O Level Combined Science 5129 · Topic 3

Plant nutrition and transport: past paper questions

147 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: State, Explain, Suggest, Describe, Complete

Real questions on plant nutrition and transport

The newest 20 of 103 written questions, plus 44 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.

5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q16[4]
The boxes on the left contain the names of structures found in plants. The boxes on the right contain functions performed by plant structures. Draw one straight line from each structure to its function. You must draw a total of five lines. structure function chloroplasts translocation of sucrose mitochondria aerobic re...
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5129/22 · October/November 2025 · Q7a[2]
Write the balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis by completing the blanks under the word equation. water + carbon dioxide oxygen + glucose + +
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5129/22 · October/November 2025 · Q7b[2]
Describe the role of chlorophyll in the process of photosynthesis.
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5129/22 · October/November 2025 · Q7c[3]
Plants use some of the glucose made in photosynthesis as a source of energy and convert the rest of the glucose into other carbohydrates. Complete Table 7.1 by stating the functions of these other carbohydrates. name of carbohydrate made from glucose cellulose Table 7.1 function of carbohydrate starch sucrose
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q1a[4]
Use words from the list to complete the definition of transpiration. cuticle descent mesophyll diffusion osmosis stomata evaporation xylem Transpiration is the loss of water vapour from leaves by of water from the surface of cells into the air spaces in the leaf and then
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q1b[3]
A student investigates the rates of transpiration in two species of plants, species X and species Y. The student investigates their rates of transpiration at 15 °C and at 25 °C. The plants are the same size. Key The results are shown in Fig. 1.1. = 15 °C = 25 °C 7 6 5 3 2 1 0 species X species Y Fig. 1.1 4 rate of tran...
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q10a[2]
Explain how a plant cell obtains the carbon dioxide it needs for photosynthesis.
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q10b[1]
State the name of the process that moves water up the stem of a plant.
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q10c[2]
Explain the function of chlorophyll in photosynthesis.
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q13[4]
The boxes on the left in Fig. 13.1 contain the names of structures involved in human reproduction. The boxes on the right each contain a function needed for human reproduction. Draw one straight line from each box on the left to a box on the right to link the structure to its function. An example has been done for you....
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5129/31 · May/June 2025 · Q3a(i)[2]
On Fig. 3.1, draw three different diameters.
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5129/21 · October/November 2024 · Q6[3]
Draw three straight lines from the box on the left to three of the boxes on the right to make three sentences that are correct for starch. … can be detected by Benedict’s Test. … is digested by amylase in the mouth. … is digested by maltase in the small intestine. Starch … … is made from a product of photosynthesis. …...
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5129/21 · October/November 2024 · Q9[5]
Use words or phrases from the list to complete the sentences about transport in plants. air spaces diffusion epidermal evaporates flows mesophyll osmosis phloem stomata xylem Each word or phrase may be used once, more than once or not at all. During transpiration, water from the surface of cells in a leaf. Water vapour...
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5129/22 · October/November 2024 · Q10a[3]
Complete the description of transpiration by inserting appropriate words in the spaces. Transpiration is the of water from the surface of cells into the air spaces of a leaf and then diffusion of
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5129/22 · October/November 2024 · Q10b(i)[1]
State which environmental factor causes the rate of transpiration to decrease as the factor increases.
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5129/22 · October/November 2024 · Q10b(ii)[1]
State which environmental factor causes the greatest increase in the rate of transpiration as the factor increases.
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5129/22 · October/November 2024 · Q10b(iii)[2]
Suggest why an increase in the light intensity when the light intensity is low causes the rate of transpiration to increase.
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5129/32 · October/November 2024 · Q3b(i)[2]
Measure the diameter of the colourless circle in the agar jelly in Fig. 3.2 for acid of concentration 20 g / dm 3 and for acid of concentration 40 g / dm 3 . Record your measurements in Table 3.1. Table 3.1 acid of concentration g / dm 3 diameter of colourless circle / mm 80 20
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5129/32 · October/November 2024 · Q3b(ii)[2]
Calculate the total area of the colourless circle for the petri dish where acid of concentration 80 g / dm 3 is used. Use the formula: area of circle = 3.14 r 2 where r is the radius of the colourless circle. area = mm 2
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5129/32 · October/November 2024 · Q3b(iii)[1]
Suggest one improvement to the procedure on page 8 to give more accurate values for the diameters of the colourless circles.
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What examiners said

Most candidates identified a palisade mesophyll cell although there was some confusion with spongy mesophyll cells.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/22 Q5(a)(i) (Cambridge)

Most candidates identified the air space in this leaf cross-section diagram.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/22 Q5(a)(ii) (Cambridge)

Only the most able candidates recalled the names of the cells where chloroplasts are found. Even though the chloroplast structures are shown (but not labelled) on the diagram. Candidates who correctly identified the mesophyll cell in (a)(i) often did not recognise the presence of chloroplasts in these cells.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/22 Q5(b)(i) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

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In the syllabus

3.1 Photosynthesis

Understand that photosynthesis is the process by which plants make carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light
State the word equation and balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis
State that chlorophyll is a green pigment that is found in chloroplasts
State that chlorophyll transfers light energy into chemical energy for the formation of glucose and other carbohydrates
Outline the subsequent use and storage of the carbohydrates made in photosynthesis, limited to: (a) starch as an energy store (b) cellulose to build cell walls (c) glucose used in respiration to provide energy (d) sucrose for transport through the plant (e) glucose and mineral ions to synthesise other biological molecules e.g. proteins
Investigate and explain the effect of varying light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis using submerged aquatic plants

3.2 Leaf structure

State that most leaves have a large surface area and are thin, and explain how these features are adaptations for photosynthesis
Identify and label the cuticle, cellular and tissue structures of a dicotyledonous leaf, as seen in diagrams or photomicrographs, and explain how these structures are adaptations for photosynthesis and gas exchange, limited to: (a) stomata and guard cells (b) spongy and palisade mesophyll cells (c) air spaces (d) vascular bundles (xylem and phloem) (e) distribution of chloroplasts

3.3 Transport in flowering plants

Relate the structure of root hair cells to their function of water and mineral ion uptake
Explain the importance of: (a) nitrate ions for making amino acids, required for the production of proteins (b) magnesium ions for making chlorophyll
Outline the pathway taken by water through the root, stem and leaf, limited to: root hair cells, root cortex cells, xylem and mesophyll cells
Describe transpiration as the evaporation of water from the surfaces of the mesophyll cells into air spaces and then the diffusion of the water vapour out of the leaves through the stomata
Describe translocation as the movement of sucrose and amino acids in the phloem from parts of plants that produce them (sources) to parts of plants that use or store them (sinks)

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