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) A student investigates the effect of temperature on enzyme activity. They use an enzyme called amylase to breakdown starch into a reducing sugar. They measure the activity of the enzyme at different temperatures. Fig. 4.1 is a graph of their results. rate of reaction / arbitrary units temperature / °C 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Fig. 4.1 (i) Describe the effect of temperature on the enzyme activity shown in Fig. 4.1. Include data from the graph in your answer. … … … … [2] (ii) Complete this sentence to define the term enzyme. Enzymes are … that function as biological … . [2] (iii) Enzymes are transported in the blood plasma. State the molecule in red blood cells that transports oxygen. … [1] (b) Glucose is made by plants during photosynthesis, transported as sucrose and stored as starch. Fig. 4.2 shows apparatus used to investigate one factor that affects photosynthesis. green plant chemical used to remove carbon dioxide from the glass jar water glass jar air tight bung sunlight Fig. 4.2 (i) Place a tick (✓) in one box to show the factor being investigated in Fig. 4.2. carbon dioxide chlorophyll light water [1] (ii) The plant is left for 48 hours in the glass jar. After 48 hours a leaf is prepared and then tested using iodine solution. Complete these sentences about the expected result. When placed on the leaf the iodine solution will be … in colour. This is because the plant does not make any … . [2] (iii) State the name of the ions needed to make chlorophyll. … [1] [Total: 9]

4(a)(i) as temperature increases, rate increases then falls ; peak or optimum (rate) at 40°C / maximum rate 34 (arbitrary units) ; OR activity increases, to 40°C / from a rate of 8 to 34 ; above 40°C the activity decreases / decreases from 34 ; 2 4(a)(ii) proteins ; catalysts ; 2 4(a)(iii) haemoglobin ; 1 4(b)(i) carbon dioxide  chlorophyll light water ; 1 4b(ii) orange / brown ; starch ; 2 4(b)(iii) magnesium ; 1 (a)(i) You need to describe the trend of the rate increasing then falling as temperature increases, and include specific data from the graph, such as the peak or optimum rate at 40°C or the maximum rate of 34 arbitrary units. (a)(ii) You must correctly identify enzymes as 'proteins' and state that they function as biological 'catalysts'. (a)(iii) You need to state 'haemoglobin' as the molecule in red blood cells that transports oxygen. (b)(i) You must correctly identify 'carbon dioxide' and 'water' as the reactants and 'chlorophyll' and 'light' as the conditions for photosynthesis. (b)(ii) You need to state that the iodine solution will turn 'orange' or 'brown' and that this indicates the presence of 'starch'. (b)(iii) You must identify 'magnesium' as the mineral ion needed to make chlorophyll.

7 (a) Fig. 7.1 shows part of a food web from a lake. perch duck freshwater snail pondweed algae pike stickleback water flea caddis fly larva water beetle Fig. 7.1 (i) Identify one tertiary consumer shown in the food web in Fig. 7.1. … [1] (ii) Identify one herbivore shown in the food web in Fig. 7.1. … [1] (iii) The food web is not complete. Ducks eat freshwater snails and pondweed. Draw two arrows on Fig. 7.1 to complete the food web to include this information. [1] (b) Pondweed can be used to investigate photosynthesis. Fig. 7.2 shows how the gas made by the process of photosynthesis can be collected. gas test-tube water pondweed light funnel beaker Fig. 7.2 (i) State the name of the gas that collects in the test-tube. … [1] (ii) When the light is switched off the experiment in Fig. 7.2 is in the dark and the amount of gas being produced by the pondweed changes. Suggest the change in the amount of gas being produced by the pondweed when the light is switched off. Give a reason for your answer. change in the amount of gas … reason … … [2] (c) Water is needed for the process of photosynthesis. Name the vessels in the plant that transport water. … [1] (d) Glucose is made by the process of photosynthesis. Plants use another process to release energy from glucose. Name the process that releases energy from glucose. … [1] [Total: 8]

7(a)(i) perch / pike ; 1 7(a)(ii) freshwater snail / caddis fly larva / water flea ; 1 7(a)(iii) arrow from freshwater snail to duck AND arrow from pondweed to duck ; 1 7(b)(i) oxygen ; 1 7(b)(ii) less / no, gas produced ; (because) light is needed for photosynthesis ; 2 7(c) xylem ; 1 7(d) (aerobic) respiration ; 1 To earn marks, you must identify 'perch' or 'pike' as a tertiary consumer, and 'freshwater snail', 'caddis fly larva', or 'water flea' as a herbivore. You need to draw two arrows: one from freshwater snail to duck, and another from pondweed to duck. For photosynthesis, you must state 'oxygen' as the gas produced. When light is off, you need to state that 'less' or 'no' gas is produced, and explain that 'light is needed for photosynthesis'. For the plant tissue, you must name 'xylem'. Finally, you must identify 'respiration' (or aerobic respiration) as the process that releases energy from glucose.

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

4 The flow diagram shows the stages in testing a green leaf for starch. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all liquids. 1 boiling water to kill the leaf 2 boiling alcohol to remove the chlorophyll 3 warm water to wash the leaf 4 iodine solution hot water white tile What are the colours of liquids 2 and 4 for a leaf that contains starch? 2 4 A green blue / black B colourless brown C colourless blue / black D green brown

Answer: A To earn the mark, a student must correctly identify that liquid 2 (boiling alcohol) will turn green due to chlorophyll, and liquid 4 (iodine solution) will turn blue/black in the presence of starch.

Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science · 0653

IGCSE Combined Science (0653) Plant nutrition past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Combined Science (0653) — Plant 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.

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

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

Across 2020–2025, Plant nutrition accounted for 140 questions worth 653 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	17	96
2021	33	124
2022	22	97
2023	21	117
2024	24	139
2025	23	80

Most-tested subtopics

B6.1 Photosynthesis542 marks
B6.2 Leaf structure197 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 40 qs
Paper 2 · 36 qs
Paper 3 · 20 qs
Paper 4 · 34 qs
Paper 5 · 4 qs
Paper 6 · 6 qs

All most-tested Combined Science topics

2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q1 · 11 marks
Marking scheme
Get Steven’s plain-English explanation
2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q4 · 9 marks
Marking scheme
Get Steven’s plain-English explanation
2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 3 · Q7 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
Get Steven’s plain-English explanation
2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q7 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
Get Steven’s plain-English explanation
2021 May/Jun · Paper 1 · Q4 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q4
Answer: A
Get Steven’s plain-English explanation