Edexcel GCSE Biology 2027 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 2 Higher

Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided. You must write down all the stages in your working.

Section A

Multiple choice questions. Answer ALL questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-A1 (1 mark)

  Which structure in a plant cell is the site of photosynthesis?

  A. MitochondrionB. ChloroplastC. RibosomeD. Vacuole

  (Total for Question SECTION-A1 is 1 mark)
• 2

  Question SECTION-A2 (1 mark)

  A hormone that is released by the pancreas and lowers blood glucose concentration is:

  A. GlucagonB. AdrenalineC. InsulinD. Testosterone

  (Total for Question SECTION-A2 is 1 mark)
• 3

  Question SECTION-A3 (1 mark)

  Which of these is the correct definition of a gene?

  A. A length of DNA that codes for a proteinB. A structure made of two chromatidsC. The complete set of an organism's DNAD. A section of RNA that leaves the nucleus

  (Total for Question SECTION-A3 is 1 mark)
• 4

  Question SECTION-A4 (1 mark)

  In a food chain, the total mass of living material at each stage is described as the:

  A. BiodiversityB. BiomassC. Population densityD. Trophic efficiency

  (Total for Question SECTION-A4 is 1 mark)
• 5

  Question SECTION-A5 (1 mark)

  Which process moves water into a root hair cell from the soil?

  A. Active transportB. OsmosisC. Diffusion of ionsD. Transpiration

  (Total for Question SECTION-A5 is 1 mark)
• 6

  Question SECTION-A6 (1 mark)

  A nerve impulse passes across a synapse by the release of:

  A. HormonesB. EnzymesC. NeurotransmittersD. Antibodies

  (Total for Question SECTION-A6 is 1 mark)
• 7

  Question SECTION-A7 (1 mark)

  Which blood vessel carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body?

  A. Pulmonary arteryB. Vena cavaC. AortaD. Pulmonary vein

  (Total for Question SECTION-A7 is 1 mark)
• 8

  Question SECTION-A8 (1 mark)

  The variety of different species in an ecosystem is called its:

  A. CommunityB. HabitatC. BiodiversityD. Niche

  (Total for Question SECTION-A8 is 1 mark)
• 9

  Question SECTION-A9 (1 mark)

  Which of the following correctly describes aerobic respiration?

  A. Glucose is broken down without oxygen to release energyB. Glucose reacts with oxygen to release energy, producing carbon dioxide and waterC. Carbon dioxide and water react to make glucose using lightD. Lactic acid is broken down to release energy

  (Total for Question SECTION-A9 is 1 mark)
• 10

  Question SECTION-A10 (1 mark)

  A person with blood glucose that remains too high may have Type 1 diabetes. This is caused by:

  A. Body cells not responding to insulinB. The pancreas producing too much insulinC. The pancreas failing to produce enough insulinD. The liver storing too much glycogen

  (Total for Question SECTION-A10 is 1 mark)
• 11

  Question SECTION-A11 (1 mark)

  Which term describes an allele that is only expressed when two copies are present?

  A. DominantB. RecessiveC. HeterozygousD. Codominant

  (Total for Question SECTION-A11 is 1 mark)
• 12

  Question SECTION-A12 (1 mark)

  Which gas is taken in by plants during photosynthesis?

  A. OxygenB. NitrogenC. Carbon dioxideD. Hydrogen

  (Total for Question SECTION-A12 is 1 mark)
• 13

  Question SECTION-A13 (1 mark)

  The kidneys help to control water balance in the body. This is an example of:

  A. OsmoregulationB. ThermoregulationC. DeaminationD. Translocation

  (Total for Question SECTION-A13 is 1 mark)
• 14

  Question SECTION-A14 (1 mark)

  During natural selection, the individuals most likely to survive and reproduce are those that are:

  A. Largest in the populationB. Best adapted to their environmentC. Youngest in the populationD. Genetically identical

  (Total for Question SECTION-A14 is 1 mark)
• 15

  Question SECTION-A15 (1 mark)

  Which of these is a correct feature of an artery?

  A. Contains valves along its lengthB. Has thick, muscular, elastic wallsC. Has very thin walls one cell thickD. Carries blood at low pressure

  (Total for Question SECTION-A15 is 1 mark)
• 16

  Question SECTION-A16 (1 mark)

  The removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by photosynthesis and its return by respiration and combustion are part of the:

  A. Nitrogen cycleB. Water cycleC. Carbon cycleD. Krebs cycle

  (Total for Question SECTION-A16 is 1 mark)

Section B

Structured, short-answer, and calculation questions. Answer ALL questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-B1 (5 marks)

  A student investigates the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis using pondweed. They place the pondweed at different distances from a lamp and count the number of oxygen bubbles released per minute. (a) State the independent variable and the dependent variable in this investigation. (2 marks) (b) Give two variables that should be kept constant to make the investigation a fair test. (2 marks) (c) Suggest one way the student could improve the reliability of their results. (1 mark)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B1 is 5 marks)
• 2

