Skip to main content
A-LevelBiologyEnzymesOct/Nov 2025Paper 1 Q151 Mark

Some students investigated the effect of pH on the rate of starch digestion by amylase at 20 °C. • They added 2 cm³ of a 1% amylase solution and 1 cm³ of pH 4 buffer to a test-tube. • They added 2 cm³ of a starch solution, containing 0.02 g of starch, to the test-tube. • They measured the time taken for the starch to be digested (to disappear). The students then repeated these steps with pH 5, pH 6, pH 7 and pH 8 buffers. The table shows the results. [Table with columns 'pH' and 'time taken for starch to be digested / minutes' and rows 4: 4.0, 5: 1.5, 6: 1.0, 7: 2.5, 8: 6.0] Which graph is correct for these data?

A[Graph A showing rate of starch digestion by amylase /minutes against pH]
B[Graph B showing rate of starch digestion by amylase /seconds against pH]
C[Graph C showing rate of starch digestion by amylase /mg min⁻¹ against pH]
D[Graph D showing rate of starch digestion by amylase /mg s⁻¹ against pH]

✓ Correct Answer

The correct answer is C: [Graph C showing rate of starch digestion by amylase /mg min⁻¹ against pH]

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🎯 Mark Scheme Breakdown

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

🔒

Unlock the Examiner's Analysis

Sign up for free to reveal the full examiner report, trap analysis, and mark scheme breakdown for this question.

Sign Up Free to Unlock →

Join thousands of Cambridge students already using Oracle Prep

About This A-Level Biology Question

Topic

This multiple-choice question tests Enzymes in A-Level Biology (syllabus code 9700). It is worth 1 mark.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Biology Oct/Nov 2025 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2.

Practice on Oracle Prep

Oracle Prep provides AI-powered practice for all Cambridge O-Level and A-Level subjects. Our platform includes topic predictions with 87.7% accuracy, AI essay grading, and a comprehensive question bank spanning 25 years of past papers across 29 subjects.

Related Biology Questions

© 2026 Oracle Prep — The AI-Powered Cambridge Exam Engine