IGCSE Biology (9–1) 0970 · Topic 9

Transport in animals: past paper questions

155 real questionsasked in 9 of the last 10 exam series2019–2026usually: State, Describe, Explain, Identify, Complete

Real questions on transport in animals

The newest 20 of 81 written questions, plus 74 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0970/41 · May/June 2026 · Q4a[40]
Describe the results shown in Figure 4.1.
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0970/41 · May/June 2026 · Q4c[4]
(c) Explain why the heart rate does not immediately return to its resting value after the race ends in Figure 4.1. dace .......... [4]
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0970/41 · May/June 2026 · Q4e[2]
Blood is transported to the heart in veins. Explain the structural adaptations of veins. Turn over
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0970/42 · May/June 2026 · Q6a(i)[3]
(a) (i) State the name of the heart structures labelled Q, R and S in Figure 6.1. ellie cent ..........
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0970/42 · May/June 2026 · Q6a(ii)[1]
State the letter of the heart structure in Figure 6.1 that separates oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
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0970/42 · May/June 2026 · Q6a(iii)[1]
State the name of the blood vessel in Figure 6.1 that the drainage tubes labelled U are connected to.
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0970/42 · May/June 2026 · Q6b[1]
State the name of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygen.
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0970/42 · May/June 2026 · Q6c[4]
(c) Complete the sentences about the human circulatory system. human, blood passes through heatt .......... during complete circuit of the body. This type circulatory system called .......... .......... circulation. An advantage of this type of circulatory system is that blood can be transported at .......... pressure...
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0970/32 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[2]
State the names of two substances, other than blood cells, that are transported in blood plasma.
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0970/42 · October/November 2025 · Q6a[7]
An athlete monitored their heart rate and breathing rate before, during and after vigorous exercise. Fig. 6.1 shows the results. period of exercise 24 16 14 12 10 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 35 40 45 50 time / minutes period of exercise 160 140 120 heart rate / beats per 100 minute 80 60 40 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 time /...
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0970/62 · October/November 2025 · Q2[6]
Plan an investigation to determine the effect of exercise intensity on heart rate in humans.
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0970/31 · May/June 2025 · Q6a(i)[1]
Circle the correct name of the type of blood vessel in each row in Table 6.1. Table 6.1 type of blood vessel name of the type of blood vessel relative thickness of the wall relative diameter of the lumen X artery vein capillary thin large Y artery vein capillary very thin very narrow Z artery vein capillary thick narro...
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0970/31 · May/June 2025 · Q6a(ii)[2]
State the name and function of the structures present in blood vessel X but absent in blood vessels Y and Z in Table 6.1. name function
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0970/31 · May/June 2025 · Q6b[4]
Fig. 6.1 is a diagram showing a simplified circulatory system in a human. organ A pulmonary vein organ B blood vessel C kidney blood vessel D rest of body Fig. 6.1 Identify the names of the parts labelled in Fig. 6.1. organ A organ B blood vessel C
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0970/31 · May/June 2025 · Q6d[2]
The circulatory and digestive systems are organ systems. State the names of two other organ systems in humans.
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0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q4a[4]
The boxes on the left contain some functions of blood components. The boxes on the right contain the names of some blood components. Draw straight lines from each function to the blood component that carries out that function. Draw four straight lines. blood component function antibody production plasma phagocytosis re...
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0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q4b(ii)[2]
Platelets in the blood are responsible for blood clotting. State two roles of blood clotting.
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0970/32 · May/June 2025 · Q4c[1]
State the name of the main vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body.
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0970/42 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(i)[3]
Identify structures A, B and C shown in Fig. 1.1. A B (i)
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0970/42 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(ii)[1]
State the function of the cartilage shown in Fig. 1.1.
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What examiners said

Few could relate the description of the blood vessels to the table. Some merely circled X, Y or Z.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0970/31 Q6(a)(i) (Cambridge)

The majority did not realise that the structure was a valve. Many described arteries as having a thick wall or carrying oxygenated blood and many just named a blood vessel.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0970/31 Q6(a)(ii) (Cambridge)

Many got the heart and lungs backwards. Few named the aorta or the renal vein.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0970/31 Q6(b) (Cambridge)

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In the syllabus

9.1 Circulatory systems

Describe the circulatory system as a system of blood vessels with a pump and valves to ensure one-way flow of blood
Describe the single circulation of a fish
Describe the double circulation of a mammal
Explain the advantages of a double circulation

9.2 Heart

Identify in diagrams and images the structures of the mammalian heart, limited to: muscular wall, septum, left and right ventricles, left and right atria, one-way valves and coronary arteries
State that blood is pumped away from the heart in arteries and returns to the heart in veins
State that the activity of the heart may be monitored by: ECG, pulse rate and listening to sounds of valves closing
Investigate and describe the effect of physical activity on the heart rate
Describe coronary heart disease in terms of the blockage of coronary arteries and state the possible risk factors including: diet, lack of exercise, stress, smoking, genetic predisposition, age and sex
Discuss the roles of diet and exercise in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease
Identify in diagrams and images the atrioventricular and semilunar valves in the mammalian heart
Explain the relative thickness of: (a) the muscle walls of the left and right ventricles (b) the muscle walls of the atria compared to those of the ventricles
Explain the importance of the septum in separating oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
Describe the functioning of the heart in terms of the contraction of muscles of the atria and ventricles and the action of the valves
Explain the effect of physical activity on the heart rate

9.3 Blood vessels

Describe the structure of arteries, veins and capillaries, limited to: relative thickness of wall, diameter of the lumen and the presence of valves in veins
State the functions of capillaries
Identify in diagrams and images the main blood vessels to and from the: (a) heart, limited to: vena cava, aorta, pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein (b) lungs, limited to: pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein (c) kidney, limited to: renal artery and renal vein
Explain how the structure of arteries and veins is related to the pressure of the blood that they transport
Explain how the structure of capillaries is related to their functions
Identify, in diagrams and images, the main blood vessels to and from the liver as: hepatic artery, hepatic veins and hepatic portal vein

9.4 Blood

List the components of blood as: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma
Identify red and white blood cells in photomicrographs and diagrams
State the functions of the following components of blood: (a) red blood cells in transporting oxygen, including the role of haemoglobin (b) white blood cells in phagocytosis and antibody production (c) platelets in clotting (details are not required) (d) plasma in the transport of blood cells, ions, nutrients, urea, hormones and carbon dioxide
State the roles of blood clotting as preventing blood loss and the entry of pathogens
Identify lymphocytes and phagocytes in photomicrographs and diagrams
State the functions of: (a) lymphocytes – antibody production (b) phagocytes – engulfing pathogens by phagocytosis
Describe the process of clotting as the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin to form a mesh

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