Skip to content
IGCSEBiology
Trial Class

Original practice · 5 questions · 15 marks · about 17 minutes

Digestion and Absorption 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 test your understanding of how food is broken down and how the products of digestion are absorbed into the blood.

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 2 Both 3 marks Difficulty 2/5

    Distinguish between mechanical digestion and chemical digestion. Give one example of each.

    Show model answer and marking guidance
    1. Mechanical digestion: physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces without chemical change: e.g. Chewing by teeth.
    2. Chemical digestion: enzymes break down large insoluble molecules into small soluble molecules: e.g. Amylase breaking starch into maltose.
    3. Mechanical digestion increases surface area for enzyme action.

  2. Question 2

    Paper 4 Both 4 marks Difficulty 3/5

    Describe four adaptations of villi in the small intestine that increase the efficiency of absorption.

    Show model answer and marking guidance
    1. Large number of villi increase the surface area for absorption.
    2. Each villus has a thin epithelium (one cell thick): short diffusion distance.
    3. Rich blood capillary network: maintains a steep concentration gradient by carrying absorbed nutrients away.
    4. Lacteals (lymph vessels) absorb fatty acids and glycerol.

  3. Question 3

    Paper 4 Extended 3 marks Difficulty 4/5

    Explain why digestion must occur before absorption can take place.

    Show model answer and marking guidance
    1. Food molecules (starch, protein, fat) are too large to pass through the intestinal wall.
    2. They are insoluble and cannot dissolve in blood plasma.
    3. Digestion breaks them into small, soluble molecules (glucose, amino acids, fatty acids and glycerol) that can be absorbed.

  4. Question 4

    Paper 2 Core 2 marks Difficulty 1/5

    Name the small soluble molecules produced by digestion of (a) starch and (b) protein.

    Show model answer and marking guidance
    1. (a) Starch is digested to glucose (via maltose).
    2. (b) Protein is digested to amino acids.

  5. Question 5

    Paper 4 Extended 3 marks Difficulty 3/5

    Explain why the small intestine is several metres long.

    Show model answer and marking guidance
    1. Provides a large surface area for digestion and absorption.
    2. Food spends more time in contact with enzymes: more complete digestion.
    3. More time for nutrients to be absorbed across the villus walls into the blood.

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.

Review the related teaching