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 Pape
9BN0/03
r
Morning (Time: 2
hours) reference
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
centre number and candidate number.
• Answer all
your name,
• Show all your working out in calculations and include units where
• Answer the questions in the spaces
appropriate.
questions.
• provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
• The total mark for this paper is 100.
• The marks for each question are shown in
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• ability to structure your answer logically, showing how the points that
• You may use a scientific
brackets
In questions marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your
calculator.
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
, Answer ALL questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
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
Mean 15
species
richness 10
AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
5
0
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Year
(i) State what is meant by the term
succession. (2)
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
, (ii) Calculate the rate of increase in the mean number of
species from 1986 to 1995.
Give your answer to two significant figures and include units.
(2)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
AREA
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.
(1)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
(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.
AREA
(1)
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
AREA
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3
GCE
Wednesday 18 June
2025 Pape
9BN0/03
r
Morning (Time: 2
hours) reference
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
centre number and candidate number.
• Answer all
your name,
• Show all your working out in calculations and include units where
• Answer the questions in the spaces
appropriate.
questions.
• provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
• The total mark for this paper is 100.
• The marks for each question are shown in
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• ability to structure your answer logically, showing how the points that
• You may use a scientific
brackets
In questions marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your
calculator.
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
, Answer ALL questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
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
Mean 15
species
richness 10
AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
5
0
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Year
(i) State what is meant by the term
succession. (2)
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
, (ii) Calculate the rate of increase in the mean number of
species from 1986 to 1995.
Give your answer to two significant figures and include units.
(2)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
AREA
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.
(1)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
(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.
AREA
(1)
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ......................
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS
AREA
