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CXC · CSEC · Human and Social Biology

Free CXC CSEC Human and Social Biology
Practice Paper

8 mixed-difficulty practice questions in the style of real CXC CSEC papers — answers, mark-scheme-style explanations, and the official exam structure all on one page.

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What the real CXC CSEC Human and Social Biology paper looks like

Paper 1 (Section A)
60 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each. 75 minutes. Tests knowledge across the whole syllabus.
Paper 2
Structured short-answer + 1 extended response question. Section A is compulsory; Section B has a choice. Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes.
School-Based Assessment (SBA)
Coursework component graded by the teacher, externally moderated. Worth ~20-30% of the final grade depending on subject.
Total exam time: ~3.5 hours across Paper 1 and Paper 2 sittings.
Grading: Grades: I (highest) to VI (lowest). A grade of III or above is typically required for further study.

Mini practice paper: 8 questions

Mixed-difficulty questions from across the Human and Social Biology syllabus. Tap "Show answer" after each to check yourself.

Q1 · Difficulty 1/3

Which gas released in vehicle exhaust fumes combines with haemoglobin and reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen?

  1. Water vapour
  2. Carbon monoxide
  3. Helium
  4. Nitrogen
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Carbon monoxide
Award 1 mark. It binds to haemoglobin far more strongly than oxygen does, forming carboxyhaemoglobin, so the blood carries less oxygen to the tissues. Nitrogen, water vapour and helium do not bind to haemoglobin.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the main function of synovial fluid in a movable joint?

  1. To absorb shock and nourish cartilage
  2. To lubricate the joint and reduce friction
  3. To connect bone to bone across the joint
  4. To prevent bones from separating at the joint
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — To lubricate the joint and reduce friction
Synovial fluid lubricates the joint surfaces, reducing friction between the articular cartilages during movement. Ligaments connect bone to bone and help prevent separation. Cartilage absorbs shock and synovial fluid does nourish it, but the primary function of synovial fluid is lubrication. Ligaments, not synovial fluid, prevent bones from separating.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3

Which of the following correctly describes the function of the placenta during pregnancy?

  1. It contracts to push the baby out during birth
  2. It produces sperm cells for reproduction
  3. It allows exchange of nutrients and waste between mother and foetus
  4. It releases eggs into the oviduct monthly
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — It allows exchange of nutrients and waste between mother and foetus
Award 1 mark for identifying the placenta's role in exchange. B is incorrect — sperm are produced in the testes. D is incorrect — the ovary releases eggs. A is incorrect — the uterine wall (myometrium) contracts during birth, not the placenta.
Q4 · Difficulty 1/3

A student tested coconut milk using the emulsion test. She added ethanol to the sample, shook it, then added water. A cloudy white emulsion formed. This result indicates the presence of:

  1. Protein
  2. Lipid
  3. Starch
  4. Reducing sugar
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Lipid
Award 1 mark for identifying that a cloudy white emulsion indicates the presence of lipids/fats. C is incorrect — starch is tested using iodine solution. D is incorrect — reducing sugars are tested using Benedict's solution. A is incorrect — protein is tested using biuret reagent.
Q5 · Difficulty 1/3

The female gamete in humans is the:

  1. fetus
  2. sperm
  3. egg (ovum)
  4. zygote
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — egg (ovum)
The ovum is the female gamete.
Q6 · Difficulty 1/3

Which hormone is primarily responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in males during adolescence?

  1. Follicle-stimulating hormone
  2. Oestrogen
  3. Testosterone
  4. Progesterone
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Testosterone
Award 1 mark for identifying testosterone as the male sex hormone responsible for secondary sexual characteristics such as deepening of voice, facial hair growth, and muscle development. B is incorrect — oestrogen is the primary female sex hormone. D is incorrect — progesterone is involved in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. A is incorrect — FSH stimulates sperm production but does not directly cause secondary sexual characteristics.
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3

Which component of a reflex arc carries impulses FROM the receptor TO the spinal cord?

  1. Sensory neurone
  2. Effector neurone
  3. Motor neurone
  4. Relay neurone
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — Sensory neurone
The sensory neurone transmits nerve impulses from the receptor toward the central nervous system (spinal cord or brain). The motor neurone carries impulses away from the CNS to the effector. A relay neurone connects the sensory and motor neurones within the spinal cord.
Q8 · Difficulty 1/3

Which of the following correctly identifies the type of bone tissue that forms the outer layer of a long bone such as the femur?

  1. Medullary bone
  2. Compact (dense) bone
  3. Spongy (cancellous) bone
  4. Cartilaginous bone
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Compact (dense) bone
Award 1 mark for compact (dense) bone. The outer layer of long bones is composed of compact bone, which is dense and hard, providing strength and resistance to stress. A is incorrect — spongy (cancellous) bone is found at the ends (epiphyses) of long bones and internally; it is not the outer layer. C confuses cartilaginous bone with the bony tissue of a mature skeleton; cartilage covers joint surfaces but is not a bone tissue layer of the shaft. D is incorrect — medullary refers to the marrow cavity found inside the bone, not a tissue type forming the outer layer.
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CXC CSEC Human and Social Biology FAQ

What does the CXC CSEC Human and Social Biology exam look like?
The CXC CSEC Human and Social Biology exam is structured across 3 components. Paper 1 (Section A): 60 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each. 75 minutes. Tests knowledge across the whole syllabus. Paper 2: Structured short-answer + 1 extended response question. Section A is compulsory; Section B has a choice. Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes. School-Based Assessment (SBA): Coursework component graded by the teacher, externally moderated. Worth ~20-30% of the final grade depending on subject. Total exam time: ~3.5 hours across Paper 1 and Paper 2 sittings.
Can I download a free CXC CSEC Human and Social Biology past paper?
Real CXC past papers are published directly by CXC on their official website. Kramizo doesn't redistribute copyrighted past papers, but we do generate free AI-written practice papers in the exact same style — same command words, same difficulty tier, same mark conventions. Use this practice paper as warm-up, then time yourself on official past papers before exam day.
How is CXC CSEC Human and Social Biology graded?
Grades: I (highest) to VI (lowest). A grade of III or above is typically required for further study. Kramizo's practice questions are tagged with difficulty 1-3 mapping roughly to the lower, middle, and top grade boundaries you'll encounter in the real exam.