10 free IGCSE Biology Human Nutrition questions written in the style of Cambridge Biology papers: 2 multiple-choice and 8 structured, each with its answer and mark scheme. 4 of them are A* challenge questions, built to catch the mistakes strong students still make.
This topic covers Diet, Digestive system & digestion, Absorption. Work through the questions below, then generate a full Human Nutrition paper with a fresh set every time.
Generate a full Human Nutrition paper →The small intestine is adapted for absorption.
1 The walls of the villi are many cells thick for strength.
2 Each villus contains blood capillaries and a lacteal.
3 Fatty acids and glycerol are absorbed mainly into the blood capillaries.
Which statements are correct?
Answer: D
Which row shows the deficiency diseases caused by a lack of vitamin C, vitamin D and iron?
| vitamin C | vitamin D | iron | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | scurvy | anaemia | rickets |
| B | rickets | scurvy | anaemia |
| C | scurvy | rickets | anaemia |
| D | anaemia | rickets | scurvy |
Answer: C
Diet varies with age, activity and pregnancy.
Explain why a pregnant woman needs more iron and calcium.
Describe the effects of a lack of vitamin D.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | baby’s blood and bones iron for the extra red blood cells (haemoglobin) of the fetus/mother B1 calcium for the baby’s bones and teeth B1 | 2 |
| (b) | rickets, soft bones rickets B1 soft/weak bones because calcium is not absorbed B1 | 2 |
Coeliac disease damages the villi of the small intestine.
Suggest why people with coeliac disease may lose weight.
Name the process by which glucose moves into the blood when its concentration is lower in the gut.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | smaller surface area, less absorption the villi are damaged/flattened B1 so the surface area is reduced and less food is absorbed B1 | 2 |
| (b) | active transport active transport B1 | 1 |
The small intestine is adapted for absorption.
Describe two features of villi that increase the rate of absorption.
Name the vessel in a villus that absorbs fatty acids and glycerol.
State where most water is absorbed.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | large surface area; thin walls; capillaries; lacteal Any 2 of: any two: large surface area (microvilli); thin walls (one cell thick); good blood supply (capillaries); lacteal B2 | 2 |
| (b) | lacteal lacteal B1 | 1 |
| (c) | small intestine small intestine (some in the colon) B1 | 1 |
This question is about the human digestive system.
Name the types of human teeth and state the function of each.
Explain how chewing food helps chemical digestion.
Explain how tooth decay is caused.
Name the enzyme that digests starch, where it is secreted, and the final product of starch digestion in the small intestine.
Explain why proteins must be digested before they can be used by the body.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | incisors cut; canines tear; premolars and molars grind incisors – cutting / biting B1 canines – tearing / holding B1 premolars – grinding / chewing B1 molars – grinding / crushing B1 | 4 |
| (b) | breaks into smaller pieces; larger surface area for enzymes breaks food into smaller pieces B1 increasing the surface area for enzymes to act on B1 | 2 |
| (c) | bacteria feed on sugars; produce acid; acid dissolves enamel bacteria in plaque feed on sugars B1 and produce acid B1 the acid dissolves / damages the enamel and dentine B1 | 3 |
| (d) | amylase; salivary glands and pancreas; glucose (maltase on maltose) amylase B1 secreted by the salivary glands and pancreas B1 maltose is broken down to glucose by maltase on the small intestine lining B1 | 3 |
| (e) | large insoluble molecules; must be broken into amino acids to be absorbed proteins are large, insoluble molecules that cannot be absorbed B1 they must be broken down into small soluble amino acids B1 | 2 |
Kwashiorkor and obesity are conditions linked to diet.
State the cause of kwashiorkor.
Give two health problems linked to obesity.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | lack of protein lack of protein in the diet B1 | 1 |
| (b) | CHD; diabetes; high blood pressure; joint problems Any 2 of: coronary heart disease; type 2 diabetes; high blood pressure; joint problems B2 | 2 |
This question is about a balanced diet.
