10 free IGCSE Biology Movement Into & Out of Cells questions written in the style of Cambridge Biology papers: 3 multiple-choice and 7 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 Diffusion, Osmosis, Active transport. Work through the questions below, then generate a full Movement Into & Out of Cells paper with a fresh set every time.
Generate a full Movement Into & Out of Cells paper →Potato cylinders are placed in sucrose solutions for one hour. The percentage changes in mass are shown.
0.0 mol/dm³: +13.5% 0.2 mol/dm³: +7.5% 0.4 mol/dm³: +1.5% 0.6 mol/dm³: −4.5% 0.8 mol/dm³: −10.5%
What is the best estimate of the concentration of the cell sap, in mol/dm³?
Answer: C
A cube of agar has sides of 5 cm.
What is its surface area to volume ratio?
Answer: A
A plant cell placed in concentrated salt solution becomes
Answer: A
Root hair cells absorb mineral ions from the soil by active transport.
Define active transport.
Explain why root hair cells contain many mitochondria.
Name the type of molecule in the membrane that carries ions across.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | movement against concentration gradient using energy from respiration the movement of particles through a cell membrane B1 from a region of lower concentration to higher concentration (against a gradient) B1 using energy from respiration B1 | 3 |
| (b) | energy for active transport active transport needs energy B1 mitochondria release energy by aerobic respiration B1 | 2 |
| (c) | protein carrier carrier proteins B1 | 1 |
Students investigate diffusion using beetroot cubes in water at different temperatures.
Predict how temperature affects the rate at which red pigment leaves the cubes.
Explain your prediction.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | faster at higher temperature faster at higher temperature B1 | 1 |
| (b) | more kinetic energy; membranes damaged particles have more kinetic energy and move faster B1 at high temperatures the membranes are damaged/denatured B1 | 2 |
Active transport, diffusion and osmosis are three ways substances move into cells.
State one way in which active transport differs from diffusion.
Suggest why active transport stops if the oxygen supply to roots is cut off.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | needs energy / against gradient active transport needs energy (ATP) / moves against a concentration gradient B1 | 1 |
| (b) | no aerobic respiration, no energy without oxygen, aerobic respiration stops B1 so not enough energy is released for active transport B1 | 2 |
Potato cylinders of equal mass are placed in sucrose solutions of different concentrations for 30 minutes.
Define osmosis.
Explain why the potato cylinder in distilled water gains mass.
Explain why the cylinder in a concentrated sucrose solution loses mass.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | net movement of water from dilute to concentrated through partially permeable membrane net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to lower water potential (concentrated solution) B1 through a partially permeable membrane B1 | 2 |
| (b) | water enters by osmosis water moves into the potato cells by osmosis B1 the cells have a lower water potential than the water B1 | 2 |
| (c) | water leaves by osmosis water moves out of the cells by osmosis B1 the solution has a lower water potential than the cells B1 | 2 |
Dialysis (Visking) tubing is a partially permeable membrane.
A tube filled with 20 % sucrose solution is placed in water. Predict what happens to the level of liquid in a capillary tube attached to it.
Explain your answer.
Explain why sucrose molecules do not leave the tubing.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | rises the level rises B1 | 1 |
| (b) | water enters by osmosis water moves into the tubing by osmosis B1 from higher water potential (pure water) to lower water potential (sucrose solution) B1 | 2 |
| (c) | too large to pass through membrane sucrose molecules are too large to pass through the pores B1 | 1 |
A student places potato cylinders, each of initial mass 4.00 g, in sucrose solutions of different concentrations for 1 hour, then reweighs them.
| sucrose concentration / mol/dm³ | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| final mass / g | 4.52 | 4.24 | 3.92 | 3.64 | 3.44 |
Define osmosis.
Calculate the percentage change in mass at 0.8 mol/dm³.
Explain why the potato in 0.0 mol/dm³ gained mass.
Explain why percentage change in mass is used rather than change in mass.
Estimate the concentration of sucrose that has the same water potential as the potato cells. Explain your answer.
Describe the appearance of a plant cell placed in a concentrated sugar solution, and explain why.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | net movement of water through partially permeable membrane from dilute to concentrated solution net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to lower water potential (concentrated solution) B1 through a partially permeable membrane B1 | 2 |
| (b) | −14.0% (3.44 − 4.00)/4.00 × 100 M1 −14.0% A1 | 2 |
| (c) | water potential higher outside; water enters by osmosis; cells become turgid water potential of the water is higher than in the potato cells B1 water enters the cells by osmosis through the partially permeable membrane B1 cells become turgid B1 | 3 |
| (d) | cylinders may differ in starting mass; allows comparison to allow comparison when the starting masses are different B1 | 1 |
| (e) | about 0.35 mol/dm³ about 0.35 mol/dm³ B1 where there is no change in mass (no net movement of water) B1 | 2 |
| (f) | plasmolysed: membrane pulls away from wall; water leaves vacuole by osmosis cell becomes plasmolysed / flaccid with the cytoplasm pulling away from the cell wall B1 water leaves by osmosis B1 | 2 |
Plants absorb nitrate ions even when the soil concentration is lower than in root cells.
Name the process.
Explain why respiration inhibitors reduce ion uptake.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | active transport active transport B1 | 1 |
| (b) | no ATP/energy for active transport respiration releases the energy needed B1 without it active transport stops B1 | 2 |
In the 0610 syllabus, Movement Into & Out of Cells covers Diffusion, Osmosis, Active transport.
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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