Response to exercise - AQA GCSE Biology Exam Questions

Practise 32 exam-style questions on Response to exercise for AQA GCSE Biology. Write your answer as you would in the exam and get it marked in seconds against the mark scheme, point by point, with an AI tutor on hand if you get stuck.

32 questions
2–6 marks each
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20 questions, marked as you go

Sample questions with model answers

Here are 4 of the questions in this topic, each with a model answer, an explanation of why it earns the marks and the mark scheme an examiner would use.

Question 1

3 marks

During exercise muscles get more oxygenated blood. Explain two mechanisms by which more blood is delivered to active muscles.

Model answer

heart rate increases (so cardiac output rises); arterioles supplying muscles dilate (vasodilation) to increase blood flow to active muscles

Explanation

Exercise increases cardiac output (heart beats faster and often more forcefully) and local vasodilation increases blood flow to active muscles; increased ventilation helps supply more oxygen to the blood.

Mark scheme

1 mark
heart rate / cardiac output increases
allow stroke volume increases
1 mark
vasodilation (of arterioles) to (active) muscles
allow blood flow redirected to muscles via vasoconstriction elsewhere
1 mark
increase in breathing rate to increase oxygen uptake (thus more O2 delivered)
any one additional mechanism

Question 2

4 marks

A 60 kg athlete does short bursts of sprinting causing anaerobic respiration in leg muscles. Explain why the athlete will experience muscle fatigue and how recovery will restore muscle function.

Model answer

anaerobic respiration produces lactic acid which accumulates causing muscle fatigue and decreased contraction; during recovery lactic acid is transported to the liver and oxidised using extra oxygen (oxygen debt repaid) or converted to glucose, restoring muscle pH and energy reserves

Explanation

Short intense exercise leads to anaerobic respiration and lactic acid, causing fatigue. After exercise increased oxygen intake and circulation remove lactic acid by oxidation or conversion, restoring normal muscle function.

Mark scheme

1 mark
anaerobic respiration produces lactic acid (in muscles)
1 mark
lactic acid build-up causes muscle fatigue / prevents efficient contraction
allow cramp / ache / decreased ATP usage
1 mark
during recovery extra oxygen is taken in (oxygen debt repaid)
1 mark
lactic acid converted (aerobically) to CO2 and H2O or to glucose in liver so pH restored and muscles recover

Question 3

5 marks

An experiment records heart rate (beats per minute) of a subject at rest (0 min), immediately after 4 min of exercise and during recovery at 2, 4 and 6 minutes post-exercise. The data are: 60, 140, 112, 88, 72. (a) Plot these values on a time (x) vs heart rate (y) graph and draw a suitable line of best fit. (b) Calculate the percentage increase in heart rate from rest to immediately after exercise.

Model answer

(a) correct plotting and curve rising to 140 then falling with recovery (b) percentage increase = (140 - 60) / 60 × 100 = 133.3% (approx 133%)

Explanation

The graph should show heart rate rising during exercise then falling during recovery. Percentage increase = (increase/rest)×100 = (80/60)×100 ˜ 133%.

Mark scheme

3 marks
graph plotted correctly with labelled axes and suitable scale, points plotted and curve/line of best fit drawn
allow ±½ small square tolerance on points; axis labels must include units (min, beats per minute)
2 marks
percentage increase calculation = ((140 - 60) / 60) × 100 ˜ 133.3%
award 1 mark for correct subtraction (80) and 1 mark for correct percentage calculation; allow 133% or 133.3%

Question 4

6 marks

Describe an investigation to determine the effect of three different exercise intensities (low, moderate, high) on oxygen consumption (VO2) in the same individual. Include variables to control, how to obtain reliable data and how results should be presented.

Model answer

use a metabolic cart or portable VO2 analyser, subject performs low/moderate/high intensity exercise for fixed time (e.g. 5 min) with rest between trials; control temperature, hydration, pre-test rest, exercise modality; repeat each intensity and take mean; use same subject to remove between-subject variation; present as bar chart or line graph VO2 (y) vs intensity (x) with error bars

Explanation

A proper investigation uses accurate gas analysis, controls variables, repeats trials and presents mean VO2 values per intensity with error bars to demonstrate effects of exercise intensity on oxygen consumption.

Mark scheme

1 mark
equipment: VO2 meter / metabolic cart or gas analyser
1 mark
procedure: same subject performs low/moderate/high intensity for set periods with rest between
specify time or method to set intensities eg % max HR
1 mark
control variables: temperature, hydration, pre-test rest, same treadmill/ bike settings
any two correct
1 mark
reliability: repeat each intensity and calculate mean; same subject to reduce variability
1 mark
presentation: graph VO2 on y-axis against intensity on x-axis with labels and units
1 mark
include error bars / SD to show variability

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