Summer 2026 Predicted
Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2026
Predicted
Pearson Edexcel GCE
In Biology (9BIO)
Paper 3: General and Practical Principles in
Biology
for more papers: tyrionpapers.com
,for more papers: tyrionpapers.com
,General Marking Guidance
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners
must mark the first candidate in exactly the same way as they
mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be
rewarded for what they have shown they can do rather than
penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not
according to their perception of where the grade boundaries
may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark
scheme should be used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded.
Examiners should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the
answer matches the mark scheme. Examiners should also be
prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s response is not
worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide
the principles by which marks will be awarded and
exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the
mark scheme to a candidate’s response, the team leader must
be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has
replaced it with an alternative response.
for more papers: tyrionpapers.com
, Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
Number
1(a) Aseptic techniques are procedures used to prevent contamination by Aseptic techniques are methods used to
microorganisms, ensuring that equipment, materials, and working areas are prevent contamination by
kept free from unwanted microbes.(1) microorganisms and to maintain sterile
conditions during practical procedures.
(1)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
Number
1(b) Any five Flame the loop again after use to kill
Flame/sterilize the inoculating loop until it glows red hot (1) bacteria
Allow the loop to cool (without touching any surface) (1)
Work near a Bunsen flame / in sterile
Lift the lid of the Petri dish as little as possible / at an angle (1)
area
Use the loop to collect/touch a bacterial colony from the agar surface (1)
Flame the neck of the broth tube before removing the cap/cotton wool bung
(1)
Hold the cap/bung in the little finger (of the hand holding the loop) / do ot
put the cap down (1)
Insert the loop into the broth and gently mix/swirl (1)
Flame the neck of the tube again before replacing the cap (1)
for more papers: tyrionpapers.com
(5)
Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2026
Predicted
Pearson Edexcel GCE
In Biology (9BIO)
Paper 3: General and Practical Principles in
Biology
for more papers: tyrionpapers.com
,for more papers: tyrionpapers.com
,General Marking Guidance
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners
must mark the first candidate in exactly the same way as they
mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be
rewarded for what they have shown they can do rather than
penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not
according to their perception of where the grade boundaries
may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark
scheme should be used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded.
Examiners should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the
answer matches the mark scheme. Examiners should also be
prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s response is not
worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide
the principles by which marks will be awarded and
exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the
mark scheme to a candidate’s response, the team leader must
be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has
replaced it with an alternative response.
for more papers: tyrionpapers.com
, Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
Number
1(a) Aseptic techniques are procedures used to prevent contamination by Aseptic techniques are methods used to
microorganisms, ensuring that equipment, materials, and working areas are prevent contamination by
kept free from unwanted microbes.(1) microorganisms and to maintain sterile
conditions during practical procedures.
(1)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
Number
1(b) Any five Flame the loop again after use to kill
Flame/sterilize the inoculating loop until it glows red hot (1) bacteria
Allow the loop to cool (without touching any surface) (1)
Work near a Bunsen flame / in sterile
Lift the lid of the Petri dish as little as possible / at an angle (1)
area
Use the loop to collect/touch a bacterial colony from the agar surface (1)
Flame the neck of the broth tube before removing the cap/cotton wool bung
(1)
Hold the cap/bung in the little finger (of the hand holding the loop) / do ot
put the cap down (1)
Insert the loop into the broth and gently mix/swirl (1)
Flame the neck of the tube again before replacing the cap (1)
for more papers: tyrionpapers.com
(5)
