Aga Khan Academy Mombasa

YEAR 10 BIOLOGY MOCK

IB Middle Years
Biology
Grade: Grade 10
Criteria: A 26 B 25 C 24 D 25

Total: 100 points

Duration: 125 mins
Start time: Feb 28, 08:00 am(School TZ)
Authors: Alice Ndungu, Godfrey Kokeyo, Nancy Oruko, Anisiley
Inacio Massango, Suleiman Kareithi

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Instructions

MYP YEAR 10 BIOLOGY MOCK 2025

FEBRUARY, 2025
TIME: 2 HOURS
E- Assessment
Assessed by: Alice Ndungu and Godfrey Kokeyo

INSTRUCTIONS
The task assesses knowledge and understanding, Inquiring and Designing and Reflection on
impact of science.
Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided.

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Criterion A

This Task question (1) addresses the key concept systems and focuses on criterion A (knowing
and understanding)
Biological systems are often interdependent

The food web below shows the feeding relationships in a marine ecosystem.

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Q 2.1 1a. Identify two primary consumers in the food web A2

Markscheme

Sea urchin, small fish and large crab A

Q 2.2 1b. Outline why all food chains in a food web must start with a producer A2

Markscheme

Until the 1950s,sea otters were killed and hunted for their fur; this had a dramatic impact on this
ecosystem. Following a ban on hunting in the 1970s,the sea otter population started to increase.

Q 2.3 1c. Suggest another human action that could have caused the sea otter population to A1
increase.

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 Markscheme

The following diagrams are pyramids of numbers from the food chain in part (c) .The pyramid on
the left shows the ecosystem in 1957;the pyramid on the right shows the ecosystem today.

Q 2.4 1.d Using the diagrams, explain the effect of the growing sea otter population on the A4
populations of sea urchins and kelp.

Markscheme

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Criterion A(Knowing and understanding)

Cells are the basic unit of life

Q 3.1 2a.State the name of the organelle labeled A in the diagram below A1

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Mitochondrion

Q 3.2 2b.State the function of the structure labelled B in the diagram in part (a) A1

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 Human bodies are organized from the smallest level of cells to the organism level.

Q 3.3 3a. Outline the relationships between cells and tissues A3

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Body systems interact to monitor and maintain a constant body temperature

This model represents an example of homeostasis in the human body

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Q 3.4 3b. Select two body systems that interact to monitor and maintain a constant body A2
temperature

System to monitor temperature

System to maintain temperature

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System to monitor temperature: nervous system

System to maintain temperature: Cardio-vascular system or muscular system

Q 3.5 3c. Using your answer to part (a), describe how these two systems work together to A3
respond to a reduction in body temperature

Markscheme

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Q 3.6 3d. In order for enzymes to effectively control reactions in the human body, the A4
temperature must remain constant in the range 36.5 to 37.5 degrees celsius. Explain
why enzyme-based reactions in the body are dependent on the temperature not
moving outside this range.

Markscheme

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Criterion A, B and C

Investigation skills

This task (Questions 4,5 and 6 ) addresses the key concept of change and focuses on criterion
B(inquiring and designing)and criterion C(processing and evaluating).

Environmental change impacts survival

Aquatic plants are useful for many types of experiments.

The graph below shows the results from an investigation into how different plants affect the
ability of small aquatic animals to hide from their predators.The experiment was done in a water
tank with controlled numbers of plants, prey and predators.

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Q 4.1 4a. Identify the plant that resulted in the highest percentage average survival for the C1
prey.

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Q 4.2 4b. Suggest a reason for your answer to part (a) C1

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Q 4.3 4c. Compare and contrast the results for native and non-native plants. C2

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Q 4.4 4d. State why the effect of having no plants was also tested. C1

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Investigating how changing light levels affect photosynthesis.

Q 4.5 5a. State the name of the organelle that provides a site for photosynthesis in plant A1
cells.

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 Chloroplast 1 A

Q 4.6 5b. Explain the importance of stomata during photosynthesis. A2

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They enable carbon dioxide to enter the leaf (1) which is essential for photosynthesis, and release
oxygen (1) as a byproduct.

