Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel GCSE
In Biology (1BI0)
Paper 1H
,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
www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details
on our contact us page at www.edexcel.com/contactus.
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: www.pearson.com/uk
Summer 2025
Question Paper Log Number P78694RA
Publications Code 1BI0_1H_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.
, Mark schemes have been developed so that the rubrics of each mark scheme reflects
the characteristics of the skills within the AO being targeted and the requirements of
the command word. So for example the command word ‘Explain’ requires an
identification of a point and then reasoning/justification of the point.
Explain questions can be asked across all AOs. The distinction comes whether the
identification is via a judgment made to reach a conclusion, or, making a point through
application of knowledge to reason/justify the point made through application of
understanding. It is the combination and linkage of the marking points that is needed
to gain full marks.
When marking questions with a ‘describe’ or ‘explain’ command word, the detailed
marking guidance below should be consulted to ensure consistency of marking.
Assessment Command Word
Objective
Strand Element Describe Explain
AO1* An answer that combines the marking An explanation that links identification of a
points to provide a logical description point with reasoning/justification(s) as
required
AO2 An answer that combines the marking An explanation that links identification of a
points to provide a logical description, point (by applying knowledge) with
showing application of knowledge and reasoning/justification (application of
understanding understanding)
AO3 1a and An answer that combines points of
1b interpretation/evaluation to provide a
logical description
AO3 2a and An explanation that combines identification
2b via a judgment to reach a conclusion via
justification/reasoning
AO3 3a An answer that combines the marking
points to provide a logical description of the
plan/method/experiment
AO3 3b An explanation that combines identifying an
improvement of the experimental
procedure with a linked
justification/reasoning
*there will be situations where an AO1 question will include elements of recall of knowledge directly from the
specification (up to a maximum of 15%). These will be identified by an asterisk in the mark scheme.
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel GCSE
In Biology (1BI0)
Paper 1H
,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
www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details
on our contact us page at www.edexcel.com/contactus.
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: www.pearson.com/uk
Summer 2025
Question Paper Log Number P78694RA
Publications Code 1BI0_1H_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.
, Mark schemes have been developed so that the rubrics of each mark scheme reflects
the characteristics of the skills within the AO being targeted and the requirements of
the command word. So for example the command word ‘Explain’ requires an
identification of a point and then reasoning/justification of the point.
Explain questions can be asked across all AOs. The distinction comes whether the
identification is via a judgment made to reach a conclusion, or, making a point through
application of knowledge to reason/justify the point made through application of
understanding. It is the combination and linkage of the marking points that is needed
to gain full marks.
When marking questions with a ‘describe’ or ‘explain’ command word, the detailed
marking guidance below should be consulted to ensure consistency of marking.
Assessment Command Word
Objective
Strand Element Describe Explain
AO1* An answer that combines the marking An explanation that links identification of a
points to provide a logical description point with reasoning/justification(s) as
required
AO2 An answer that combines the marking An explanation that links identification of a
points to provide a logical description, point (by applying knowledge) with
showing application of knowledge and reasoning/justification (application of
understanding understanding)
AO3 1a and An answer that combines points of
1b interpretation/evaluation to provide a
logical description
AO3 2a and An explanation that combines identification
2b via a judgment to reach a conclusion via
justification/reasoning
AO3 3a An answer that combines the marking
points to provide a logical description of the
plan/method/experiment
AO3 3b An explanation that combines identifying an
improvement of the experimental
procedure with a linked
justification/reasoning
*there will be situations where an AO1 question will include elements of recall of knowledge directly from the
specification (up to a maximum of 15%). These will be identified by an asterisk in the mark scheme.
