EXAM QUESTIONS

AQA TRILOGY

ORGANISATION

Q1-6 FOUNDATON

Q3-9 HIGHER

MARK SCHEME AT THE END OF

ALL THE QUESTIONS

Page 1 of 28
Q1.
In 2017 more than 420 million people worldwide had diabetes.

The table below shows how the percentage of the population with diabetes has changed.

Percentage of population with diabetes

Year Low-income High-income
World
countries countries

1986 3.5 5.5 5.1

1992 4.4 5.9 5.8

1998 5.2 6.2 6.6

2004 6.0 6.5 7.2

2010 6.9 6.9 8.0

(a)  Use data from the table above to complete the graph in the graph below.

You should:
•   plot the data for the low-income countries
•   draw a line of best fit for the low-income countries.

The lines for high-income countries and the world have been drawn for you.

(3)

(b)  Predict the percentage of the world population with diabetes in 2022 if the current
pattern were to continue.

You should extend the line of best fit for the world on the graph above.

Page 2 of 28
 Percentage = _______________ %
(2)

(c)  The trend may not continue in the same pattern after 2010.

Suggest one reason why the trend may change.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(d)  Give two conclusions from the data shown in the graph above.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(e)  The table above shows that the percentage of people with diabetes in the world has
changed.

What are two possible reasons for this change?

Tick two boxes.

People are becoming more obese

People are doing more exercise

People are eating less salt

People are eating more sugar

People are smoking less

(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Q2.
The figure below shows a scale drawing of one type of cell in blood.

Page 3 of 28
(a) Use the scale to determine the width of the cell.

Give your answer to the nearest micrometre.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Width of cell = _________________ micrometres

(1)

(b) Complete the table below.

Part of the blood Function

Carries oxygen around the

body

Protects the body against

infection

Plasma
(3)

(c) Platelets are fragments of cells.

Platelets help the blood to clot.

Suggest what might happen if the blood did not clot.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Page 4 of 28
Q3.
The digestive system breaks down food into small molecules.

The small molecules can be absorbed into the blood.

The diagram below shows the human digestive system.

(a) (i) Which letter, A, B, C, D, E or F, shows each of the following organs?

Write one letter in each

box.

large intestine

small intestine

stomach

(3)

(ii) Different organs in the digestive system have different functions.

Draw one line from each function to the organ with that function.

Page 5 of 28
 (3)

(b) Glucose is absorbed into the blood in the small intestine.

Most of the glucose is absorbed by diffusion.

How does the glucose concentration in the blood compare to the glucose
concentration in the small intestine?

Tick (✔) one box.

The concentration in the blood is higher.

The concentration in the blood is lower.

The concentration in the blood is the

same.
(1)
(Total 7 marks)

Q4.
The graph shows the rate of blood flow through different organs at rest and during
exercise.

Page 6 of 28
(a) Determine the total volume of blood that flows through the brain in 1 hour.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Volume = ____________________ cm3

(1)

(b) Look at the blood flow through the skeletal muscle.

Calculate how many times the blood flow increases by during exercise compared to
at rest.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Answer = ____________________
(2)

(c) Explain why the blood flow to the skeletal muscles increases during exercise.

Page 7 of 28
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(d) Arteries and veins have different structures and different functions.

Explain how the different structure of arteries and veins relates to their different
functions.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(6)
(Total 12 marks)

Q5.
Proteins are broken down by protease enzymes.

(a) Which organs in the digestive system produce protease enzymes?

Tick one box.

Mouth and liver

Mouth and stomach

Page 8 of 28
 Pancreas and liver

Stomach and pancreas

(1)

A student used a colorimeter to investigate the rate of protein digestion of an insoluble

protein.

A colorimeter measures the percentage of light that passes through a liquid.

The student measured the percentage of light passing through different concentrations of
protein suspension.

The student used the results to produce a concentration curve.

The table shows the results.

Percentage of light
Concentration of
passing through the
protein in g/dm3
suspension

0.0 100

0.5 93

2.0 75

10.0 38

(b) Plot the data from the table on Figure 1.

Draw a line of best fit.

Figure 1

Page 9 of 28
 (3)

(c) Explain the change in the percentage of light passing through the suspension.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) Suggest how the student could improve their investigation to draw a more accurate
concentration curve.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

Page 10 of 28
The student then investigated the rate of protein digestion with protease obtained from
two different organs.

