Pearson Edexcel

Summer 2025 Pearson Edexcel AS Level GCE In Biology A Salters – Nuffield (8BN0) Paper 02: Development, Plants, and the Environment Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding body. We provide a wide range of qualifications including academic, vocational, occupational and specific programmes for employers. For further information visit our qualifications websites at or . Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page at Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help everyone progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been involved in education for over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in 100 languages, we have built an international reputation for our commitment to high standards and raising achievement through innovation in education. Find out more about how we can help you and your students at: Summer 2025 Question Paper Log Number P78688A Publications Code 8BN0_02_2506_MS All the material in this publication is copyright © Pearson Education Ltd 2025 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. Question number Answer Additional guidance Mark 1(a)(i) An explanation that makes reference to the following: • (because) it is { a chloroplast /membrane bound } (1) • prokaryotic cells do not have membrane-bound organelles / only eukaryotic cells have membrane bound organelles (1) ALLOW mark for membrane bound if organelle incorrectly identified ALLOW (photosynthetic) prokaryotes use folded cell membrane for photosynthesis IGNORE cell (membrane)? (2) Question number Answer Additional guidance Mark 1(a)(ii) An answer that makes reference to the following: • division of image size by magnification (1) • correct conversion to µm and answer to two significant figures (1) Example of calculation 40 (mm) ÷ 44000 0.91 (µm) ECF ALLOW one mark for 0.09 / 0.909 ALLOW one mark for 40 000 if magnification factor not used. Correct answer with no working gains full marks (2) Mark Scheme (Results) Question number Answer Mark 1(b)(i) The only correct answer is – C – mitochondrion, centriole and nuclear membrane • A is incorrect because E is not a chloroplast • B is incorrect because E is not a chloroplast and F is not the Golgi apparatus • D is incorrect because F is not the Golgi apparatus (1) Question number Answer Mark 1(b)(ii) The only correct answer is – C - structure E respiration and structure F mitosis • A is incorrect because E is a mitochondrion and does not carry out photosynthesis • B is incorrect because E is a mitochondrion and does not carry out photosynthesis and F is a centriole and is not involved in protein synthesis • D is incorrect because F is a centriole and is not involved in protein synthesis (1) Question number Answer Mark 2(a) The only correct answer is – B - found in only in one geographical location • A is incorrect because the same type of habitat may be found in more than one geographical location • C is incorrect because endemic refers to one location and not many different locations • D is incorrect because a niche refers to the role of an organism in its habitat and not its physical location (1) Question number Answer Mark 2(b)(i) The only correct answer is – C – 2, 3 and 4 (webbed feet, long snout and nostrils on top of snout) • A is incorrect because 1 (feeding on insects) Is a behavioural adaptation • B is incorrect because 1 (feeding on insects) Is a behavioural adaptation • D is incorrect because 5 (being nocturnal) Is a behavioural adaptation (1) Question number Answer Additional guidance Mark 2(b)(ii) An explanation that makes reference to five of the following: • genetic variation in populations of (shrews / common ancestor / moles) (1) • selection pressure identified (1) • identification of favourable characteristic (1) • those with alleles for favourable characteristics survive and reproduce (1) • passing on advantageous allele to offspring (1) • over time there is a change in allele frequency / desmans no longer able to breed with the original species (1) ALLOW mutations lead to {genetic variation / new alleles} e.g. availability of food, competition for food, presence of predators e.g. webbed feet, long snout or nostrils on upper surface of snout ALLOW converse – those without advantageous allele do not survive or reproduce ALLOW increase frequency of advantageous allele (5)