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
reference 9BN0/03
Biology A (Salters Nuffield)
Advanced
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-pointpen.
centre number and candidate number.
• Show all your working out in calculations and include units where appropriate. – there maybe more space than you
Answer the questions in the spaces provided
need.
Information
• The total mark for this paper is 100.
– 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 your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
, Answer ALL questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
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
5
0
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Year
(i) State what is meant by the term succession.
(2)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .................................. ........................................................................................... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
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2
■■■■
, (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)
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)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .................................. ........................................................................................... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
(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)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .................................. ........................................................................................... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
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3
■■■■ Turn over
, (ii) Bacteria in root nodules are able to fix nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonium compounds that the plant can
use.
Name two organic molecules, containing nitrogen, needed to synthesise proteins.
(2)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .................................. ............................................................................................. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
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(Total for Question 1 = 8 marks)
4
■■■■
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Wednesday 18 June 2025
reference 9BN0/03
Biology A (Salters Nuffield)
Advanced
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-pointpen.
centre number and candidate number.
• Show all your working out in calculations and include units where appropriate. – there maybe more space than you
Answer the questions in the spaces provided
need.
Information
• The total mark for this paper is 100.
– 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 your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
, Answer ALL questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
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
5
0
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Year
(i) State what is meant by the term succession.
(2)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .................................. ........................................................................................... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .................................. ........................................................................................... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
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2
■■■■
, (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)
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)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .................................. ........................................................................................... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
(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)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .................................. ........................................................................................... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
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3
■■■■ Turn over
, (ii) Bacteria in root nodules are able to fix nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonium compounds that the plant can
use.
Name two organic molecules, containing nitrogen, needed to synthesise proteins.
(2)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .................................. ............................................................................................. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .................................. ................................................................. ............................ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
(Total for Question 1 = 8 marks)
4
■■■■
