1 (a) The boxes on the left show characteristics of living organisms. The boxes on the right show some definitions of characteristics. Draw one straight line from each characteristic to its correct definition. characteristic definition excretion sensitivity nutrition responding to change removing waste from the body permanent increase in size taking in materials for energy [3] (b) Respiration is another characteristic of living organisms. Aerobic respiration needs oxygen. Complete these sentences to describe how oxygen from the air gets into the blood of a human. As we breathe in, air passes from our bronchioles into the … of the lungs. The oxygen in this air then moves into red blood cells by the process of … . [2] (c) Organisms are made up of cells. Fig. 1.1 is a photomicrograph of an animal cell. X Fig. 1.1 (i) Identify the part labelled X in Fig. 1.1. … [1] (ii) State two pieces of evidence from the cell in Fig. 1.1 that show it is not a plant cell. 1 … 2 … [2] [Total: 8]

1(a) responding to change excretion removing waste from the body nutrition permanent increases in size sensitivity taking in materials for energy ;;; 3 1(b) alveoli ; diffusion ; 2 1(c)(i) nucleus ; 1 1(c)(ii) any two from: no cell wall ; no chloroplasts ; no (large) vacuole ; 2 (a) To earn marks, you must draw a straight line from each characteristic on the left to its correct definition on the right. (b) You need to correctly identify 'alveoli' as the structure air passes into and 'diffusion' as the process by which oxygen moves into red blood cells. (c)(i) You must correctly identify the labelled part X as the 'nucleus'. (c)(ii) You need to state two distinct features that are absent in the animal cell shown but present in a plant cell, such as no cell wall, no chloroplasts, or no large vacuole.

4 (a) (i) The boxes on the left show different components of blood. The boxes on the right show functions of the components. Draw one straight line from each component of the blood to its function. component of blood function plasma transport oxygen platelets transport hormones red blood cells clotting the blood [2] (ii) Fig. 4.1 shows both red and white blood cells as seen using a light microscope. Fig. 4.1 Identify one structure found in white blood cells that is not found in red blood cells. Use Fig. 4.1 to help you. … [1] (b) Cancer can affect the components of the blood. There are different types of cancer that affect the blood. Fig. 4.2 shows the percentage of people that survived four different blood cancers, A, B, C and D in 1992 and 2008. A B C D 0 10 percentage of people that survive 5 years after treatment for cancer type of blood cancer 1992 2008 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Fig. 4.2 (i) Identify the blood cancer with the best survival rate in both 1992 and 2008. … [1] (ii) Blood cancer B can stop white blood cells functioning correctly. Explain why someone with blood cancer B finds it more difficult to fight infections. … … … … [2] (c) Hepatitis is a sexually transmitted infection that can be passed on through body fluids and infected blood. (i) One way to prevent the spread of hepatitis is using sterilised needles. State two other ways to prevent the spread of hepatitis. 1 … 2 … [2] (ii) Name one other sexually transmitted infection. … [1] [Total: 9]

4(a)(i) plasma transport oxygen platelets transport hormones red blood cells clotting the blood ;; all correct = 2 marks one or two correct = 1 mark 2 4(a)(ii) nucleus ; 1 4(b)(i) D ; 1 4(b)(ii) idea of not being able to make antibodies ; idea of not being able to engulf microbes / not able to carry out phagocytosis ; 2 4(c)(i) any two from: abstinence from, sex / sexual intercourse ; use of condom / femidom ; blood screening ; not sharing (syringe) needles ; gloves used by health professionals ; better education / raise awareness ; 2 4(c)(ii) HIV / AIDS ; 1

7 (a) Fig. 7.1 contains information about some organisms. • giraffes eat trees • lions hunt and eat giraffes • when lions die, vultures feed on parts of their dead bodies • the parts of the lion not eaten then decompose Fig. 7.1 (i) Construct the food chain for the organisms in Fig. 7.1. … [2] (ii) Identify the secondary consumer from Fig. 7.1. … [1] (iii) Giraffes are herbivores. State what is meant by herbivore. … … [2] (iv) Decomposition of the lion’s body returns carbon to the atmosphere as part of the carbon cycle. State the part of the carbon cycle that removes carbon from the atmosphere. … [1] (b) Living organisms are made up of cells. Cells contain different structures. State the functions of the cell membrane and the cell wall. cell membrane … … cell wall … … [2] [Total: 8]

7(a)(i) tree(s) → giraffe(s) → lion(s) → vulture(s) all organisms correct ; correct arrows ; 2 7(a)(ii) lion ; 1 7(a)(iii) (an animal that) gets its energy ; by (only) eating plants ; 2 7(a)(iv) photosynthesis ; 1 7(b) (membrane) controls the movement of substances in and out of the cells ; provides support ; 2

7 (a) Fig. 7.1 contains information about some organisms. • giraffes eat trees • lions hunt and eat giraffes • when lions die, vultures feed on parts of their dead bodies • the parts of the lion not eaten then decompose Fig. 7.1 (i) Construct the food chain for the organisms in Fig. 7.1. … [2] (ii) Identify the secondary consumer from Fig. 7.1. … [1] (iii) Giraffes are herbivores. State what is meant by herbivore. … … [2] (iv) Decomposition of the lion’s body returns carbon to the atmosphere as part of the carbon cycle. State the part of the carbon cycle that removes carbon from the atmosphere. … [1] (b) Living organisms are made up of cells. Cells contain different structures. State the functions of the cell membrane and the cell wall. cell membrane … … cell wall … … [2] [Total: 8]

7(a)(i) tree(s) → giraffe(s) → lion(s) → vulture(s) all organisms correct ; correct arrows ; 2 7(a)(ii) lion ; 1 7(a)(iii) (an animal that) gets its energy ; by (only) eating plants ; 2 7(a)(iv) photosynthesis ; 1 7(b) (membrane) controls the movement of substances in and out of the cells ; provides support ; 2

Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science · 0653

IGCSE Combined Science (0653) Cells past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Combined Science (0653) — Cells with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

111 free questions from 2016–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Cells in IGCSE Combined Science 0653 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Cells accounted for 114 questions worth 533 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	12	46
2021	20	93
2022	25	100
2023	12	45
2024	23	124
2025	22	125

Most-tested subtopics

B2.1 Cell structure333 marks
B2.2 Size of specimens152 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 26 qs
Paper 2 · 39 qs
Paper 3 · 20 qs
Paper 4 · 13 qs
Paper 5 · 6 qs
Paper 6 · 10 qs

All most-tested Combined Science topics

2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q1 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q4 · 9 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q7 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q7 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 1 · Q1 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q1
Answer: A
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