This is the method used.

1. Put 5 cm3 of protease from each organ into separate test tubes.

2. Put 10 cm3 of protein suspension into two other test tubes.

3. Put all four tubes into a water bath at 37 °C for 10 minutes.

4. Mix each 5 cm3 of protease into a tube of protein suspension.

5. Take a sample of each mixture every 2 minutes.

6. Measure the percentage of light passing through each sample using a colorimeter.

(e) Suggest why the protease and the protein suspension were put into a water bath
before being mixed.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

Figure 2 shows the student’s results.

Figure 2

Page 11 of 28
(f) Determine the concentration of protein at the start of the reaction with protease from
organ A.

Use Figure 2 and your graph in Figure 1.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Concentration = ____________________ g/dm3

(1)

(g) Calculate the rate of protein digestion with protease from organ A over the first 12
minutes.

Use Figure 2 and your graph in Figure 1.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 12 of 28
 Rate = ____________________ g/dm3 per minute
(1)

(h) Describe how the activity of protease from organ B is different from the activity of
protease from organ A.

Suggest one reason for the difference.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 13 marks)

Q6.
Emphysema is a disease affecting the lungs. People with emphysema are often short of
breath and find exercise difficult.

The diagram below shows an alveolus from a person without emphysema and an alveolus
from a person with emphysema.

(a) Describe one difference between the alveolus from a person without emphysema
and the alveolus from a person with emphysema.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Explain how the difference you described in part (a) causes the person with
emphysema to find exercise difficult.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 13 of 28
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 4 marks)

Q7.
Fresh milk is a mixture of compounds including lipid, protein and about 5% lactose sugar.

Lactose must be digested by the enzyme lactase, before the products can be absorbed.

Lactase can be added to fresh milk to pre-digest the lactose. This makes ‘lactose-free’
milk, which is suitable for people who do not produce enough lactase of their own.

A student investigated the effect of changing pH and temperature on the digestion of

lactose in milk.

The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1 Table 2
Effect of pH Effect of temperature

Time taken to Time taken to

Temperature
pH digest lactose in digest lactose in
in °C
minutes minutes

4.0 20 25 20

5.0 18 30 14

6.0 13 35 11

7.0 7 40 6

8.0 5 45 29

9.0 6 50 No digestion

(a) The label on a carton of lactose-free milk states:

‘Lactase is normally produced in the stomach of mammals.’

The results in Table 1 suggest that this statement is not true.

Explain how.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 14 of 28
 (2)

(b) Explain, as fully as you can, the results shown in Table 2 .

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(c) Bile is produced in the liver and is released into the small intestine.

Bile helps the digestion of lipid in the milk.

Describe how.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q8.
Some animals have a single circulatory system.

(a) Why is the human heart referred to as part of a dual circulatory system?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

Below is a diagram of a human heart.

Page 15 of 28
(b) Which label shows the pulmonary vein?

Tick one box.

A B C D

(1)

(c) Which blood vessel takes oxygenated blood away from the heart?

Tick one box.

A B C D

(1)

(d) Name the blood vessels that deliver oxygen to the capillaries in heart muscle.

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(e) Pacemaker cells are a group of cells that control heart rate.

Where in the heart are the pacemaker cells located?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(f) What type of signal is sent from the pacemaker cells to the heart muscle?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

Page 16 of 28
In a scientific investigation over 44 000 men were monitored for 12 years.

The men were divided into four groups based on their number of hours of physical activity
they did per week.

The results are shown in the table.

Group W X Y Z

Mean number of hours of physical

1 5 12 24
activity per week

Percentage who are smokers 14 11 9 7

Percentage with high cholesterol 11 10 11 11

Percentage with family history of

12 12 12 12
heart disease

Mean percentage of fat in diet 34 33 32 30

Number of cases of heart disease 423 370 336 294

(g) Give two other factors which may affect the risk of heart disease.

You should not refer to the factors shown in the table.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(h) Evaluate whether the data shows that increased hours of physical activity reduces
the risk of heart disease.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 17 of 28
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(6)
(Total 14 marks)

Q9.
Water travels through plants in xylem tissue.

(a)  Describe the structure of xylem tissue.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

Figure 1 shows guard cells around open stomata magnified 800 times.

