Coordination and response in plants: past paper questions
Real questions on coordination and response in plants
The newest 5 of 5 written questions, plus 15 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 5090/22 · October/November 2024 · Q7c[4]
phototropism and gravitropism.
See it on the paper → - 5090/21 · May/June 2023 · Q3c[4]
The tomato plant is responding to the light. Name this response and explain how auxin and cell elongation are involved. name of response explanation
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · May/June 2023 · Q5b(i)[2]
Name the type of response shown by a plant root when it grows down into soil after the seed has germinated.
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · October/November 2021 · Q6b(i)[2]
Describe the surface of a pollen grain from an insect-pollinated flower. Explain how this feature is an advantage in insect-pollination.
See it on the paper → - 5090/22 · October/November 2021 · Q6b(ii)[2]
Explain how a pollen grain from a wind-pollinated flower is adapted for pollination.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Most candidates gave the term phototropism but the explanations often contained inaccuracies. There were incorrect references to auxin being destroyed or burnt by light. Also, the concentration of auxin was linked to growth of the stem without reference to cell elongation.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 5090/21 Q3(c) (Cambridge)
Positive gravitropism/geotropism scored two marks but quite often candidates just gave the answer as gravitropism/geotropism to score 1 mark. In general candidates understood that plants can respond by tropisms and where correct alternatives such as negative phototropism were given they scored marks.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 5090/22 Q5(b)(i) (Cambridge)
Most candidates were able to recognise that insect-pollinated flowers produce sticky pollen which can easily attach to insects. Some candidates seemingly misread the question and instead gave irrelevant accounts detailing adaptations of insect-pollinated flowers.
— Examiner report, October/November 2021, 5090/22 Q6(b)(i) (Cambridge)
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