State what is meant by a balanced diet.
State the deficiency disease caused by a lack of vitamin C and of vitamin D.
Explain why iron is needed in the diet.
The daily energy requirement of an office worker is 9000 kJ. 30% of this energy comes from fat, which provides 39 kJ per gram. Calculate the mass of fat eaten each day.
Explain why a teenager needs more energy per day than an elderly person of the same mass.
Explain the importance of dietary fibre.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | all nutrients in correct proportions; meets energy needs contains all the nutrients in the correct proportions B1 and provides the right amount of energy B1 | 2 |
| (b) | scurvy; rickets vitamin C: scurvy B1 vitamin D: rickets B1 | 2 |
| (c) | to make haemoglobin, which carries oxygen iron is needed to make haemoglobin B1 which transports oxygen in red blood cells (lack causes anaemia) B1 | 2 |
| (d) | 69.2 g 9000 × 30/100 = 2700 kJ M1 ÷ 39 = 69.2 g A1 | 2 |
| (e) | growing; more active; higher metabolic rate teenagers are growing (making new cells) B1 and are usually more active / have a higher rate of respiration B1 | 2 |
| (f) | adds bulk; peristalsis pushes food along; prevents constipation fibre adds bulk to the food B1 helps peristalsis move food through the gut / prevents constipation B1 | 2 |
A balanced diet contains a variety of nutrients.
State the sources and functions of vitamin C and of iron.
Explain why dietary fibre is important.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | citrus – collagen/scurvy; red meat – haemoglobin vitamin C: citrus fruit B1 needed for collagen/healthy skin and gums (prevents scurvy) B1 iron: red meat/spinach B1 needed to make haemoglobin B1 | 4 |
| (b) | prevents constipation helps peristalsis/prevents constipation B1 | 1 |
This question is about digestion in humans.
Distinguish between mechanical digestion and chemical digestion.
Name the enzyme that digests protein in the stomach, and the products of protein digestion.
Explain why the stomach contains hydrochloric acid.
Describe the role of bile in the digestion of fats.
Describe how villi are adapted for the absorption of digested food.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | mechanical: breaking food into smaller pieces without changing molecules; chemical: enzymes break large molecules into small soluble ones mechanical: physical breakdown into smaller pieces without chemical change B1 chemical: large insoluble molecules broken into small soluble molecules (by enzymes) B1 | 2 |
| (b) | pepsin; amino acids pepsin (protease) B1 amino acids B1 | 2 |
| (c) | kills bacteria; optimum pH for pepsin kills bacteria in food B1 provides an acid pH, the optimum for pepsin B1 | 2 |
| (d) | emulsifies fats into droplets; larger surface area for lipase; neutralises acid bile emulsifies fats into small droplets B1 increasing the surface area for lipase to act on B1 bile is alkaline and neutralises stomach acid so enzymes in the small intestine work at optimum pH B1 | 3 |
| (e) | large surface area; microvilli; thin wall (one cell thick); capillaries; lacteal Any 4 of: villi give a large surface area; microvilli increase the surface area further; wall one cell thick for short diffusion distance; good blood supply (capillary network) maintains a concentration gradient; lacteal absorbs fatty acids and glycerol B4 | 4 |
In the 0610 syllabus, Human Nutrition covers Diet, Digestive system & digestion, Absorption.
This page has 10 Human Nutrition questions with answers. For more, the free generator on mentorriyaz.in builds a new Human Nutrition paper with a full mark scheme each time you click.
Riyaz Shaikh has mentored IGCSE, IB and A Level students for 15+ years, one-on-one, online and in Mumbai. The hardest questions on this site are the ones he uses to find a student's weak points.
Meet Riyaz →Original Cambridge-style practice questions written for mentorriyaz.in. These are not Cambridge past paper questions, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Updated 2026-11-04. Paper generator · mentorriyaz.in