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IGCSEBiology
Trial Class

Original practice · 5 questions · 16 marks · about 18 minutes

Kidney Dialysis and Transplant Practice Questions

Biology editorial review is supported by the named review panel. Reviewer participation may vary by guide. Checked against Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 (2026–2028); last reviewed August 2026.

These questions cover the medical treatments available when kidneys fail, including how dialysis works and the considerations around transplantation.

Before you open the answers

  • Attempt every question without notes.
  • Show working for calculations and write complete biological statements.
  • Use the suggested time as a guide, not a strict limit on the first attempt.

These are original practice questions. They do not reproduce an official Cambridge paper or official mark scheme.

  1. Question 1

    Paper 4 Both 4 marks Difficulty 3/5

    Describe how kidney dialysis works to clean the blood.

    Show model answer and marking guidance
    1. Blood flows through a dialysis machine past a partially permeable membrane.
    2. Dialysis fluid on the other side has normal concentrations of glucose and ions but no urea.
    3. Urea diffuses from the blood (high concentration) into the dialysis fluid (low concentration).
    4. Useful substances (glucose, ions) remain in the blood because their concentrations are equal on both sides.

  2. Question 2

    Paper 4 Extended 4 marks Difficulty 4/5

    Compare kidney dialysis and kidney transplant. Give two advantages and one disadvantage of each.

    Show model answer and marking guidance
    1. Dialysis advantages: available immediately, no need for a donor match.
    2. Dialysis disadvantage: time-consuming (several hours, several times per week), restricts lifestyle.
    3. Transplant advantage: patient can live a normal life, no need for regular dialysis.
    4. Transplant disadvantage: risk of rejection: patient must take immunosuppressant drugs for life.

  3. Question 3

    Paper 4 Extended 3 marks Difficulty 3/5

    Explain why the dialysis fluid must contain glucose and ions at normal blood concentrations.

    Show model answer and marking guidance
    1. If dialysis fluid had no glucose, glucose would diffuse out of the blood and be lost.
    2. Normal concentrations ensure there is no concentration gradient for useful substances: they stay in the blood.
    3. Only waste products like urea move out of the blood by diffusion.

  4. Question 4

    Paper 2 Core 2 marks Difficulty 2/5

    State why a transplanted kidney might be rejected by the patient's body.

    Show model answer and marking guidance
    1. The immune system recognises the donor kidney's cells/antigens as foreign.
    2. White blood cells (lymphocytes) attack the transplanted kidney.

  5. Question 5

    Paper 4 Extended 3 marks Difficulty 4/5

    Explain why a close relative is often the best donor for a kidney transplant.

    Show model answer and marking guidance
    1. Close relatives are more likely to have similar tissue types / similar antigens on cell surfaces.
    2. Better tissue match reduces the chance of rejection by the immune system.
    3. Fewer immunosuppressant drugs may be needed.

Mark the set consistently

Award a point only when the idea is clearly present in the written answer. Correct any missed point in a complete sentence, then test the same skill on a different question several days later.

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