Cells: past paper questions
Real questions on cells
The newest 20 of 102 written questions, plus 49 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 5090/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[3]
Identify the letter on Fig. 1.1 that has been used to label the area where each of the following happens: where sperm is deposited where oestrogen is produced
See it on the paper → - 5090/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[2]
Some women can have blockages in the tubes labelled B. Explain why this would prevent them becoming pregnant.
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · October/November 2025 · Q6a(i)[1]
Vibrio cholerae is a microorganism. Name the type of microorganism.
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · October/November 2025 · Q7a[4]
Explain the differences between organs, tissues and cells, using the eye as an example.
See it on the paper → - 5090/21 · May/June 2025 · Q1b[2]
DNA is found in the nucleus of each cell. Put a tick (✓) next to any statements that correctly describe the structure of DNA. A DNA molecule has four strands coiled together to form a helix. Each strand is made up of a chain of nucleotides. Each nucleotide contains a base, a sugar and an amino acid. The bases always pa...
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q1a[3]
Describe the conditions required for seeds to germinate.
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q1b[5]
Fig. 1.1 shows that the seed changes between day 1 and day 4. Describe these changes and explain how they happen.
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q1c(i)[1]
Name the part of the seed that X has developed from.
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q3a(i)[1]
Name parts A and B. A B
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q3a(ii)[2]
Part A can also be found in animal and plant cells. State two other components of this bacterial cell that can also be found in animal and plant cells.
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(i)[3]
Name the cell labelled X and describe its function. X function
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(ii)[2]
Name the cell labelled Y and describe its function. function Y
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q6a(iii)[1]
state the letter of the base that pairs with G.
See it on the paper → - 5090/21 · October/November 2024 · Q5a(ii)[2]
Describe a laboratory test that can be used to show that the oil body contains oil.
See it on the paper → - 5090/21 · October/November 2024 · Q5b(i)[2]
Only a small number of flowering plant species produce seeds with oil bodies. Suggest one advantage and one disadvantage to the castor oil plant of producing seeds with oil bodies. advantage disadvantage
See it on the paper → - 5090/21 · October/November 2024 · Q5b(ii)[3]
Use information from Fig. 5.2 to explain how useful the different ant species are to the castor oil plant.
See it on the paper → - 5090/21 · October/November 2024 · Q5c(i)[1]
State the name of the group to which S. geminata belongs.
See it on the paper → - 5090/21 · October/November 2024 · Q5c(ii)[2]
State two visible features used to classify S. geminata in this group of arthropods.
See it on the paper → - 5090/21 · October/November 2024 · Q6a[2]
State the name of an organism shown in Fig. 6.1 that is: both a secondary consumer and a tertiary consumer. a primary consumer
See it on the paper → - 5090/21 · October/November 2024 · Q6b[2]
Humans eat Nile tilapia, prawns, Nile sardines and Nile perch. Use information from Fig. 6.1 to state which of these is the least energy efficient for humans to eat and explain why.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Answers here often suffered from a lack of precision suggesting that the nectaries are in the anther or stigma, rather than close to them. There was also some confusion between nectar and pollen, with some candidates stating that nectar is transferred from flower to flower.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5090/21 Q2(a)(ii) (Cambridge)
This question discriminated well, with only a minority of candidates appreciating that muscle tissue was high in nitrogen due to a high protein content.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5090/21 Q3(c) (Cambridge)
Only about half of the candidates answered correctly, possibly thinking that mitochondria are absent in plant cells.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5090/21 Q7(a)(i) (Cambridge)
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