10 free IGCSE Biology Transport 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 Xylem & phloem, Water uptake & transpiration, Translocation, Heart & circulation, Blood vessels, Blood. Work through the questions below, then generate a full Transport paper with a fresh set every time.
Generate a full Transport paper →Which row is correct for the cells in blood?
| red blood cells | phagocytes | lymphocytes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | large nucleus | engulf pathogens | produce antibodies |
| B | no nucleus | engulf pathogens | clot blood |
| C | no nucleus | engulf pathogens | produce antibodies |
| D | no nucleus | produce antibodies | engulf pathogens |
Answer: C
The human circulatory system is a double circulation.
1 Blood in the pulmonary vein is at a higher pressure than blood in the aorta.
2 The left ventricle has a thicker muscular wall than the right ventricle.
3 The pulmonary artery carries oxygenated blood.
Which statements are correct?
Answer: C
Which blood component is involved in clotting?
Answer: C
Blood flows through the body in a specific sequence of vessels.
Name the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the lungs.
Name the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the kidneys.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | pulmonary artery; pulmonary vein pulmonary artery (to the lungs) B1 pulmonary vein (from the lungs) B1 | 2 |
| (b) | renal artery; renal vein renal artery B1 renal vein B1 | 2 |
Valves in the heart control the direction of blood flow.
Explain the function of the atrioventricular valves.
Describe how the heart rate changes during exercise and explain why.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | prevent backflow into atria they close when the ventricles contract B1 preventing backflow into the atria B1 | 2 |
| (b) | increases; more O₂ and glucose to muscles; remove CO₂ heart rate increases B1 to supply more oxygen and glucose to muscles for respiration B1 and to remove more carbon dioxide B1 | 3 |
Water moves from the soil to the leaves of a plant.
Describe the pathway of water from the soil to the air.
Define transpiration.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | root hair → cortex → xylem → mesophyll → evaporates → stomata Any 4 of: root hair cells (osmosis); across the root cortex; up the xylem; to mesophyll cells; evaporates into air spaces and diffuses out through stomata B4 | 4 |
| (b) | loss of water vapour from leaves loss of water vapour from the leaves B1 by evaporation from mesophyll surfaces and diffusion through stomata B1 | 2 |
Blood consists of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
State the function of each component.
Describe two ways in which white blood cells protect the body.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | plasma transports; RBC oxygen; WBC defence; platelets clotting plasma: transport of dissolved substances (CO₂, nutrients, urea, hormones) B1 red blood cells: carry oxygen B1 white blood cells: defend against pathogens B1 platelets: blood clotting B1 | 4 |
| (b) | phagocytosis; antibodies phagocytes engulf and digest pathogens (phagocytosis) B1 lymphocytes produce antibodies B1 | 2 |
A student uses a potometer to measure water uptake by a leafy shoot. The distance moved by an air bubble in 5 minutes is recorded under three conditions. Table 8.1 shows the results.
| condition | still air, 20 °C | moving air (fan), 20 °C | still air, high humidity, 20 °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| distance moved in 5 min / mm | 24 | 54 | 8 |
Calculate the rate of water uptake in still air, in mm per minute.
The capillary tube has a cross-sectional area of 0.80 mm². Calculate the volume of water taken up per minute in moving air.
Explain why water uptake is greater in moving air.
Explain why water uptake is lowest in high humidity.
A potometer measures water uptake, not transpiration. Suggest why these are not exactly the same.
State two precautions needed when setting up a potometer, and explain one of them.
Describe the pathway of water from the soil to the air around the leaf.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | 4.8 mm/min 24 ÷ 5 = 4.8 B1 | 1 |
| (b) | 8.64 mm³ per minute 54/5 = 10.8 mm per min C1 × 0.80 = 8.64 mm³ per min A1 | 2 |
| (c) | water vapour blown away; steeper concentration gradient water vapour is removed from around the leaf B1 maintaining a steep water vapour concentration (diffusion) gradient so more water evaporates / diffuses out of stomata B1 | 2 |
| (d) | air already moist; gradient shallow; less diffusion air outside the leaf already contains much water vapour B1 so the concentration gradient is smaller and less water vapour diffuses out B1 | 2 |
| (e) | some water used in photosynthesis / kept in cells some water taken up is used in photosynthesis or to keep cells turgid B1 | 1 |
| (f) | cut shoot under water; seal joints with vaseline; dry leaves two precautions from: cut the shoot under water / joints sealed or airtight / leaves dry / leave the shoot to adjust before reading B2 one correct explanation, e.g. stops air entering the xylem and blocking water flow / prevents leaks B1 | 3 |
| (g) | root hair, cortex, xylem, mesophyll, evaporates, stomata Any 3 of: enters root hair cells by osmosis; moves through cortex to xylem; up the xylem in the stem to the leaf; evaporates from mesophyll cells; diffuses out through stomata B3 | 3 |
The heart pumps blood around the body in a double circulation.
Explain what is meant by a double circulation.
Give one advantage of a double circulation.
Explain why the wall of the left ventricle is thicker than that of the right ventricle.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | blood passes through heart twice per circuit blood passes through the heart twice for each complete circuit of the body B1 once to the lungs and once to the rest of the body B1 | 2 |
| (b) | higher pressure to body blood can be pumped at high pressure to the body (after the lungs) B1 | 1 |
| (c) | pumps blood all round body the left ventricle pumps blood all around the body B1 it must produce a higher pressure B1 | 2 |
Aphids feed on phloem sap.
Suggest why aphids feed from the phloem rather than the xylem.
Explain why aphid damage reduces the growth of fruits.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | phloem contains sugars phloem contains sucrose and amino acids (nutrients) B1 | 1 |
| (b) | less sucrose reaches sinks less sucrose is translocated to the fruits (sinks) B1 so less energy/material for growth B1 | 2 |
In the 0610 syllabus, Transport covers Xylem & phloem, Water uptake & transpiration, Translocation, Heart & circulation, Blood vessels, Blood.
This page has 10 Transport questions with answers. For more, the free generator on mentorriyaz.in builds a new Transport 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