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IGCSE Combined Science 0653 · Biology · 14

0653.B3.2.03 — Investigate and describe the effects on plant 5 Explain the effects on plant cells of immersing tissues of immersing them in solutions of th: past paper questions

7 real questionsasked in 2 of the last 10 exam series2022–2025usually: Describe, State, Explain, Calculate, Which

Real questions on 0653.b3.2.03 — investigate and describe the effects on plant 5 explain the effects on plant cells of immersing tissues of immersing them in solutions of th

The newest 7 of 7 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

  1. 0653/41 · October/November 2025 · Q2a(i)[1]

    State the name of the effect shown in Fig. 2.1.

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  2. 0653/41 · October/November 2025 · Q2a(ii)[3]

    The plant cell in Fig. 2.1 is now removed from the salt solution and immersed in pure water for 60 minutes. Explain the effect of being immersed in pure water on the plant cell.

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  3. 0653/32 · February/March 2025 · Q2c(i)[2]

    Calculate the percentage of seeds that germinate in a warm temperature with no light. percentage of seeds that germinate =

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  4. 0653/32 · February/March 2025 · Q2c(ii)[2]

    Seeds need a suitable temperature to germinate, but they do not need light to germinate. Describe evidence from Table 2.1 that supports this statement.

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  5. 0653/42 · February/March 2025 · Q3c[3]

    Fig. 3.2 is a diagram of a plant cell that has been immersed in a sugar solution. Fig. 3.2 Complete these sentences about the cell in Fig. 3.2. Water has left the cell because the sugar solution has a lower The loss of water reduces the pressure inside the cell. The cell membrane moves away from the cell wall and the c...

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  6. 0653/11 · October/November 2022 · Q11[1]

    Which environmental conditions are necessary for seeds to germinate?

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  7. 0653/32 · February/March 2022 · Q1b(i)[2]

    Describe two visible differences in the cell after immersion compared to the cell before immersion in Fig. 1.2.

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What examiners said

This question was generally answered well. Most candidates calculated 36/40 100. Others could see that two seeds was 5% of 40, so they subtracted the 5 from the 95 written in the first row of the table.

— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 0653/32 Q2(c)(i) (Cambridge)

Some candidates found this question challenging. To get full credit, the two variables had to be addressed separately. Most candidates used evidence from the table to suggest that seeds can germinate without light, therefore gaining partial credit. Fewer candidates stated that more seeds germinate in a warm temperature than in a cold temperature.

— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 0653/32 Q2(c)(ii) (Cambridge)

Candidates usually gained at least partial credit. ‘Potential gradient’ and ‘concentration’ were not accepted as alternatives for ‘potential’, and ‘turgid’ was not accepted for ‘turgor’. Some candidates were unfamiliar with the term ‘plasmolysed’.

— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 0653/42 Q3(c) (Cambridge)

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0653.B3.2.03 — Investigate and describe the effects on plant 5 Explain the effects on plant cells of immersing tissues of immersing them in solutions of th — IGCSE Combined Science 0653 past paper questions | AssessPro