Figure 1

(b)  The image size of one of the guard cells is 26 millimetres long.

Calculate the real length of the guard cell in micrometres.

Include the equation you are using to calculate your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 18 of 28
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Real length of guard cell = __________________ micrometres

(3)

(c)  Guard cells increase in volume and become curved to open stomata.

Explain how guard cells increase in volume.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d)  The Baobab tree grows in Botswana, Africa.

The tree has no leaves for up to 9 months of the year.

Figure 2 shows the average temperature and rainfall each month in Botswana.

Figure 2

Explain how having no leaves from March to November allows the Baobab tree to
survive in Botswana.

Page 19 of 28
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 20 of 28
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a)  all points plotted accurately
allow ± 0.5 small square tolerance
allow 1 mark for 3 or 4 points plotted accurately
2

line of best fit drawn

1

(b)  extrapolation on graph

1

9.5 (%)
allow value in range 9.4−9.6
allow correct reading from incorrect extrapolation
1

(c)  any one from:

•   eating habits may change
•   people are more informed about the causes of diabetes
•   change in exercise patterns
allow new cure
1

(d)  any two from:

•   diabetes (in the world) is increasing
allow low / high income countries are increasing

•   diabetes in low-income countries is rising faster (than high-income /

world)
•   high-income countries and low-income countries were the same in 2010
•   high-income countries have been higher than low-income but now /
2018 the situation is reversed
•   diabetes in high-income countries was higher than the world total (from
1986 − 1993) but is now lower
allow correct use of data
2

(e)  people are becoming more obese

1

people are eating more sugar

1
[10]

Q2.
(a) 8 (micrometres)
1

(b) red blood cell(s)

1

white blood cell(s)

Page 21 of 28
 accept named cell
eg phagocyte / lymphocyte
1

(plasma)
transports proteins / dissolved substances / food (molecules) / urea / hormones /
blood
cells
1

(c) any one from:

• you could lose a lot of blood

• bleed internally
allow bleeding would not stop
allow could bleed to death
1
[5]

Q3.
(a) (i) large intestine = E
1
small intestine = D
1
stomach = B
1

(ii)
extra lines cancel
3

(b) The concentration in the blood is lower.

1
[7]

Q4.
(a) 36 000 (cm3)
1

(b) 11600 / 1200

1

Page 22 of 28
 9.66666r
allow any number of decimals
1

(c) muscles need more energy (for contraction)

1

(so) more oxygen / glucose needed

need at least one reference to ‘more’ for full marks
allow so more carbon dioxide / thermal energy needs to be
removed
1

(for) increased respiration

1

(d)
Level 3: Relevant points (differences /
functions) are identified, given in detail and 5-6
linked logically to form a clear account.

Level 2: Relevant points (differences /

functions) are identified and there are
3-4
attempts at logical linking. The resulting
account is not fully clear.

Level 1: Points are identified and stated

simply, but their relevance is not clear and 1-2
there is no attempt at logical linking.

No relevant content 0

Indicative content
•   artery has a thicker wall
•   (because) artery has to withstand higher
pressure
•   artery has thicker layer of elastic tissue /
fibres
•   (so) it can stretch
•   (so) artery returns to original size / shape
•   artery has thicker layer of muscle
•   to maintain a force on the blood
•   vein has valves
•   (valves) prevent backflow of blood
•   artery carries blood away from the heart
•   vein carries blood towards the heart
ignore references to oxygenated /
deoxygenated blood
6

Page 23 of 28
 [12]

Q5.
(a) stomach and pancreas
1

(b) all points plotted correctly

allow 1 mark for 3 points correctly plotted
2

smooth curve drawn through all the points

1

(c) as concentration of protein increases the percentage of light passing through

decreases
1

(because) mixture more cloudy

allow idea of more particles in suspension
1

(d) use protein concentrations between 2 and 10 g/dm3

1

(e) any one from:

• to allow them to reach 37 °C

to allow them to reach body temperature

• so they would be at the optimum temperature

allow so they would be at the same temperature

• so reaction temperature controlled

allow temperature affects enzyme activity
1

(f) correctly read concentration at 57% from their graph

1

(g) their value given in part (f) – 0.5

allow use of different values over straight line portion of
graph
1

answer for their value given in

(h) (protease from organ B) is inactive or rate of digestion is zero and protease from
organ A is active
allow only protease from organ B is inactive
1

any one from:

