Plant nutrition: past paper questions
Real questions on plant nutrition
The newest 20 of 154 written questions, plus 112 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0970/42 · May/June 2026 · Q2b[3]
Tilapia is a type of fish that is eaten by many people around the world. In the wild, tilapia feed on producers. Fish farmers grow these fish in water in outdoor ponds. The ponds are positioned to maximise access to sunlight. Suggest how maximising sunlight leads to an increase in the growth of tilapia.
See it on the paper → - 0970/42 · May/June 2026 · Q2c(i)[1]
State the name of the mineral ion that provides an element found in all proteins. (iii) State the name of a process that could occur if the farmer adds excessive waste organic material to the pond.
See it on the paper → - 0970/42 · May/June 2026 · Q5b(iii)[1]
Roots absorb magnesium ions from the soil. State the name of the substance that contains magnesium ions ina palisade mesophyll cell.
See it on the paper → - 0970/61 · May/June 2026 · Q1b(i)[4]
Draw a large diagram of the beet leaf shown in Figure 1.4.
See it on the paper → - 0970/61 · May/June 2026 · Q1b(ii)[3]
(ii) Line PQ on Figure 1.4 represents the maximum width of the beet leaf. Measure the length of line PQ on Figure 1.4. length line .......... eceeteeeteeeteeteeeeeees Calculate the actual width of the beet leaf using the formula and your measurement. length of line PQ in Figure 1.4 actual width of the beet leaf magnifi...
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(i)[2]
Suggest two processes that cannot occur in the infected leaf that can occur in the uninfected leaf in Fig. 3.1.
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · October/November 2025 · Q6a(i)[1]
State the name of the organ that contains spongy mesophyll cells. (i)
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · October/November 2025 · Q6a(ii)[3]
State the names of structures J, K and L in Fig. 6.1. J K
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · October/November 2025 · Q6b[3]
Explain how the spongy mesophyll tissue is adapted for photosynthesis.
See it on the paper → - 0970/31 · May/June 2025 · Q2a[5]
A student investigated the effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis in an aquatic plant. Sodium hydrogencarbonate was used to provide different concentrations of carbon dioxide in the water. The student counted the number of gas bubbles released in one minute at different concentrations of c...
See it on the paper → - 0970/31 · May/June 2025 · Q2b[4]
Plants are usually green. Explain the importance of the green pigment in plant nutrition.
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(i)[1]
State the name of the structure in a plant cell where photosynthesis occurs.
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(ii)[1]
State the name of the pigment found in the cell structure where photosynthesis occurs.
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1b(i)[1]
The student counted the number of squares to determine the surface area of the leaf. They counted 35 squares. State the unit for this measurement of surface area. (i)
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1b(ii)[1]
Explain how the large surface area of a leaf is an adaptation for photosynthesis.
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1c(i)[3]
A B State the names of the structures labelled A, B and D in Fig. 1.2.
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1c(ii)[2]
State the names of the two types of tissue that make up structure C in Fig. 1.2. and
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1d(i)[1]
State the name of the cell labelled E in Fig. 1.3.
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1d(ii)[2]
Describe how cell E adapts the leaf for photosynthesis.
See it on the paper → - 0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q2b(i)[3]
Using the information in Fig. 2.1, state the letter of the test‑tube containing carrot seeds that will germinate and explain why these seeds will germinate. test‑tube explanation
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Few candidates knew that carbon dioxide is a raw material. Most managed to name oxygen as the gas produced during photosynthesis. Although many gave the correct term, intensity was not wellknown.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0970/31 Q2(a) (Cambridge)
There was some confusion over the green pigment. Some candidates thought it produced chlorophyll, some thought it was found in chlorophyll, and some were confused between chlorophyll and chloroplasts. Many candidates could relate the presence of the green pigment as an indicator of a healthy plant and often stated that if it was absent, the plant would be brown or unhealthy. There was some impreci...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0970/31 Q2(b) (Cambridge)
This question needed careful reading as it asked for the structure in a plant cell not the tissue.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0970/32 Q1(a)(i) (Cambridge)
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