Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2023
Pearson Edexcel
GCE In Biology A
(9BN0 01)
Paper 1: The Natural Environment and
Species Survival
1
,2
,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.
3
, Question Answer Mark
Number
1(a) The only correct answer is C a place where an organism lives
A is incorrect because a group of organisms of different species living in the same area is a
community
B is incorrect because a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area is a
population
D is incorrect because the role of an organism is its niche
(1)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
Number
1(b)(i) A description that makes reference to three of the following
DNA (from bones) is cut into fragments (1) ALLOW restriction enzymes
used on (DNA sample)
{ radioactive tracers / fluorescent tags} attached to ALLOW stains such as dye
DNA (1) / ethidium bromide
(fragments of) DNA loaded onto (agarose) gel / ALLOW gel
samples placed in wells (1) IGNORE agar
electric current passed through (the gel) / potential ALLOW negatively charged
difference set up (through buffer/ across gel) (1) fragments move through the
gel / DNA fragment moves
toward positive electrode
IGNORE references to anode
or cathode (3)
4
Summer 2023
Pearson Edexcel
GCE In Biology A
(9BN0 01)
Paper 1: The Natural Environment and
Species Survival
1
,2
,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.
3
, Question Answer Mark
Number
1(a) The only correct answer is C a place where an organism lives
A is incorrect because a group of organisms of different species living in the same area is a
community
B is incorrect because a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area is a
population
D is incorrect because the role of an organism is its niche
(1)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
Number
1(b)(i) A description that makes reference to three of the following
DNA (from bones) is cut into fragments (1) ALLOW restriction enzymes
used on (DNA sample)
{ radioactive tracers / fluorescent tags} attached to ALLOW stains such as dye
DNA (1) / ethidium bromide
(fragments of) DNA loaded onto (agarose) gel / ALLOW gel
samples placed in wells (1) IGNORE agar
electric current passed through (the gel) / potential ALLOW negatively charged
difference set up (through buffer/ across gel) (1) fragments move through the
gel / DNA fragment moves
toward positive electrode
IGNORE references to anode
or cathode (3)
4
