Coral reefs — AS & A Level Marine Science (9693) questions by topic
Fertiliser run-off threatening coral reefs, the structure and feeding methods of a coral polyp, and comparing how well that structure is described with a diagram are typical demands in this topic, spanning 14 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers and 8 to 20 marks.
Explain, suggest, compare, describe and discuss are the leading command words, with explain requiring the chain of cause and effect from nutrient run-off through to reef damage, not just naming the pollutant. Because several questions invite an optional diagram alongside written description, drafting a full answer and checking it against instant marking helps confirm whether structural labels and their functions are both covered.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Discuss the structure of a typical coral polyp. Describe the function of each structure. You can include a diagram.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
Describe the structures and methods that coral polyps use to obtain their nutrition.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
Describe the structures and methods that coral polyps use to obtain their nutrition.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 41
Agriculture poses a threat to coral reefs in many parts of the world due to the run-off of fertilisers and herbicides into the sea. Explain how fertiliser run-off can pose a…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 42
Agriculture poses a threat to coral reefs in many parts of the world due to the run-off of fertilisers and herbicides into the sea. Explain how fertiliser run-off can pose a…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 43
Agriculture poses a threat to coral reefs in many parts of the world due to the run-off of fertilisers and herbicides into the sea. Explain how fertiliser run-off can pose a…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 32
Discuss the importance of coral reefs to humans.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 33
Discuss the importance of coral reefs to humans.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
Oysters have a complex life cycle with a larval stage and an adult stage. The larvae live in the open water until they settle on a substrate and mature into adults. It has been…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 42
An area of coral reef had been damaged by pollution from agricultural run-off containing fertiliser over a number of years. In 1990 the percentage of this coral reef covered with…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 43
An area of coral reef had been damaged by pollution from agricultural run-off containing fertiliser over a number of years. In 1990 the percentage of this coral reef covered with…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 21
In 2016 scientists located a previously unknown coral reef near the mouth of the Amazon River. Fig. 4.1 shows the location of the mouth of the Amazon River, the coral reef…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 22
In 2016 scientists located a previously unknown coral reef near the mouth of the Amazon River. Fig. 4.1 shows the location of the mouth of the Amazon River, the coral reef…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 23
In 2016 scientists located a previously unknown coral reef near the mouth of the Amazon River. Fig. 4.1 shows the location of the mouth of the Amazon River, the coral reef…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Marine Science topics
- Marine organisms and physiology (58)
- Water and physical oceanography (43)
- Mangroves and coastal ecosystems (37)
- Marine ecosystems and energy flow (36)
- Investigative skills (28)
- Fisheries and mariculture (26)
- Aquaculture (21)
- Human impacts and pollution (16)
- Classification and biodiversity (14)
- Earth structure and plate tectonics (12)
- Conservation and management (11)