PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Time: 2 hours Paper
reference 9BN0/03
Biology A 2025 Predicted Paper
Advanced
PAPER 3: General and Practical Applications in Biology
Total Marks
You must have: Ruler, HB pencil, scientific calculator and a copy
of the scientific article adapted from the New Scientist and the
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research (enclosed)
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
• Answer all questions.
• Show all your working out in calculations and include units where appropriate.
• Answer the questions in the spaces 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 brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• structure
In questions marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability to
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.
• Checkanswer
Try to every question.
• your answers if you have time at the end.
, PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
Q1.
Antibiotics are used in the treatment of bacterial infections.
(a) (i) Cephalosporins are antibiotics that inhibit the production of bacterial cell walls.
Suggest why cephalosporins are bactericidal antibiotics.
(2)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(ii) Quinolones are antibiotics that inhibit the synthesis of DNA in bacterial cells.
Suggest why quinolones are bacteriostatic antibiotics.
(2)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(b) An investigation of the effectiveness of different antibiotics on Clostridium difficile was carried out by a
hospital laboratory. Several nutrient agar plates, containing C. difficile, were prepared.
Four discs, A, B, C and D, were placed on the surface of each plate. Each disc contained the same
concentration of a different antibiotic.
The diagram below shows the position of the four discs on each agar plate, before being incubated.
, PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
After incubation, the scientists in the laboratory concluded that C. difficile was completely resistant to
antibiotics A and C. They also concluded that antibiotic D was more effective against C. difficile than
antibiotic B.
(i) Explain how the appearance of the nutrient agar plates, after incubation, would have enabled the
scientists to reach these conclusions.
(3)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
For each of the statements below, put a cross ( ) in the box next to the term that completes each
statement.
(ii) In this investigation, several nutrient agar plates were used for
(1)
A accuracy
B precision
C reliability
D validity
(iii) In this investigation, each disc had the same concentration of antibiotic for
(1)
A accuracy
B precision
C reliability
D validity
(c) Hospital-acquired infections caused by bacteria can be a major problem for patients.
In a study in a London hospital, it was found that pillows contaminated with bacteria could spread
infections between patients.
Suggest how this hospital could improve the prevention and control of the spread of infections.
(3)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(Total for question = 12 marks)
Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Time: 2 hours Paper
reference 9BN0/03
Biology A 2025 Predicted Paper
Advanced
PAPER 3: General and Practical Applications in Biology
Total Marks
You must have: Ruler, HB pencil, scientific calculator and a copy
of the scientific article adapted from the New Scientist and the
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research (enclosed)
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
• Answer all questions.
• Show all your working out in calculations and include units where appropriate.
• Answer the questions in the spaces 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 brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• structure
In questions marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability to
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.
• Checkanswer
Try to every question.
• your answers if you have time at the end.
, PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
Q1.
Antibiotics are used in the treatment of bacterial infections.
(a) (i) Cephalosporins are antibiotics that inhibit the production of bacterial cell walls.
Suggest why cephalosporins are bactericidal antibiotics.
(2)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(ii) Quinolones are antibiotics that inhibit the synthesis of DNA in bacterial cells.
Suggest why quinolones are bacteriostatic antibiotics.
(2)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(b) An investigation of the effectiveness of different antibiotics on Clostridium difficile was carried out by a
hospital laboratory. Several nutrient agar plates, containing C. difficile, were prepared.
Four discs, A, B, C and D, were placed on the surface of each plate. Each disc contained the same
concentration of a different antibiotic.
The diagram below shows the position of the four discs on each agar plate, before being incubated.
, PRACTICE PAPER FOR 2026 SUMMER EXAMS
After incubation, the scientists in the laboratory concluded that C. difficile was completely resistant to
antibiotics A and C. They also concluded that antibiotic D was more effective against C. difficile than
antibiotic B.
(i) Explain how the appearance of the nutrient agar plates, after incubation, would have enabled the
scientists to reach these conclusions.
(3)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
For each of the statements below, put a cross ( ) in the box next to the term that completes each
statement.
(ii) In this investigation, several nutrient agar plates were used for
(1)
A accuracy
B precision
C reliability
D validity
(iii) In this investigation, each disc had the same concentration of antibiotic for
(1)
A accuracy
B precision
C reliability
D validity
(c) Hospital-acquired infections caused by bacteria can be a major problem for patients.
In a study in a London hospital, it was found that pillows contaminated with bacteria could spread
infections between patients.
Suggest how this hospital could improve the prevention and control of the spread of infections.
(3)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(Total for question = 12 marks)
