Movement into and out of cells — IGCSE Biology (0970) questions by topic

Movement into and out of cells covers plant cells immersed in sucrose solutions of different concentrations relative to water potential, gas exchange between an alveolus and capillary, a coloured agar diffusion investigation using universal indicator, and a potato-in-water osmosis experiment measured over twelve hours.

Choose, state, identify, explain and describe span 1 to 21 marks across 38 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers. Because osmosis and diffusion questions depend on comparing concentrations correctly in each direction, submitting a worked answer for instant marking shows immediately whether water or a solute has been moved the wrong way across the membrane.

May–June 2025, Paper 11

Question 8 · 1 mark

The diagram shows four identical pieces of potato plant tissue in test-tubes. The pieces of potato were kept in the test-tubes for six hours. The test-tubes contain: A distilled…

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May–June 2025, Paper 12

Question 6 · 1 mark

The diagram represents two liquids separated by a partially permeable membrane. On the left there are many small molecules of water and no large dissolved molecules; on the right…

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May–June 2025, Paper 21

Question 4 · 1 mark

A student made the following statements about the movement of ions by active transport. 1 It is the net movement of particles from a low concentration to a high concentration. 2…

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May–June 2025, Paper 22

Question 6 · 1 mark

Which row shows the conditions when diffusion of oxygen into the blood is fastest? alveolar surface area concentration gradient diffusion path distance --- --- --- --- A high high…

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Question 7 · 1 mark

Uncooked potato cylinders of identical size were placed in four different liquids for two hours. The different liquids are listed. 1 pure water 2 a sugar solution that was less…

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May–June 2025, Paper 31

Question 5 · 11 marks

A student investigated the effect of immersing cylinders of potato tissue in different concentrations of sucrose solution. The mass of a potato cylinder was measured before…

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May–June 2025, Paper 32

Question 6 · 10 marks

Complete the sentences about diffusion. Diffusion is the net movement of particles from a region of their ........................ concentration to a region of their…

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May–June 2025, Paper 42

Question 5 · 11 marks

Fig. 5.1 is a diagram of a plant root hair cell. The cell has an elongated root hair projection extending into the surrounding soil. A key indicates that crosses (×) represent…

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May–June 2025, Paper 51

Question 1 · 16 marks

You are going to investigate the effect of concentration on diffusion. You will use cubes of agar which contain universal indicator. You will place the cubes of agar into…

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May–June 2025, Paper 61

Question 1 · 16 marks

A student investigated the effect of concentration on diffusion. The student used pieces of agar which contained universal indicator. Universal indicator is green in substances…

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May–June 2024, Paper 11

Question 7 · 1 mark

The diagram shows a section through an alveolus and a capillary. Point Y is in the air/alveolus with low carbon dioxide concentration and point X is in the blood with high carbon…

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Question 8 · 1 mark

In which row will the diffusion of ions into a cell be the quickest? Columns: ion concentration in the cell; ion concentration in the external solution; surface area of the cell;…

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May–June 2024, Paper 12

Question 7 · 1 mark

What is an example of diffusion? A dust particles being moved by ciliated cells in the trachea B oxygen molecules moving into a red blood cell in the lungs C pollen grains moving…

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Question 8 · 1 mark

The diagram shows apparatus used to investigate osmosis. The volumes of solutions A, B, C and D (each in a glass tube above a partially permeable membrane in water) were the same…

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Question 9 · 1 mark

Which row describes active transport? Columns: movement of water; uses energy from respiration; movement through a cell membrane. A yes; no; no B yes; no; yes C no; yes; no D no;…

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May–June 2024, Paper 21

Question 5 · 1 mark

Samples of plant cells from the same species are immersed in three different liquids. The low concentration sucrose solution has a higher water potential than the plant cell…

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Question 6 · 1 mark

Which process requires energy from respiration? A active transport B diffusion C osmosis D transpiration

