Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Tuesday 16 June 2026
Morning (Time: 2 hours 30 minutes) Paper
reference 9BI0/03
Biology B
Advanced
PAPER 3: General and Practical Principles in Biology
You must have: Total Marks
Scientific calculator, HB pencil, ruler
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
•• Answer all questions.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 120.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• Instructure
question(s) marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability to
your answer logically, showing how the points that you make are related or
follow on from each other where appropriate.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
• Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79064A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P79064A0144*
, Answer ALL questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
1 Cells near the root tip divide by mitosis and can be viewed using a light microscope.
(a) The photograph shows a root cell undergoing mitosis, as seen with a
light microscope.
(Source: © DR. JUAN F. GIMENEZ-ABIAN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)
(i) Identify the stage of mitosis shown.
(1)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(ii) Draw this cell.
Labels are not required.
(2)
2
*P79064A0244*
, (iii) The actual length of this cell is 45 µm at its longest part.
Calculate the magnification of the photograph.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Give your answer to the nearest whole number.
(2)
Answer....................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) Describe the method you would use to find the actual length of a cell from the
root tip of a plant which had already been prepared and stained.
(2)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Total for Question 1 = 7 marks)
3
*P79064A0344* Turn over
, 2 Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) is a single‑celled organism widely used in brewing
and baking.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Under anaerobic conditions, yeast respires to produce carbon dioxide and ethanol.
The rate of respiration can be measured by recording the volume of carbon dioxide
produced per unit time.
A student used the following method to compare the rate of anaerobic respiration of
yeast with different concentrations of glucose.
• Add 1 g of yeast, 0.5 g of glucose and 10 cm3 of water to a boiling tube. Stir to
make a suspension.
• Add a thin layer of oil to the top of the suspension in the tube.
• Leave for 5 minutes, then attach a gas syringe.
• Measure the volume of carbon dioxide produced after 10 minutes.
• Repeat to find the mean.
• Repeat the investigation using 0.2 g of glucose.
The diagram shows the apparatus used in this investigation.
gas syringe
thin layer of oil
yeast suspension
(a) Explain why a layer of oil was added to the top of the yeast mixture.
(2)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
*P79064A0444*
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Tuesday 16 June 2026
Morning (Time: 2 hours 30 minutes) Paper
reference 9BI0/03
Biology B
Advanced
PAPER 3: General and Practical Principles in Biology
You must have: Total Marks
Scientific calculator, HB pencil, ruler
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
•• Answer all questions.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 120.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• Instructure
question(s) marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability to
your answer logically, showing how the points that you make are related or
follow on from each other where appropriate.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
• Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79064A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P79064A0144*
, Answer ALL questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
1 Cells near the root tip divide by mitosis and can be viewed using a light microscope.
(a) The photograph shows a root cell undergoing mitosis, as seen with a
light microscope.
(Source: © DR. JUAN F. GIMENEZ-ABIAN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)
(i) Identify the stage of mitosis shown.
(1)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(ii) Draw this cell.
Labels are not required.
(2)
2
*P79064A0244*
, (iii) The actual length of this cell is 45 µm at its longest part.
Calculate the magnification of the photograph.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Give your answer to the nearest whole number.
(2)
Answer....................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) Describe the method you would use to find the actual length of a cell from the
root tip of a plant which had already been prepared and stained.
(2)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Total for Question 1 = 7 marks)
3
*P79064A0344* Turn over
, 2 Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) is a single‑celled organism widely used in brewing
and baking.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Under anaerobic conditions, yeast respires to produce carbon dioxide and ethanol.
The rate of respiration can be measured by recording the volume of carbon dioxide
produced per unit time.
A student used the following method to compare the rate of anaerobic respiration of
yeast with different concentrations of glucose.
• Add 1 g of yeast, 0.5 g of glucose and 10 cm3 of water to a boiling tube. Stir to
make a suspension.
• Add a thin layer of oil to the top of the suspension in the tube.
• Leave for 5 minutes, then attach a gas syringe.
• Measure the volume of carbon dioxide produced after 10 minutes.
• Repeat to find the mean.
• Repeat the investigation using 0.2 g of glucose.
The diagram shows the apparatus used in this investigation.
gas syringe
thin layer of oil
yeast suspension
(a) Explain why a layer of oil was added to the top of the yeast mixture.
(2)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
*P79064A0444*
