Characteristics of living organisms: past paper questions
Real questions on characteristics of living organisms
The newest 20 of 65 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[2]
There are two types of reproduction. Complete Table 1.1 to compare asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction. Table 1.1 number of parents asexual sexual genetically genetically
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[3]
Fig. 1.1 shows a diagram of the male reproductive system in humans. A B E C D Fig. 1.1 Using letters A–E in Fig. 1.1, identify the part that: produces sperm secretes a fluid to make semen
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q1c[3]
Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants. Complete the sentences about pollination and fertilisation. Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from an to a . Fertilisation occurs when a pollen nucleus fuses with a nucleus in
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q2a(i)[2]
State all the elements found in the molecules of: protein glycogen.
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q2a(ii)[2]
State the names of the two different smaller molecules that make up a molecule of fat.
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q2a(iii)[2]
State the test for protein and give the observation for a positive result. test
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q2b(i)[2]
Enzymes are proteins. Complete the sentence about enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that are involved in all
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q10a(i)[1]
Identify planet X.
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q10a(ii)[1]
The mass of the Sun is 2 × 10 30 kg. A student says that the Sun has 100 times the mass of planet X. Use data from Table 10.1 to show that the student is incorrect. (ii)
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q10b(i)[2]
The Sun is a stable star that formed as a protostar from two materials. State the two materials from which protostars form.
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q10b(ii)[1]
The Sun is a small mass star. Use words or phrases from the list to describe the next stages of the life cycle of the Sun by filling in the gaps in the sequence below. black hole neutron star red giant red super giant supernova white dwarf Sun (stable star)
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q10c[2]
Visible light travels 1.5 × 10 11 m from the Sun to the Earth at a speed of 3.0 × 10 8 m / s. Show that the time for visible light to travel from the Sun to the Earth is approximately 8 minutes.
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q10d[1]
On Fig. 10.1 complete the ray diagram to show how a lens is able to focus rays of light from the Sun onto some dry grass. lens dry grass
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q11b(i)[1]
State one use for X-rays in a hospital.
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q11b(ii)[1]
Ultrasound waves are used in a hospital to scan unborn babies. Explain why ultrasound is used in preference to X-rays.
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q11b(iii)[2]
Suggest the frequency of ultrasound waves in kHz. Use your knowledge of the range of frequencies audible to humans to explain your answer. frequency = kHz explanation
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q11c[3]
γ-radiation with a frequency of 6 × 10 19 Hz travels at a speed of 3 × 10 8 m / s. Calculate the wavelength of γ-radiation. State the unit of your answer. wavelength = unit
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q11d(i)[2]
Complete the sentence to define the half-life of a radioactive isotope. The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time taken for
See it on the paper → - 0654/31 · October/November 2025 · Q11d(ii)[2]
A sample of cobalt-60 contains 1600 cobalt-60 atoms. Calculate how many cobalt-60 atoms will remain after 31.8 years. number of atoms remaining =
See it on the paper → - 0654/32 · May/June 2025 · Q3a[1]
The ability to detect and respond to changes in the environment is one of the characteristics of living organisms. Circle this characteristic of living organisms.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Most candidates could identify sensitivity. Some candidates circled multiple responses. These candidates should be encouraged to carefully read the instructions in the question.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0654/32 Q3(a) (Cambridge)
Candidates did not know this definition from the syllabus and it was rare to see answers which gained full credit. Most gave the idea of the same kind of animal or tried to describe rhinos in particular.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0654/32 Q4(b) (Cambridge)
Almost all candidates selected the correct rhino species from the bar chart.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0654/32 Q4(d)(i) (Cambridge)
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