Pearson Edexcel A Level GCE

Mark Scheme (Results) Summer 2025 Pearson Edexcel A Level GCE In Biology A Salters - Nuffield (9BN0) Paper 03: General and Practical Applications in Biology 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 P78659A Publications Code 9BN0_03_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 Question number Answer Additional guidance Mark 1(a)(i) An answer that makes reference to two of the following: • change in species (of plants and animals) (1) • taking place over time (1) • leading to a climax community (1) ALLOW change in community IGNORE organisms (2) Question number Answer Additional guidance Mark 1(a)(ii) An answer that makes reference to the following: • correct values taken from the graph (1) • correct answer given to two significant figures with an appropriate unit (1) Example of calculation 16 - 2 = 14 1995 – 1986 = 9 (ALLOW 14.2 and 9) 14  9 = 1.6 (species) year-1 e.g. of acceptable unit (species) per year / (species) per y One mark can be given for 1.6 with no units Correct answer with no working gains full marks (2) Question number Answer Additional guidance Mark 1(a)(iii) An answer that makes reference to the following: • colonising (species) / pioneer (species) ALLOW coloniser IGNORE reference to plants (1) Question number Answer Additional guidance Mark 1(b)(i) An answer that makes reference to the following: • group of (different) tissues that work together to carry out a (specific) function ALLOW functions plural / job / role / task / process DO NOT ALLOW similar tissues (1) Question number Answer Additional guidance Mark 1(b)(ii) An answer that makes reference to two of the following: • amino acids (1) • {DNA / RNA / nucleic acids} (1) • DNA polymerase / RNA polymerase (1) ALLOW nucleotides / ATP / mRNA / tRNA / rRNA ALLOW DNA helicase (2) Question number Answer Additional guidance Mark 2(a)(i) An answer that makes reference to the following: • correct values substituted into the equation (1) • correct answer to three decimal places (1) Example of calculation