1 (a) Fig. 1.1 shows some of the organs of the human body. … X … … Fig. 1.1 (i) Complete the labels in Fig. 1.1 to show the names of the organs. [3] (ii) One function of organ X is digestion. State one other function of organ X. … [1] (iii) Name the organ that pumps blood around the body. … [1] (iv) Name the part of the body where egestion occurs. … [1] (b) Enzymes are involved in digestion. Fig. 1.2 is a graph that shows the effect of pH on the activity of three enzymes. 1 0 2 3 4 5 6 pH enzyme activity enzyme A enzyme B enzyme C 7 8 9 10 11 Fig. 1.2 (i) Describe the effect of pH on enzyme A. Use data from the graph in your answer. … … … … [2] (ii) The mouth has an average pH of 6.7. Identify which enzyme in Fig. 1.2 is found in the mouth. Explain your answer. enzyme … explanation … … [2] (iii) Enzymes are involved in the clotting of blood. Circle the component of blood which is also involved in clotting. plasma platelets red blood cells white blood cells [1] [Total: 11]

1(a)(i) lung(s) ; liver ; large intestine ; 3 1(a)(ii) absorption ; 1 1(a)(iii) heart ; 1 1(a)(iv) anus ; 1 1(b)(i) activity increases then decreases (as pH increases) ; maximum activity at pH 2 ; 2 1(b)(ii) B ; maximum activity at pH 6.5 / other enzymes do not work at pH 6.7 ; 2 1(b)(iii) platelets (circled) ; 1

1 (a) Nutrition is one of the characteristics of living organisms. Identify the characteristics of living organisms defined as the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy … the ability to detect and respond to changes in the environment. … [2] (b) Fig. 1.1 shows part of the alimentary canal and associated organs. Fig. 1.1 (i) Draw the letter X on Fig. 1.1 to identify the position of the liver. [1] (ii) The arrow shows the direction the food moves as it passes into the small intestine. Complete these sentences about what happens in the small intestine. Large insoluble molecules are broken down by the process of … . Small food molecules are then moved into the blood by the process of … . [2] (c) A student investigates nutrition in plants. Sugar is stored as starch in a leaf. The student puts black paper around a green leaf still attached to the plant. After two days she takes the leaf from the plant and removes the black paper. She then tests the leaf for starch using iodine solution. Fig. 1.2 shows the results. iodine solution turns blue-black iodine solution stays orange-brown starch test clip to hold paper leaf attached to plant black paper strip Fig. 1.2 Explain the results seen in Fig. 1.2 for the area that was covered by black paper. … … … [2] (d) Different plant tissues in the stem have different functions. Name the tissue that transports sugars in the stem. … [1] (e) Starch and sugar are carbohydrates. Table 1.1 shows the mass of carbohydrates in some different food types. Table 1.1 food type mass of carbohydrate in 100 g of food / g bread 40 cake 59 cheese 2 lentils 18 rice 25 tomato 3 (i) Identify the food type that contains the most carbohydrate. … [1] (ii) A man eats 200 g of bread and 50 g of cheese. Calculate the mass of carbohydrate he eats. mass of carbohydrate = … g [2] [Total: 11]

1(a) respiration ; sensitivity ; 2 1(b)(i) centre of X must be on liver ; 1 1(b)(ii) digestion ; absorption ; 2 1(c) no starch is made ; as light is needed for photosynthesis ; 2 1(d) phloem ; 1 1(e)(i) cake ; 1 1(e)(ii) (40 x 2) + (2 x 0.5) ; 81 (g) ; 2 (a) To earn marks, you must correctly identify 'respiration' for the breakdown of nutrient molecules and 'sensitivity' for detecting and responding to changes. (b)(i) You must draw the letter X with its center clearly on the liver in the provided diagram. (b)(ii) You need to state 'digestion' for the breakdown of large molecules and 'absorption' for small molecules moving into the blood. (c) To explain the results, you must state that no starch was made in the covered area and link this to light being necessary for photosynthesis.