Page 24 of 28
 • enzyme denatured by pH

• at the wrong pH

• enzyme not specific for this protein

allow active site damaged / changed by pH
1
[13]

Q6.
(a) (healthy alveolus has a) larger surface area
allow larger SA:Volume ratio
accept converse for alveoli from person with emphesema
allow walls between alveoli disintegrate or fluid accumulation
in alveoli
1

(b) less oxygen into the blood / muscles

less only needed once
1

(so) less respiration

ignore ref. to anaerobic respiration
1

(and therefore) less energy is released (for exercise)

do not allow energy is produced / made
do not allow energy for respiration
1
[4]

Q7.
(a) stomach is acidic / has low pH
allow any pH below 7
ignore stomach is not alkaline
1

lactase works best / well in alkali / high pH / neutral / non-acidic conditions

allow any pH of 7 and above
accept works slowly in acid conditions
allow figures from table with a comparison
ignore reference to temperature
1

(b) any three from:

• (below 40(°C)) increase in temperature increases rate / speed of

reaction

• reference to molecules moving faster / colliding faster / harder / more

collisions

• enzyme optimum / works best at 40°C

Page 25 of 28
 allow value(s) in range 36 – 44
ignore body temperature unless qualified

• high temperatures (above 40°C) / 45°C / 50°C enzyme denatured

allow synonyms for denaturation, but do not allow ‘killed’
denaturation at high and low temperature does not gain this
mark
ignore references to time / pH
3

(c) any two from:

• acid neutralised or conditions made neutral / alkali

accept bile is alkaline

• (allow) emulsification / greater surface area (of lipid / fat)

allow description of emulsification eg fat broken down /
broken up into droplets
do not accept idea of chemical breakdown

• lipase / enzymes (in small intestine) work more effectively / better

allow better for enzymes
ignore reference to other named enzymes
2
[7]

Q8.
(a) blood enters the heart twice on each journey around the body
allow blood circulates once to the lungs (for oxygen) and
then around the body
1

(b) D
1

(c) C
1

(d) coronary artery / arteries

1

(e) right atrium

1

(f) electrical
1

(g) any two from:

• rest of diet
allow an example such as fibre or saturated fat or alcohol
intake
• weight
allow obesity
• age
• type of activity

Page 26 of 28
 • gender
• blood pressure
2

(h)
Level 3: A judgement, strongly linked and
logically supported by a sufficient range of 5-6
correct reasons, is given.

Level 2: A conclusion, supported by some

3-4
relevant reasons is given.

Level 1: Relevant points are made. If there is

a conclusion, this is asserted, but not logically 1-2
linked to the points made.

No relevant content 0

Indicative content
for
•   as hours of activity increase, number of
cases of heart disease decrease
•   increasing hours of exercise from low
numbers to slightly higher (groups W-X)
seems to reduce cases more than
increasing activity from groups Y-Z
•   cholesterol and family history do not
correlate with heart disease
against
•   other factors also increase / decrease /
correlate with changing hours of exercise
•   smoking correlates with changing hours
of exercise
•   smoking correlates with heart disease
•   % fat in diet also correlates with lack of
exercise and heart disease
•   limitations such as only studied men, not
women / children
•   unknown how many people are in each
category or what percentage (of each
group) had heart disease
6
[14]

Q9.
(a)  (dead hollow) tubes
or
(dead) hollow cells

Page 27 of 28
 1

(strengthened by) lignin (and cellulose)

1

(b) 

= 0.0325 (millimetres)
allow 0.0325 (millimetres) for 2 marks
1

= 32.5 (micrometres)
allow 1 mark for incorrect length × 1000
1
an answer of 32.5 or 33 (micrometres) scores 3
marks

(c)  water enters (the guard cells)

1

(by) osmosis
allow diffusion (of water) through a partially
permeable membrane
1

(d)  water is lost through leaves by transpiration / evaporation

1

(no leaves is a benefit) when low / no rainfall so less / no water lost

1

(because) temperatures are high therefore transpiration would be rapid

1

or

water is used in the leaves for photosynthesis (1)

(if there are no leaves) there is no photosynthesis then no water is needed

(which is a benefit) when there is low / no rainfall (1)

(because) temperatures are high therefore photosynthesis would be rapid (1)

[10]

Page 28 of 28