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May–June 2024, Paper 22

Question 5 · 1 mark

Some plant cells are placed in distilled water for 1 hour. Which description of the condition of the plant cells after 1 hour is correct? A burst B flaccid C plasmolysed D turgid

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Question 6 · 1 mark

Diagrams A–D show movement across a partially permeable cell membrane, some requiring energy from respiration and some not. Which diagram represents active transport? A B C D

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May–June 2024, Paper 31

Question 3 · 12 marks

A student investigated how surface area affected the rate of diffusion using agar cubes (volume 1 cm3) dyed with a red indicator that turns yellow in acid. The cubes were cut into…

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May–June 2024, Paper 62

Question 1 · 21 marks

A student investigated the effect of the concentration of hydrochloric acid (HCl) on the rate of diffusion. The student used agar jelly that contained a blue/green indicator,…

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October–November 2024, Paper 12

Question 7 · 1 mark

A frog is an animal. The skin of a frog is permeable to oxygen and carbon dioxide. Which directions will have a net diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide when a frog swims in…

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Question 8 · 1 mark

Which statement about plant support is correct?

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Question 9 · 1 mark

What is a correct statement about active transport?

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October–November 2024, Paper 22

Question 7 · 1 mark

The diagram shows the water potential of three plant cells. The more negative the value, the higher the solute concentration. Cell P: −360 kPa; Cell Q: −400 kPa; Cell R: −340 kPa…

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May–June 2023, Paper 11

Question 6 · 1 mark

The diagram shows a test-tube containing clear jelly. A drop of blue ink is injected into the middle of the jelly. The blue colour of the ink spreads throughout the jelly. By…

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Question 7 · 1 mark

The diagram shows apparatus used in an osmosis investigation: a dialysis tubing bag containing sucrose solution immersed in distilled water. The bag was filled with sucrose…

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Question 8 · 1 mark

Which row describes active transport of ions? Rows combine direction of movement of ions and whether it requires energy from respiration. A from high concentration to low…

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May–June 2023, Paper 12

Question 6 · 1 mark

Which statements are correct for both diffusion and osmosis? The table considers: involves movement of water only; requires energy from respiration; molecules move from higher…

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Question 8 · 1 mark

The concentration of sodium ions in the soil is lower than the concentration inside root hair cells. Which process will be used when sodium ions are taken into root hair cells…

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May–June 2023, Paper 21

Question 5 · 1 mark

The diagram shows an experiment demonstrating osmosis using a dialysis tubing bag of sugar solution connected to a glass tube and immersed in water. After 30 minutes, the level of…

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Question 6 · 1 mark

The diagram shows the movement of glucose molecules across a cell membrane, from low concentration to high concentration, with the help of molecule T and energy. Which statement…

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May–June 2023, Paper 22

Question 5 · 1 mark

The diagram shows a root hair cell. When does water enter the cell by osmosis? A when the concentration of solutes outside the cell is greater than inside the cell B when the…

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Question 6 · 1 mark

Which row shows the changes that occur during the germination of a seed? Columns: respiration rate; amount of energy required; how ions are absorbed. A decreased; decreased;…

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May–June 2023, Paper 41

Question 2 · 16 marks

A student investigated osmosis in potato plant cells, immersing cubes of potato tissue in water and different concentrations of sucrose solution for 30 minutes. Table 2.1 shows…

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October–November 2023, Paper 12

Question 6 · 1 mark

The diagram shows an experiment to investigate osmosis in living cells: a potato containing concentrated sugar solution sits in a glass dish of water. What happens to the volumes…

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October–November 2023, Paper 22

Question 6 · 1 mark

The diagram shows an experiment to investigate osmosis in living cells: a potato containing concentrated sugar solution sits in a glass dish of water. What happens to the volumes…

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Question 7 · 1 mark

Which statements about active transport are correct? 1 It transports particles from a low concentration to a high concentration. 2 It always transports particles into cells. 3 It…

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