Cabomba is an aquatic plant that is often used for photosynthesis experiments.Cabomba releases
gas bubbles so is useful for this type of experiment.The image below shows a typical set-up for
plant photosynthesis experiments.

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Q 4.7 5c. Identify the variables in this investigation. B4

Independent variable

Dependent variable

Control variable 1

Control variable 2

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Q 4.8 5d. Formulate a hypothesis for this investigation B3

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Investigating how changing temperature affects photosynthesis

A student investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis in Cabomba.The

notes below are taken from the student’s Laboratory notebook.

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Q 4.9 6a. State the piece of equipment missing from step 4. B1

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Q 4.10 6b. After reading the student’s method,the teacher said that it would not give C1
sufficient data to draw a conclusion. State how the method should be improved.

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Q 4.11 6c. Justify why the student planned to repeat four trials at each temperature. B2

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Q 4.12 6d. State a way to improve the precision of measurements in this investigation using C1
the equipment provided.

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Q 4.13 6e. The results from the student’s investigation are given below. Calculate the C3
missing average and show your working in the box below. State two improvements to
the data presentation.

Average

Improvement 1

Improvement 2

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 Markscheme

Q 4.14 6f. One of the results in the data table above appears to be an outlier. Identify the C1
data point that is an outlier.

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Q 4.15 6g. Suggest how to analyse data that has an outlier. C1

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The graph below shows the effect of temperature on the average number of gas bubbles
produced in 5 minutes.

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 The student hypothesized:

Q 4.16 6h. Using the graph, outline the validity of this hypothesis. C1

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Q 4.17 6i. Explain the reason for the sharp decrease in the average number of gas bubbles. C3

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Markscheme

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Criterion B and C

This task (Question 7 and 8) addresses the key concept of change and focuses on criterion B
(inquiring and designing) and criterion C (processing and evaluating).

Q 5.1 7. Investigating effect of Temperature on activity of enzyme catalase in yeast B 15

Yeast cells contain enzyme catalase that can degrade or breakdown Hydrogen
peroxide into water and oxygen gas.
2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2.
You are provided with yeast granules and standard laboratory equipment. Design an
investigation into the effect of temperature on the rate of breakdown of Hydrogen
peroxide by catalase in yeast.

In your design you should:

Identify the independent,dependent and two control variables
Formulate a testable hypothesis with a scientific explanation
Describe how to manipulate ,measure or monitor all of the variables
Describe a method to collect sufficient data
Justify one calculation needed to transform the data collected
State how you will make your method safe

Markscheme

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 1 2 3 4
V IV as IV as temperature IV as temperature
(Variables) temperature or a and a measurable and a measurable
measurable DV and one CV is DV and two CV
DV or one CV is identified are identified
identified
H Formulates a Formulates a Formulate a
(Hypothesis) hypothesis testable testable
connected to a hypothesis hypothesis
relevant variable correctly linked to correctly linked to
(stated) DV (no (stated) DV with
explanation) correct scientific
explanation
E Equipment to Equipment to
(Equipment) measure(stated) measure the
DV or manipulate (stated) DV and
IV or monitor one equipment to
CV manipulate the IV
or monitor one
CV
M Attempt at a Detail of the Detail of method Detail of method
(Method) method but detail method is is sufficient to is sufficient to
is insufficient to incomplete but follow and repeat the
collect relevant some relevant similar data could experiment
data data could be be
collected collected
D Plans to repeat at Plans to repeat at
(Data) least three trials least three trials
or to collect data and collect data
for at least five for at least five
increments stated increments
S A relevant safety
(safety) consideration
linked specifically
to a stated hazard

A student experimented to understand the effect of different sucrose solution on the rate of
osmosis using potato samples. He hypothesized “As the concentration of sucrose solution
increases, the percentage change of the mass of the potato increases.” He used the following
setup to experiment.

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 After experimenting, he collected the data which is given in the table below.

