2025 Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE Biology A {Salters Nuffield} Advanced PAPER 3: General and Practical Applications in
Biology Combined Question Paper and Marking Scheme
Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Wednesday 18 June 2025
Morning (Time: 2 hours) Paper
reference 9BN0/03
Biology A (Salters Nuffield)
Advanced
PAPER 3: General and Practical Applications in Biology
You must have: Total Marks
Ruler, HB pencil, scientific calculator and a copy of the scientific
article adapted from New Scientist (enclosed)
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.
•• Show
Answer all questions.
all your working out in calculations and include units where appropriate.
• Answer the questions
– there may in the
be more space spaces
than provided
you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 100.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
•• You may use a scientific calculator.
In questions marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability to
structure 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.
•• Check
Try to answer every question.
your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
,P78659A
©2025 Pearson Education Ltd.
Y:1/1/1/1/1/
, Answer ALL questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
1 In 1980, a volcano erupted in Washington State, USA.
Ash from the volcano covered surrounding vegetation, killing all the plants.
Succession has been investigated on one of the sides of the volcano.
(a) In one study, species richness on the side of the volcano was measured.
The graph shows the change in mean species richness from 1983 to 2005.
25
20
15
Mean species
richness 10
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
5
0
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Year
(i) State what is meant by the term succession.
(2)
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ...................... DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
2
, (ii) Calculate the rate of increase in the mean number of species from
1986 to 1995.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Give your answer to two significant figures and include units.
(2)
Answer ..............................................................
(iii) Following the eruption, one of the first plant species to be observed was
Lupinus lepidus.
Give the term used to describe the first species to appear at a location.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(1)
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
(b) Species of Lupinus have organs called root nodules that contain bacteria.
Sugars and nutrients are exchanged between the plant and the bacteria in the
root nodules.
(i) State what is meant by the term organ.
(1)
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
3
Turn over
Biology Combined Question Paper and Marking Scheme
Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Wednesday 18 June 2025
Morning (Time: 2 hours) Paper
reference 9BN0/03
Biology A (Salters Nuffield)
Advanced
PAPER 3: General and Practical Applications in Biology
You must have: Total Marks
Ruler, HB pencil, scientific calculator and a copy of the scientific
article adapted from New Scientist (enclosed)
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.
•• Show
Answer all questions.
all your working out in calculations and include units where appropriate.
• Answer the questions
– there may in the
be more space spaces
than provided
you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 100.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
•• You may use a scientific calculator.
In questions marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability to
structure 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.
•• Check
Try to answer every question.
your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
,P78659A
©2025 Pearson Education Ltd.
Y:1/1/1/1/1/
, Answer ALL questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
1 In 1980, a volcano erupted in Washington State, USA.
Ash from the volcano covered surrounding vegetation, killing all the plants.
Succession has been investigated on one of the sides of the volcano.
(a) In one study, species richness on the side of the volcano was measured.
The graph shows the change in mean species richness from 1983 to 2005.
25
20
15
Mean species
richness 10
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
5
0
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Year
(i) State what is meant by the term succession.
(2)
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ...................... DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
2
, (ii) Calculate the rate of increase in the mean number of species from
1986 to 1995.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Give your answer to two significant figures and include units.
(2)
Answer ..............................................................
(iii) Following the eruption, one of the first plant species to be observed was
Lupinus lepidus.
Give the term used to describe the first species to appear at a location.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(1)
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
(b) Species of Lupinus have organs called root nodules that contain bacteria.
Sugars and nutrients are exchanged between the plant and the bacteria in the
root nodules.
(i) State what is meant by the term organ.
(1)
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
3
Turn over
