DP Biology (first assessment 2025)

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Question 21N.2.HL.TZ0.c

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Date November 2021 Marks available [Maximum mark: 7] Reference code 21N.2.HL.TZ0.c
Level HL Paper 2 Time zone TZ0
Command term Explain Question number c Adapted from N/A
c.
[Maximum mark: 7]
21N.2.HL.TZ0.c

Explain how the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis rely on the light-dependent reactions.

[7]

Markscheme

a. light-dependent reactions produce ATP/reduced NADP;
b. ATP generated by chemiosmosis/by photophosphorylation/by ATP synthase;
c. reduced NADP produced by/using electrons from Photosystem I;
d. RuBP + CO2 to glycerate 3-phosphate (in light independent reactions);
e. glycerate 3-phosphate reduced to triose phosphate (in light independent reactions);
f. ATP/reduced NADP used in the light-independent reactions;
g. reduced NADP provides electrons/hydrogen / to reduce (glycerate 3-phosphate)
OR
reduced NADP used to convert glycerate 3-phosphate to triose phosphate;
h. ATP provides energy (for reduction of glycerate 3-phosphate);
i. ATP needed to regenerate RuBP
j. ATP/reduced NADP run out in darkness
k. Calvin cycle only possible with light/in the day/is indirectly dependent on light;

Examiners report

This was a fair but challenging question and it yielded the highest correlation coefficient on the paper. Answers covered the whole gamut from the thoroughly confused to the masterly. Full names of intermediates in the Calvin cycle are preferred because abbreviations such as GP are often ambiguous. Weak points in some answers were the need for reduced NADP in the reduction of glycerate 3-phosphate to triose phosphate and the need also for energy from ATP both for this reduction reaction and for phosphorylation reactions in the regeneration of ribulose bisphosphate.