Q 5.2 8a. Present the data by calculating percentage changes in the mass of the potato. You C2
will be required to use the following formula

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 Cylind Sucrose Original Final Change in % change in
er solution mass(g) mass (g) mass (g) mass
A 0.0 15.3 18.8

B 0.2 15.8 16.9

C 0.3 16.2 15.7

D 0.4 14.9 14.0

E 0.5 15.4 12.1

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Cylinder Sucrose Original Final mass Change in % change in

solution mass(g) (g) mass (g) mass
A 0.0 15.3 18.8 3.5 22.87

B 0.2 15.8 16.9 1.1 6.96

C 0.3 16.2 15.7 - 0.5 -3.09

D 0.4 14.9 14.0 -0.9 -6.04

E 0.5 15.4 12.1 -3.3 -21.43

The student plotted the graph as below.

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Q 5.3 8b. From the above graph, accurately Interpret the data collected and explain the C2
results to show the relationship between sucrose solution and the change in the mass
of the potato using correct scientific reasoning.

Markscheme

Q 5.4 8c. Outline the validity of the hypothesis made by the students C1

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The hypothesis is invalid, as the sucrose concentration and the change in the percentage of the mass of
the potato is inversely proportional.

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 Content type: Video

This item includes interactive content. Please refer to the digital version of this assessment to view this
item.

Q 5.5 8d. Watch the video above and comment on the validity of the method performed by C1
the student.

Markscheme

Q 5.6 8e. State at least two improvements to the method given above. C2

Markscheme

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Criterion D

Applying science.
The global context is scientific and technical innovation. This task questions(9
and 10) addresses the key concept of relationships and assesses criterion
D (Reflecting on the impact of science)

Diseases can develop due to changes in normal body processes

A disease is a disorder that affects an organism’s body,organs,tissues or cells.Diseases can be
caused by pathogens; they can be inherited or they can develop due to changes in normal body
processes.

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Q 6.1 The graph below shows the number of new cases of cancer per year in females and D2
males in the UK in 2016-2018

9. Using the graph, state one similarity and one difference in the trends in new cancer
cases per year for females and males

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 Similarity

Difference

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10. Developments in science and technology have allowed for personalization of medicine so that
patients can be prescribed the most effective treatment.The video transcript below gives an
overview of personalized medicine.

One aspect of healthcare involves prescribing the most effective treatment

Currently, most standard combinations of drugs and their doses are based on evidence gained
from clinical trials. The drug and dose are effective for most patients with a specific disease.
However, differences in genetic materials between individuals mean that not all patients respond
in the same way to standard treatments.
In personalized medicine, DNA sequencing is used to study a patient’s genetic material before
deciding on a treatment.
DNA sequencing can be used to determine which version of a disease a patient has. This
information can be used to predict how individual patients will respond to different drugs and
doses.
Personalized medicine has the potential to reduce incorrect treatment and to save valuable
resources. Improvement of DNA sequencing methods will speed up this process and reduce the
cost.
The move from standard treatments to personalized medicine is a huge task
It is not yet possible to treat all diseases in this way and approval processes for new drugs vary
across the world.
Decisions need to be made about an individual’s genetic information. Who owns the sequencing
data and who should have access?
When should sequencing be done?

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 Should we use data to confirm diagnosis, or could we use it to look for potential issues before a
person gets ill?

Q 6.2 10a. Discuss and evaluate the use of personalized healthcare in the treatment of D 14
diseases. In your answer, you should include:
Medical benefits of personalized healthcare for an individual and wider society
Economic considerations in moving to personalized healthcare
Ethical considerations
A concluding appraisal with justification.

Markscheme

Q 6.3 D3

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 10b. Use the information in the graph above yo Suggest and justify why the incidence
rates for both males and females increase with age.

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Q 6.4 10c. A student claims that spending time in the sun is good for health. Discuss and D6
evaluate the students' claims. In your answer, you should include:
Health benefits that support the student’s claim
Health concerns that do not support the student’s claim
A concluding statement with advice for minimizing the health concerns.

Markscheme

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