4 (a) Table 4.1 shows the names and functions of some organs associated with the alimentary canal. Complete Table 4.1. Table 4.1 organ function pancreas produces enzymes used in the … intestine for digestion … produces bile which is stored in the gall bladder salivary gland makes saliva and releases it into the … for digestion [3] (b) Enzymes in saliva break down large starch molecules into smaller glucose molecules. (i) Glucose is a reducing sugar. State the name of the test solution used to identify the presence of a reducing sugar in food. … [1] (ii) Circle the name of one other large molecule made from glucose molecules. amino acids fatty acids glycerol glycogen [1] (c) Food labels show the quantities of nutrients found in the food. Fig. 4.2 shows a food label from a box of burgers. Energy Each grilled burger (94 g) contains Fat Sugars Salt Saturated fat 898 kJ 12 g 5.8 g 0.7 g 0.6 g Fig. 4.2 (i) A person eats two burgers. Calculate the mass of salt the person eats. … g [1] (ii) The label does not show a value for fibre. State the importance of eating fibre in a balanced diet. … … [1] [Total: 7]

4(a) small ; liver ; mouth ; 3 4(b)(i) Benedict's (solution) ; 1 4(b)(ii) glycogen ; 1 4(c)(i) 1.2 (g) ; 1 4(c)(ii) idea of keeping food moving (through alimentary canal) ; 1

7 (a) Fig. 7.1 is a diagram of the alimentary canal and associated organs. A E B C D Fig. 7.1 (i) State the letters on Fig. 7.1 that identify where egestion and ingestion take place. egestion … ingestion … [2] (ii) State one function of the part labelled E in Fig. 7.1. … [1] (iii) Name the part of the blood that transports the products of digestion around the body. … [1] (b) In one day a person eats a diet that includes cheese, eggs, fish, kidney beans and meat. The protein, carbohydrate and fibre content of each food is shown in Table 7.1. Table 7.1 foodstuff protein / g per 100 g of food carbohydrate / g per 100 g of food fibre / g per 100 g of food cheese 18 1 0 eggs 13 1 0 fish 22 0 0 kidney beans 24 50 25 meat 26 0 0 One part of this diet is needed to move food through the alimentary canal. Identify the part of the diet and explain your answer. part of diet … explanation … [2] (c) Fig. 7.2 shows the male reproductive system. P Q Fig. 7.2 Identify the parts labelled P and Q in Fig. 7.2. P … Q … [2] (d) Table 7.2 compares asexual and sexual reproduction. Place ticks (✓) and crosses (✗) to show the correct features of asexual and sexual reproduction. One row has been done for you. Table 7.2 asexual reproduction sexual reproduction genetically identical offspring involves fusion of nuclei involves gametes usually involves two parents ✗ ✓ [2] [Total: 10]

7(a)(i) egestion: D ; ingestion: A ; 2 7(a)(ii) digestion / absorption ; 1 7(a)(iii) plasma ; 1 7(b) part of diet: kidney beans ; explanation: contain fibre ; 2 7(c) P urethra ; Q scrotum ; 2 7(d) asexual reproduction sexual reproduction genetically identical offspring  x involves fusion of nuclei x  involves gametes x  usually involves two parents (x) () ;; 2 marks for all 6 correct 1 mark for 4 correct 2

1 Movement is a characteristic of all living organisms. Which two other characteristics of living organisms provide the energy for movement? A excretion and nutrition B growth and sensitivity C nutrition and respiration D respiration and growth

Answer: C To earn the mark, you must correctly identify nutrition and respiration as the two characteristics that provide energy for movement.

Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science · 0653

IGCSE Combined Science (0653) Human nutrition past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Combined Science (0653) — Human nutrition 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.

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

Human nutrition in IGCSE Combined Science 0653 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Human nutrition accounted for 197 questions worth 732 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	25	103
2021	39	127
2022	32	148
2023	34	126
2024	33	123
2025	34	105

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Paper 1 · 59 qs
Paper 2 · 70 qs
Paper 3 · 29 qs
Paper 4 · 32 qs
Paper 5 · 4 qs
Paper 6 · 3 qs

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2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 3 · Q1 · 11 marks
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q1 · 11 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q4 · 7 marks
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q7 · 10 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 1 · Q1 · 1 mark
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Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q1
Answer: C
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