(i)[2]
State the names of processes A and B in Fig. 3.1. A
See it on the paper → - 0610/41 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(ii)[2]
State two ways that nitrogen fixation can occur.
See it on the paper → - 0610/41 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(iii)[1]
State the name of compound Y in Fig. 3.1.
See it on the paper → - 0610/41 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[6]
Explain the process of eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems.
See it on the paper → - 0610/33 · October/November 2024 · Q8b[3]
State three processes in the carbon cycle that involve producers.
See it on the paper → - 0610/11 · May/June 2024 · Q37[1]
During the carbon cycle, which processes release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
See it on the paper → - 0610/31 · May/June 2023 · Q6a(i)[3]
Describe the results shown in Fig. 6.1.
See it on the paper → - 0610/31 · May/June 2023 · Q6a(ii)[2]
Predict and explain the effect on the organisms in the river of the dissolved oxygen concentration at X in Fig. 6.1.
See it on the paper → - 0610/33 · May/June 2023 · Q8a[1]
State one source of methane gas.
See it on the paper → - 0610/43 · May/June 2023 · Q6a(i)[1]
Using the information in Fig. 6.1, state which 10-year period had the highest increase in the percentage of land covered by forest.
See it on the paper → - 0610/32 · February/March 2023 · Q6a[1]
Using the information in Fig. 6.1, identify the number of processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
See it on the paper → - 0610/32 · February/March 2023 · Q6b[4]
The boxes on the left show letters representing processes in Fig. 6.1. The boxes on the right show the names of some processes. Draw lines to link each letter to the correct process. Draw four lines. letter in Fig. 6.1 process combustion A decomposition B formation of fossil fuel C photosynthesis D respiration
See it on the paper → - 0610/32 · February/March 2023 · Q6f(i)[1]
State the usual concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. %
See it on the paper → - 0610/33 · October/November 2022 · Q4c[1]
Some bacteria that live on the seashore feed on dead material. State the term used to describe organisms that get energy from dead or waste organic material.
See it on the paper → - 0610/41 · October/November 2022 · Q4d[3]
State the names of three natural processes involving bacteria that are important to ecosystems.
See it on the paper → - 0610/42 · May/June 2022 · Q1d(i)[1]
State the term given to something present in the environment in such short supply that it restricts life processes.
See it on the paper → - 0610/43 · October/November 2021 · Q2a(v)[3]
Describe how nitrate ions are formed in the soil.
See it on the paper → - 0610/21 · October/November 2020 · Q36[1]
Which arrow represents the process of nitrogen fixation?
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
The strongest responses divided their answer into the main regions: before the untreated sewage release; immediately after the untreated sewage release and after X. The words used to describe the gradients were sometimes inappropriate and often too vague. Few candidates mentioned the final stage where oxygen concentrations return to normal. Weaker responses simply described the graph in terms of a...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 0610/31 Q6(a)(i) (Cambridge)
Most candidates correctly predicted that the organisms would die or that the population would reduce, but few linked this to the need for oxygen for respiration. Some went into unnecessary details about eutrophication.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 0610/31 Q6(a)(ii) (Cambridge)
Some candidates read the figures correctly from the graph, but many did not identify a 10-year period. The correct answer was the 1950s.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 0610/43 Q6(a)(i) (Cambridge)
Past papers, syllabus and examiner reports © UCLES (Cambridge University Press & Assessment). Questions are matched to topics from the official syllabus. AssessPro is independent and not endorsed by Cambridge.