Cambridge International AS & A Level Cambridge International AS & A Level
BIOLOGY 9700/11 BIOLOGY 9700/11
Paper 1 Multiple Choice May/June 2026 Paper 1 Multiple Choice May/June 2026
1 hour 15 minutes MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 40
You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.
*
You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet
Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended) Published
INSTRUCTIONS
There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct This mark scheme shows the correct answer to each question.
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
*
Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet. We cannot discuss the mark scheme with schools, and we recommend that schools read the mark scheme
Write in soft pencil. together with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers.
Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
Do not use correction fluid or tape.
Do not write on any bar codes.
You may use a calculator.
INFORMATION
The total mark for this paper is 40.
Each correct answer will score one mark.
Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
IB26 06_9700_11/5RP
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
This document consists of 3 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, 9700/11 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2026
2 PUBLISHED
1 The photomicrograph shows some mesophyll tissue from a dicotyledonous leaf.
Question Answer Marks
1 B 1
2 B 1
3 D 1
4 B 1
5 A 1
6 A 1
5.0 μm 7 B 1
8 D 1
What is the magnification of the photomicrograph?
9 C 1
A 280 B 2800 C 3570 D 7000
10 B 1
2 A student prepared a microscope slide of onion tissue by: 11 B 1
● using forceps to remove a single layer of cells from the inside of a section of onion 12 D 1
● placing the sample on a microscope slide so it was flat and not folded on itself 13 B 1
● adding a few drops of iodine solution 14 A 1
● removing excess iodine solution using a tissue
15 C 1
● placing the slide on the stage of a light microscope and viewing it with a 10
16 C 1
objective lens and then a 40 objective lens.
17 B 1
Which problems may occur with this method?
18 D 1
1 The onion tissue may dry out over time, damaging the cells.
2 It is not possible to observe the nuclei of the onion cells. 19 D 1
3 The onion tissue is too thick to allow light to penetrate through it. 20 A 1
4 The onion tissue may leave a stain on the lens if the lens is lowered too close. 21 C 1
A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4 22 D 1
23 A 1
24 A 1
25 A 1
26 C 1
27 A 1
28 C 1
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9700/11/M/J/26 Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 3
, 9700/11 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2026
3 PUBLISHED
3 The photomicrograph shows a fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, viewed with a light microscope.
Question Answer Marks
29 D 1
30 D 1
31 A 1
32 D 1
33 C 1
34 C 1
35 D 1
36 C 1
37 B 1
×50 38 D 1
The fruit fly was then examined with a scanning electron microscope. The length of the head was 39 A 1
the same size in the scanning electron micrograph as it was in the photomicrograph.
40 C 1
Which statement describes why the scanning electron micrograph has a more detailed surface
view of the fruit fly?
A The scanning electron micrograph has a higher magnification and the same resolution as
the photomicrograph.
B The scanning electron micrograph has a higher magnification and a higher resolution than
the photomicrograph.
C The scanning electron micrograph has the same magnification and a lower resolution than
the photomicrograph.
D The scanning electron micrograph has the same magnification and a higher resolution than
the photomicrograph.
4 The removal of a plant cell wall by enzyme digestion leaves an intact membrane-bound structure
called a protoplast.
Which statement explains why protoplasts are easily damaged?
A Mitochondria stop producing ATP to maintain membrane integrity.
B Net movement of water is no longer limited by turgor.
C Secretory vesicles are unable to fuse with the cell surface membrane.
D The shape of the cell structures is changed by the loss of cell shape.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9700/11/M/J/26 [Turn over Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 3 of 3
BIOLOGY 9700/11 BIOLOGY 9700/11
Paper 1 Multiple Choice May/June 2026 Paper 1 Multiple Choice May/June 2026
1 hour 15 minutes MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 40
You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.
*
You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet
Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended) Published
INSTRUCTIONS
There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct This mark scheme shows the correct answer to each question.
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
*
Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet. We cannot discuss the mark scheme with schools, and we recommend that schools read the mark scheme
Write in soft pencil. together with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers.
Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
Do not use correction fluid or tape.
Do not write on any bar codes.
You may use a calculator.
INFORMATION
The total mark for this paper is 40.
Each correct answer will score one mark.
Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
IB26 06_9700_11/5RP
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
This document consists of 3 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, 9700/11 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2026
2 PUBLISHED
1 The photomicrograph shows some mesophyll tissue from a dicotyledonous leaf.
Question Answer Marks
1 B 1
2 B 1
3 D 1
4 B 1
5 A 1
6 A 1
5.0 μm 7 B 1
8 D 1
What is the magnification of the photomicrograph?
9 C 1
A 280 B 2800 C 3570 D 7000
10 B 1
2 A student prepared a microscope slide of onion tissue by: 11 B 1
● using forceps to remove a single layer of cells from the inside of a section of onion 12 D 1
● placing the sample on a microscope slide so it was flat and not folded on itself 13 B 1
● adding a few drops of iodine solution 14 A 1
● removing excess iodine solution using a tissue
15 C 1
● placing the slide on the stage of a light microscope and viewing it with a 10
16 C 1
objective lens and then a 40 objective lens.
17 B 1
Which problems may occur with this method?
18 D 1
1 The onion tissue may dry out over time, damaging the cells.
2 It is not possible to observe the nuclei of the onion cells. 19 D 1
3 The onion tissue is too thick to allow light to penetrate through it. 20 A 1
4 The onion tissue may leave a stain on the lens if the lens is lowered too close. 21 C 1
A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4 22 D 1
23 A 1
24 A 1
25 A 1
26 C 1
27 A 1
28 C 1
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9700/11/M/J/26 Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 3
, 9700/11 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2026
3 PUBLISHED
3 The photomicrograph shows a fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, viewed with a light microscope.
Question Answer Marks
29 D 1
30 D 1
31 A 1
32 D 1
33 C 1
34 C 1
35 D 1
36 C 1
37 B 1
×50 38 D 1
The fruit fly was then examined with a scanning electron microscope. The length of the head was 39 A 1
the same size in the scanning electron micrograph as it was in the photomicrograph.
40 C 1
Which statement describes why the scanning electron micrograph has a more detailed surface
view of the fruit fly?
A The scanning electron micrograph has a higher magnification and the same resolution as
the photomicrograph.
B The scanning electron micrograph has a higher magnification and a higher resolution than
the photomicrograph.
C The scanning electron micrograph has the same magnification and a lower resolution than
the photomicrograph.
D The scanning electron micrograph has the same magnification and a higher resolution than
the photomicrograph.
4 The removal of a plant cell wall by enzyme digestion leaves an intact membrane-bound structure
called a protoplast.
Which statement explains why protoplasts are easily damaged?
A Mitochondria stop producing ATP to maintain membrane integrity.
B Net movement of water is no longer limited by turgor.
C Secretory vesicles are unable to fuse with the cell surface membrane.
D The shape of the cell structures is changed by the loss of cell shape.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9700/11/M/J/26 [Turn over Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 3 of 3
