Characteristics of living organisms: past paper questions
Real questions on characteristics of living organisms
The newest 20 of 236 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0653/01 · Specimen 2025 · Q4[1]
What is a type of tissue in a living organism?
See it on the paper → - 0653/42 · October/November 2025 · Q9c[3]
A student stands in front of a vertical plane mirror of length 40 cm, as shown in Fig. 9.2. plane mirror 40 cm NOT TO SCALE 130 cm x cm P Fig. 9.2 • • • P is a point on the ground that is vertically below the student’s eyes. The vertical distance between the student’s eyes and point P is 130 cm. The vertical distance b...
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[2]
Fig. 1.2 shows the height of the foam after 5 minutes in boiling tubes B and D. D Fig. 1.2 Record in Table 1.2 the height of the foam in each boiling tube in mm to the nearest mm. B
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(i)[3]
Use the data in Table 1.2 to plot on the grid the height of the foam (vertical axis) against the number of pieces of potato.
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(ii)[1]
Draw the best-fit curve.
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(iii)[1]
Cutting the potato cylinder into pieces increases the surface area. Describe the relationship between the surface area and the height of foam produced.
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(iv)[1]
Use your graph to estimate the height of foam for 12 pieces of potato. Show your working on your graph. height of foam = mm
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q4a(iii)[2]
Calculate the resistance R of resistor W. Use your answer in (a)(i) and the equation shown. R = 20 # e d 0 o 100 - d 0 Give your answer to two significant figures. R = Ω
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q4b(i)[2]
Fig. 4.5 shows the readings on the ammeter and the voltmeter. 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 1 0.8 A 1.0 0 2 V 3 Fig. 4.5 Record the values of I and V. I = A
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q4b(ii)[1]
The ammeter and the voltmeter shown in Fig. 4.5 are analogue. Suggest one advantage of taking readings from a digital ammeter or voltmeter.
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q4b(iii)[1]
Calculate the resistance R of resistor W. Use your answers in (b)(i) and the equation shown. R = V I R = Ω
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q4c[2]
Two values are considered equal within the limits of experimental error if the difference between them is less than 10%. Explain whether your values of R in (a)(iii) and (b)(iii) are equal within the limits of experimental error. Justify your answer with a calculation.
See it on the paper → - 0653/61 · October/November 2025 · Q4d[2]
In both procedures, the student opens the switch after each set of readings. Suggest two reasons why this is a good precaution.
See it on the paper → - 0653/62 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(i)[2]
Record these values in Table 1.1.
See it on the paper → - 0653/62 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(ii)[1]
Calculate the change in volume of gas between step 5 and step 7 for d = 40 cm and d = 50 cm. Record these values in Table 1.1.
See it on the paper → - 0653/62 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[1]
Increasing the value of d decreases the light intensity. Use Table 1.1 to describe the relationship between light intensity and the rate of photosynthesis.
See it on the paper → - 0653/62 · October/November 2025 · Q1c[1]
Suggest why the student waits for 5 minutes in step 4.
See it on the paper → - 0653/62 · October/November 2025 · Q1d(i)[1]
Fig. 1.3 shows the temperature reading at the end of the procedure. °C 30 20 Record this temperature to the nearest 0.5 °C. temperature = °C Fig. 1.3
See it on the paper → - 0653/62 · October/November 2025 · Q1d(ii)[1]
The student thinks that the increase in temperature is caused by heat from the lamp. Suggest a change to the apparatus to overcome this problem.
See it on the paper → - 0653/62 · October/November 2025 · Q2[7]
The leaves of plants may be different colours. When a leaf transpires, it loses water, and the mass of the leaf decreases. A student states: The colour of a leaf affects the rate of water loss from the leaf. You may use any common laboratory apparatus in your plan. In your plan, include: • • • • • the apparatus you wil...
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
The definition of nutrition on the syllabus involves two parts, the taking in of materials and a subsequent function of these materials inside the body. An example of an acceptable response is ‘taking in nutrients for energy’, but there were several ways of wording the answer. Candidates found this question demanding. Vague statements such as ‘gives you what you need to stay alive’ or ‘a healthy d...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0653/31 Q3(a) (Cambridge)
There were not many correct answers to this question. One wavelength is the distance from a particular part of a wave to the same part of the next wave. They could be drawn from crest to crest, trough to trough or on the resting line. Some candidates seemed to have the idea of a wavelength, but they were not sufficiently accurate with their drawing. Some lines were too short or too long. A ruler w...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0653/31 Q8(b)(i) (Cambridge)
Candidates found this question demanding. The equation f = v / was used to calculate the frequency of the radio waves. Some candidates did the numerical calculation correctly. Stating the correct unit was difficult for all candidates. The correct unit, Hz, was seen a few times. Some variations of this unit were not allowed, for example, hz, HZ, and hurts. Other incorrect units included ohms and m...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0653/31 Q8(b)(ii) (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.