  Question SECTION-B2 (5 marks)

  The human nervous system allows rapid responses to stimuli. (a) Describe the pathway of a reflex arc when a person touches a hot object, naming the neurones involved in the correct order. (3 marks) (b) Explain one advantage of a reflex action being automatic rather than conscious. (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B2 is 5 marks)
• 3

  Question SECTION-B3 (5 marks)

  Insulin and glucagon control blood glucose concentration. (a) Describe how the body responds to a rise in blood glucose concentration after a meal. (3 marks) (b) Explain how the response returns blood glucose concentration to its normal level, referring to negative feedback. (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B3 is 5 marks)
• 4

  Question SECTION-B4 (5 marks)

  A gardener grows tomato plants in a greenhouse. She wants to increase the yield of tomatoes. (a) Explain how increasing the carbon dioxide concentration in the greenhouse could increase the rate of photosynthesis. (2 marks) (b) Explain why increasing the carbon dioxide concentration will eventually have no further effect on the rate of photosynthesis. (3 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B4 is 5 marks)
• 5

  Question SECTION-B5 (5 marks)

  The table shows the number of a species of moth found on light-coloured and dark-coloured tree bark in a woodland before and after industrial pollution darkened the bark. Before pollution: light moths 90, dark moths 10. After pollution: light moths 25, dark moths 75. (a) Describe the change in the moth population after pollution. (2 marks) (b) Explain, using natural selection, how the dark moths became more common after the bark darkened. (3 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B5 is 5 marks)
• 6

  Question SECTION-B6 (5 marks)

  Water is transported through a plant from the roots to the leaves. (a) Name the tissue that transports water in a plant and state the process by which water is lost from the leaves. (2 marks) (b) Explain how each of the following would affect the rate of transpiration: (i) an increase in temperature; (ii) an increase in humidity of the surrounding air. (3 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B6 is 5 marks)
• 7

  Question SECTION-B7 (5 marks)

  Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by a recessive allele (f). A man and a woman are both carriers (Ff) for cystic fibrosis. (a) Draw a genetic (Punnett) diagram to show the possible genotypes of their children. (3 marks) (b) State the probability that a child of these two parents will have cystic fibrosis, as a fraction and as a percentage. (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B7 is 5 marks)
• 8

  Question SECTION-B8 (7 marks)

  A scientist investigates how temperature affects the activity of the enzyme amylase, which breaks down starch. Amylase was mixed with starch at temperatures from 10 degrees C to 70 degrees C and the time taken to break down all the starch was recorded. (a) Explain why the rate of reaction increases as the temperature rises from 10 degrees C to 40 degrees C. (2 marks) (b) Explain what happens to the amylase and the rate of reaction at temperatures above about 50 degrees C. (3 marks) (c) Suggest how the scientist could measure when all the starch had been broken down. (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B8 is 7 marks)
• 9

  Question SECTION-B9 (5 marks)

  Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics. (a) Explain how a population of bacteria can become resistant to an antibiotic. (3 marks) (b) Give two ways that the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be reduced. (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B9 is 5 marks)
• 10

  Question SECTION-B10 (4 marks)

  A student measured their heart rate before and immediately after exercise. Before exercise their heart rate was 72 beats per minute. Immediately after 3 minutes of running it was 138 beats per minute. (a) Calculate the percentage increase in heart rate. Show your working. (2 marks) (b) Explain why the heart rate increases during exercise. (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B10 is 4 marks)
• 11

  Question SECTION-B11 (5 marks)

  Farmers add nitrate fertilisers to fields to increase crop growth. (a) Explain why plants need nitrate ions. (2 marks) (b) Excess nitrate fertiliser can run off into rivers and cause eutrophication. Describe how eutrophication can lead to the death of fish in a river. (3 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B11 is 5 marks)

Section C

Extended response questions. Answer ALL questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-C1 (8 marks)

  The human body maintains a constant internal core temperature of about 37 degrees C. Describe and explain how the body responds to being too hot and to being too cold, to keep the core body temperature constant. In your answer refer to the role of the skin and of the control centre in the brain.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C1 is 8 marks)
• 2

  Question SECTION-C2 (8 marks)

  Explain how carbon is recycled through an ecosystem. In your answer include the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, feeding, decomposition and combustion, and describe how each moves carbon between the atmosphere and living organisms.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C2 is 8 marks)
• 3

  Question SECTION-C3 (6 marks)

  Genetic engineering can be used to produce human insulin from bacteria. Describe the main steps used to genetically engineer bacteria to produce human insulin, and evaluate one benefit and one risk of using genetic engineering in medicine.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C3 is 6 marks)
• 4

  Question SECTION-C4 (6 marks)

  A student wants to estimate the population size of daisies in a large school field using quadrats. Describe a method the student could use to obtain a reliable estimate of the number of daisies in the whole field, and explain how random sampling reduces bias in the results.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C4 is 6 marks)